Gingerbread cinnamon rolls

There’s nothing quite as comforting as warm, spiced cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven. Now, imagine the cozy flavors of gingerbread baked into soft, fluffy rolls, topped with a luscious cream cheese glaze. These Easy Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls With Cream Cheese Glaze are perfect for a festive breakfast, a holiday brunch, or even a cozy winter dessert. With a blend of classic spices—cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves—these rolls fill your kitchen with a warm, aromatic hug the moment they bake. Best of all, this recipe is approachable enough for bakers of all levels, whether you’re a seasoned pro or a beginner craving sweet indulgence.

Ingredients

Dough:

• 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 2 ¼ tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• ¾ cup warm milk (110°F/45°C)
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 large egg

Filling:

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground ginger
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg

Cream Cheese Glaze:

• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2–3 tbsp milk or cream

Instructions

1. Activate the yeast: In a small bowl, combine warm milk, a pinch of sugar, and yeast. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until frothy.
2. Make the dough: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, salt, and spices. Add melted butter, egg, and frothy yeast mixture. Mix until a soft dough forms.
3. Knead: Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Alternatively, use a stand mixer with a dough hook for 5–6 minutes.
4. First rise: Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a clean towel, and let rise in a warm area for 1–1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
5. Prepare filling: In a small bowl, mix softened butter, brown sugar, and spices until well combined.
6. Roll out dough: Punch down risen dough and roll into a 12×18 inch rectangle on a floured surface.
7. Spread filling: Evenly spread the spiced butter mixture over the dough rectangle, leaving a ½ inch border along the edges.
8. Roll and slice: Starting from a long edge, tightly roll dough into a log. Slice into 12 even rolls and place them in a greased 9×13 inch baking pan.
9. Second rise: Cover rolls with a towel and let rise another 30–40 minutes until puffy.
10. Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake rolls for 25–30 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool slightly in the pan.
11. Make glaze: Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Add milk gradually until desired pourable consistency is achieved.
12. Glaze rolls: Drizzle cream cheese glaze over warm rolls before serving. Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.

Tips for Perfect Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls

• Don’t over-flour: Too much flour can make the dough dense. Keep it soft and slightly sticky.
• Warm environment for rising: A slightly warm kitchen helps the yeast activate faster. You can preheat your oven to 200°F, turn it off, and place the dough inside to rise.
• Even slices: Use dental floss or a sharp knife to slice rolls evenly without squishing them.
• Glaze variation: Add a pinch of cinnamon or ginger to the glaze for extra flavor.

Variations

• Mini rolls: Cut the dough into smaller rolls for bite-sized treats.
• Nutty filling: Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the filling for crunch.
• Chocolate twist: Sprinkle mini chocolate chips in the filling for a chocolatey holiday treat.

Serving Suggestions

• Pair with a hot cup of coffee, chai latte, or spiced hot chocolate.
• Serve as a decadent brunch treat alongside fresh fruit or yogurt.
• Ideal for holiday gatherings, gifting, or a cozy morning at home.

Fun Facts & Cultural Context

Cinnamon rolls trace their roots to Sweden, where they are called kanelbullar. Incorporating gingerbread spices gives these rolls a festive holiday twist, inspired by traditional gingerbread cookies. Combining these two beloved treats results in a sweet, aromatic pastry that perfectly bridges cultural traditions and modern seasonal baking.

Easy Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls With Cream Cheese Glaze

Soft, spiced gingerbread cinnamon rolls topped with a creamy glaze, perfect for holiday breakfasts.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 40 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Servings: 12 rolls

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American, Autumn

Calories: 310

Ingredients

  

Dough

• 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• ¼ tsp cloves
• ¾ cup warm milk
• ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
• 1 egg large

Filling

• ½ cup unsalted butter softened
• ½ cup brown sugar packed
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground ginger
• ¼ tsp nutmeg

Cream Cheese Glaze

• 4 oz cream cheese softened
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2-3 tbsp milk or cream

Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• Baking sheet
• Wire rack
• Hand mixer or stand mixer

Method

 

1. Activate yeast with warm milk and sugar.
2. Mix dry ingredients for dough and combine with butter, egg, and yeast mixture.
3. Knead dough until smooth and elastic.
4. Let dough rise until doubled in size.
5. Prepare filling by mixing butter, brown sugar, and spices.
6. Roll dough into rectangle, spread filling evenly.
7. Roll dough into log and slice into rolls.
8. Let rolls rise until puffy.
9. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25–30 minutes.
10. Beat glaze ingredients until smooth.
11. Drizzle glaze over warm rolls and serve.

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat slightly before serving.