Are you a get dressed up or a stay in your pajamas all day type of person for Christmas day? While I will typically never say no to getting dressed up and going out, Christmas mornings, in my opinion, are MADE for fleece-lined leggings, a fluffy robe, and cozy socks (and a mug of Crockpot Hot Chocolate or Mulled Wine). I’ll leave the dressing up to the pan of cinnamon rolls I’m serving for Christmas brunch because they’re not your average cinnamon rolls, they’re gingerbread cinnamon rolls with the BEST cinnamon-spiced cream cheese frosting. They’re festive, sweet, indulgent, and are special enough to be considered a gift on your Christmas breakfast table (although I don’t recommend the aforementioned wrapping paper and bow).
How to Make Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls
These soft and tender cinnamon rolls are packed with the rich, warm flavors of your favorite gingerbread cookie. (Love those too? Don’t miss these Chocolate Ginger Molasses Cookies.) The dough is deeply tinted with molasses, spicy with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves, and sweetened with brown sugar.
The Ingredients
Flour. I went for a blend of all purpose flour and white whole wheat flour to sneak at least a few health points into this otherwise decadent breakfast treat.
Ginger. Puts the “ginger” in this gingerbread cinnamon roll recipe.Molasses. Lends its iconic robust flavor to the gingerbread-flavored dough.
Cinnamon + Nutmeg + Cloves. If there was ever a more perfect blend of spices for the holiday it’s news to me because this one has all of my heart.Brown Sugar. Brings additional molasses flavor into both the dough and filling.Egg. Enriches the dough for moist, tender, and soft cinnamon rolls that melt in your mouth.Milk. For enriched doughs, like cinnamon rolls, milk is the preferred liquid over water because it tenderizes and softens the dough.
Cream Cheese. Adds a wonderful tang and richness to the cinnamon roll frosting.Powdered Sugar. Sweetens and thickens the cream cheese frosting.
Vanilla. Enhances both the flavor of the gingerbread cinnamon roll dough and the spiced cream cheese frosting.
The Directions
Storage Tips
To Store. Baked gingerbread cinnamon rolls may be stored, covered in an airtight container, for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.To Freeze. Baked gingerbread cinnamon rolls may be stored in a freezer for up to 3 months. For best results, store unfrosted and wrapped tightly in plastic with an outer layer of foil. Defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating and then topping with frosting.To Reheat. Warm cinnamon rolls in an oven preheated to 350 degrees F until heated through. Alternatively, you may also heat individual rolls in the microwave for a few seconds until warm.
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
Stand Mixer. A 7-quart mixer is a must if you’re a regular baker in the kitchen.9×13 Pan. This one will look beautiful on your holiday table.Rolling Pin. For rolling out the dough perfectly even.
Now all that remains is to eat these fabulous, fluffy, gingerbread cookie-flavored rolls warm from the oven. Make sure to use PLAIN, not mint-flavored dental floss, or it may make your rolls taste like mint.
Once the rolls are shaped, arrange them in the pan, cover with plastic wrap, then let rise in the refrigerator overnight.The next morning, set the pan out at room temperature for a half-hour, then bake as directed.
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