Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls

I never thought I’d love different variations of cinnamon rolls like this but I’m a new woman.

Of course, classic is classic but have you tried gingerbread?! It’s everything you love about a classic cinny but with gingerbread spices added into the dough and the filling! I also love adding an *optional* secret ingredient to my gingerbread desserts.

Ok I’ll tell you, it’s orange zest. Don’t knock it til you try it.

If you have a slight cinnamon roll obsession you have to check out my list of cinnamon roll recipes lol. There’s classic of course, cranberry orange, caramelized white chocolate, lemon brown butter, s’mores rolls, and chocolate cinnamon rolls.

If you’re a gingerbread lover, my gingerbread loaf is a fan favorite. I also have these addicting gingerbread snickerdoodles and my famous gingerbread cake.

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Flour: I’ve made this dough with both bread flour and all purpose flour with no noticeable difference in the dough.
  • I HIGHLY recommend using a digital scale, as flour (and cocoa) is so often over measured. 
• Yeast: I used one package of active dry yeast. That can also be subbed with instant yeast, just skip the activation step and mix it in with the rest of the ingredients. I still do both proofs with instant yeast, it’s just usually much quicker (about half the time).
  • If you store yeast in a jar instead of individual packages you can use a scant tablespoon of yeast. Also make sure to store the yeast in the fridge if it’s an open jar. 
• Sugar: I used dark brown sugar for the dough and filling. You’ll see a lot of people add molasses to gingerbread desserts, personally I HATE the taste of molasses lol. Brown sugar is just granulated sugar mixed with a little molasses so I just used dark brown sugar to minimize the molasses flavor but still be traditional tasting.
  • Light brown sugar also works but the molasses will be even more subtle. 
  • I used powdered sugar to make the cream cheese icing
• Water: this may seem weird since most people make brioche with milk. I have tested this several times both with milk and water and I found that water makes a much softer dough. 
• Butter: I like to use salted butter but you can also use unsalted butter as well. Dairy free butter also works well. 
• Eggs: make sure to use one room temperature large egg.
  • Pop it in hot water for a few minutes if it’s cold.
• Cream Cheese: I always use full-fat cream cheese. Make sure it’s room temperature so it mixes well with the powdered sugar.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Brioche Dough

1. Activate the yeast with the sugar in warm water for a few minutes – it should start to foam on top.
2. Add the melted butter and egg to the water, mixing until they’re somewhat combined.
3. Add the flour, spices and salt and mix until it comes together.
4. Knead for 5-10 minutes in the bowl of the stand mixer with the hook attachment (or 10-15 minutes by hand). The dough will peel itself away from the edge of the bowl and should be only a little sticky when you touch it.
5. Cover and let it proof for about 60 minutes in a warm environment, until it’s doubled in size and fluffy.

Filling

1. Make the filling by mixing the dark brown sugar with the spices.
2. Punch the air out of the proofed dough and place it onto a floured surface.
3. Stretch it out into a rectangle the best you can with your hands and then use a rolling pin to roll it out to about a 12×16 inch rectangle. 
4. Spread the butter evenly on top of the dough.
5. Sprinkle the filling on top of the butter, spreading it out evenly.
6. Roll the dough into a tight log, starting at one of the short ends, so you have a shorter fat log, not a long skinny roll.
7. Slice into 9 or 12 rolls and cover – allow to proof in a warm environment for another 30-45 minutes, until doubled in size. 
8. Pour a little heavy cream in between the rolls (this makes them extra fluffy and soft – this step is not in the photos).
9. Bake for about 22-27 minutes until the bread is golden brown. I like to use a butter knife to push one of the rolls away from the other ones so I can see the bottom edge. It should be super soft, pale but baked and not raw or doughy.   

Cream Cheese Frosting

1. Allow the rolls to cool for a few minutes before frosting.
2. Whisk together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, cinnamon and milk for the icing and drizzle on top of cinnamon rolls.

What temperature to proof dough at?

You want to make sure your dough is proofing at a comfortable temperature. Generally, room temperature is fine but if it’s slightly warmer, you’ll get a much quicker rise.

Yeast dies at around 120F (50C) so make sure the temperature is lower than that. I recommend anywhere between 75F (24C) to 100F (38C).

The dough can also be proofed in the refrigerator. This is called a retarding proof because it really slows down the process. The Benefit of this is that you can just pop the dough in the fridge overnight and the dough will develop a stronger flavor if it proofs for longer.

You can refrigerate the dough overnight for the first proof or the second proof, just bring it back to room temperature before proceeding with the recipe.

How to know when dough is done rising/proofing

Rising and proofing are typically used interchangeably but the initial ‘resting time’ is actually the rising and the second ‘resting time’ is the proofing. The time needed for rising/proofing is dependent on the recipe and the environment. 

Typically with instant yeast, you’re “allowed” to skip the first rise and just let the dough relax for just 10 minutes instead before shaping the dough. I prefer to still let it rise. It works both ways but I get a fluffier dough from letting it proof twice. 

A general guideline is that the dough should double in size each time. It should also slowly spring back when you press on it, but also leave a small indent. 

If the dough springs back quickly, then it needs more time to rise. If it doesn’t spring back at all, it may be over proofed and result in a flat, deflated bread.

How to make rolls overnight 

Brioche can easily be prepped the night before and baked in the morning.

1. After the dough is rolled and sliced and placed in the prepared pan, cover it tightly with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge overnight.
2. Remove the rolls from the fridge about 45 minutes before baking them. Bake them per the instructions. 

How to store gingerbread cinnamon rolls

There’s NOTHING like a warm roll straight from the oven but if they’re not served immediately, simply place them in an airtight container and store at room temperature for 1-2 days. 

