Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls

Serve these gingerbread cinnamon rolls at your next holiday gathering. They come out buttery, sugary, and taste like gingerbread.

• Preparation Time: 45 mins
• Cooking Time: 25 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins
• Calories: 530 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon molasses
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 3 tablespoons molasses
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• cooking spray
• 1 (.25 ounce) envelope active dry yeast
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 tablespoon whole milk, or more as needed
• 0.5 cup sour cream
• 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 0.5 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1.5 cups powdered sugar
• 0.5 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 0.25 cup granulated sugar
• 0.5 cup warm whole milk (110 degrees F (43 degrees C))
• 4.75 cups all-purpose flour, divided, or more as needed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bake in the preheated oven, uncovered, until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes.

Step 2

Starting with one long side, roll dough into a log, pinching seam to seal.

Step 3

To make the dough: Combine warm milk, yeast, and 2 tablespoons of sugar in a small bowl; stir together until combined. Let sit until foamy, about 5 minutes.

Step 4

Add salt, 4 cups of the flour, and remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on low speed until just combined, about 15 seconds. With mixer running on low speed, add milk mixture, sour cream, butter, molasses, and egg. Continue beating until dough forms, 1 to 2 minutes.

Step 5

Switch to a dough hook attachment. Beat on medium-low speed until dough is smooth and elastic, 6 to 9 minutes; add remaining 1/4 cup flour 1/2 to 1 teaspoon at a time, if necessary. If the dough is sticking to your hands and not pulling away from the sides of the bowl, add the extra flour.

Step 6

Place dough in a large bowl greased with cooking spray and turn to coat. Cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm draft-free place until dough has doubled in size, about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Step 7

Generously spray a 13x 9-inch pan with cooking spray. Lightly punch down dough. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into an 18x10-inch rectangle.

Step 8

To make the filling: Spread 1/2 cup butter evenly over dough using a small offset spatula, leaving a 1/2-inch border on one long side. Stir together brown sugar, molasses, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves in a small bowl until well combined. Sprinkle evenly over butter, gently pressing down with a rolling pin to adhere mixture to butter.

Step 9

Slice into 12 even rolls (about 1 ½-inches each). Place rolls in the prepared pan, leaving about a ½-inch space between each roll. Cover, and let rise in a warm draft-free place until doubled in size, 45 to 60 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 10

To make the glaze: Add cream cheese and 4 tablespoons butter to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; beat on medium speed until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk. Beat on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. If desired, add more milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.

Step 11

Spread glaze evenly over warm rolls; serve immediately.