Description
Delight in these festive Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls featuring a soft, spiced dough filled with a rich molasses and brown sugar cinnamon mixture. Topped with a creamy cream cheese glaze and charming gingerbread people, these rolls offer a perfect blend of holiday flavors and a visually festive treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough:
- 4 1/2-5 cups all-purpose flour, divided
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 envelopes (1/4 ounce each) quick-rising dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk
- 6 Tablespoons butter
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
Filling:
- 4 Tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 Tablespoons molasses
- 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Glaze:
- 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 4 Tablespoons butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 12 icing gingerbread people
Instructions
- Prepare Dough: In a large bowl, combine 2 cups of flour, granulated sugar, yeast, and salt. Microwave milk and butter until the butter melts and the mixture reaches 128-130°F (warm). Add this warm milk mixture to the flour mixture and stir until blended. Stir in lightly beaten eggs and gradually add remaining flour until a dough forms.
- Knead Dough: On a lightly floured surface, knead dough for about 5 minutes until smooth, adding more flour if necessary. Roll the dough into a 20 x 16-inch rectangle.
- Prepare Filling and Spread: Mix melted butter and molasses, then brush evenly over the rolled-out dough. In a separate bowl, combine light brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg and sprinkle this spice mixture over the buttered dough.
- Roll and Cut: Starting from the long edge, roll the dough tightly and pinch the seam to seal. Cut the roll into 12 equal pieces.
- Proof Dough: Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and arrange the rolls cut-side up. Cover with a cloth and let them rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size.
- Bake Rolls: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Once risen, bake the rolls for 25 minutes or until the tops turn golden brown.
- Make Glaze: While the rolls bake, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar and vanilla extract, continuing to beat until the glaze is creamy and spreadable.
- Glaze and Decorate: Spread the cream cheese glaze over the warm rolls and top each with an icing gingerbread person for a festive touch.
Notes
- Make Ahead: Prepare the rolls and arrange them in the baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Before baking, allow them to come to room temperature and rise until doubled, about 1 hour. Then bake as directed.
- Swirls of Flavor Tips: Add dried cranberries to the brown sugar filling for a tart surprise, mini chocolate chips to the dough for extra sweetness, or finely chopped crystallized ginger to the filling for enhanced ginger flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