If it’s longer, refrigerate them for up to a week. When serving, reheat them in the microwave for a few seconds or the oven just until they’re warm. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Thanks so much for reading today’s post, if you have any questions just comment down below. Make sure to leave it in the comment section because I can’t answer in the rating section.

If you make these delicious gingerbread rolls, I’d love it if you left a star rating for me. If it’s less than five stars, please leave a comment with the rating so I know why! 🙂

As always, have a blessed day and happy baking!

Love, B

Recipes

Sweet Rolls & Buns

Gingerbread Cinnamon Roll Recipe

4.95 from 17 votes

prep 45 minutes mins

cook 25 minutes mins

Additional Time 2 hours hrs 45 minutes mins

total 3 hours hrs 55 minutes mins

Serves 12 rolls

These gingerbread cinnamon rolls are made using my new and improved super fluffy brioche dough rolled around brown sugar and gingerbread spices. Topped with none other than a cream cheese icing, the perfect Christmas morning treat. 

Author: Bernice Baran

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Servings 12 rolls

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Equipment

• ▢
  1 stand mixer with hook attachment
• ▢
  1 13" skillet or 9×13" pan
• ▢
  1 small bowl

Metric(US) Imperial

Ingredients

Dough

• ▢ 50 grams dark brown sugar, lightly packed
• ▢ 240 mL warm water
• ▢ 7 g active dry yeast , *see notes on how to use instant yeast
• ▢ 1 large egg, room temperature
• ▢ 113 grams salted butter, melted
• ▢ 420-480 grams bread flour, OR all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
• ▢ 1 tsp fine sea salt
• ▢ 60-120 mL heavy whipping cream

Filling

• ▢ 150 grams dark brown sugar, lightly packed
• ▢ 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
• ▢ 1 Tbsp ground ginger
• ▢ 56 grams salted butter, softened
• ▢ zest of 1/2 an orange, *optional

Icing

• ▢ 56 grams cream cheese, softened
• ▢ 180 grams powdered sugar, spooned and leveled
• ▢ 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• ▢ tiny pinch of salt
• ▢ 30 mL milk
• ▢ 1 tsp vanilla bean paste, or vanilla extract

Method

Dough

1. Place the yeast with half of the sugar and the warm water in the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix and allow it to rest for 5-10 minutes, until the yeast starts to foam.
   50 grams dark brown sugar lightly packed, 240 mL warm water, 7 g active dry yeast *see notes on how to use instant yeast
2. Add the rest of the sugar, melted butter and egg, mixing until they’re somewhat combined.
   1 large egg room temperature, 113 grams salted butter melted
3. Then add the flour and salt and mix until it comes together.
   420-480 grams bread flour OR all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled, 1 tsp fine sea salt
4. Use the hook attachment to knead the dough for 5-10 minutes (10-15 minutes by hand), until the dough peels itself away from the edge of the bowl. If your dough is still too sticky, add in the last 60 grams (1/2 cup) of flour slowly until it's not too sticky.
5. Cover and let it proof for about 90 minutes in a warm environment (75-100F/24-38C), until it’s doubled in size and fluffy.

Filling

1. Combine the brown sugar with the spices and orange zest. Set aside.
   150 grams dark brown sugar lightly packed, 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon, 1 Tbsp ground ginger, zest of 1/2 an orange *optional

Shape

1. Grease a 9x13x2 inch pan or a 12-13 inch round pan with butter, oil or baking spray (I use the wrapper of the butter and just wipe it around the pan).
2. Shape the dough by punching down the air and placing it onto a floured surface. Stretch it out into a rectangle the best you can with your hands and then use a rolling pin to roll it out to about a 12×16 inch rectangle. 
3. Add the filling by spreading the butter evenly on top of the dough. Then sprinkle the brown sugar with the spices on top of the butter, spreading it out evenly.
   56 grams salted butter softened
4. Roll the dough into a tight log, starting at one of the short ends, so you have a shorter fat log, not a long skinny roll.
5. Use a large serrated knife to slice into 12 rolls. Place into the prepared pan, cover and allow to proof in a warm environment for another 45 minutes, until doubled in size. 
6. Preheat the oven to 350F/177C and then drizzle the heavy whipping cream in the gaps between the cinnamon rolls.
   60-120 mL heavy whipping cream
7. Bake for about 30 minutes (12 rolls) or 35 minutes (9 rolls) until the bread is golden brown. I like to use a butter knife to push one of the rolls away from the other ones so I can see the bottom edge. It should be super soft and squishy but the bread should be feel baked not too raw/doughy.
8. Allow the rolls to rest and cool for 15-30 minutes before frosting.

Cream Cheese Icing

1. Meanwhile whisk the cream cheese with the powdered sugar, cinnamon, salt, milk and vanilla, until they're well combined.
   56 grams cream cheese softened, 180 grams powdered sugar spooned and leveled, 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract, 30 mL milk, tiny pinch of salt
2. Drizzle on top of the slightly cooled cinnamon rolls.

Notes

• *sub active dry yeast for instant yeast – skip activation, just mix all the ingredients together; proofing time will be about half for each.
• to make them  smaller, roll the dough into a log starting on the long edge, making a long thin log – slice into 18 rolls and start checking for doneness around 14 minutes.
• **I LOVE LOVE a little orange zest in my gingerbread flavored desserts but if you’re not here for it, feel free to skip it. 

Nutrition

Calories: 406kcalCarbohydrates: 61gProtein: 6gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 300mgPotassium: 97mgFiber: 1gSugar: 33gVitamin A: 531IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 1mg

Course: Breads

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cinnamon rolls, gingerbread cinnamon rolls, gingerbread rolls