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Quick and Easy Gingerbread Brioche Cinnamon Rolls…with Cinnamon Browned Butter Frosting. Just the holiday breakfast you’re looking for. Buttery, eggy brioche dough made with ginger for a seasonal twist, swirled with molasses and sprinkled with spiced ginger sugar, and frosted generously with a browned butter and cream cheese frosting. There’s nothing not to love, every bite is melt in your mouth delicious. These are a great make-ahead breakfast roll, perfect for your holiday celebrations!
This post is sponsored by Fleischmann’s®.
Happy Friday before Christmas. I have to say, I am so excited for the next few days. Most of my family arrives tomorrow and after this weekend the bulk of my work will be done for the remainder of the year. It’s been crazy busy leading up to Christmas, but I’m feeling grateful and excited for everything we’ve been able to accomplish this last year.
The next few days are all about chilling with my family, cooking our favorite holiday recipes, and probably mixing up a lot of cocktails too. So really, the cooking never stops, but I do it because I love it.
When it comes to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, my family has a few traditions, but the one we never break? Cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning. I’ve been making cinnamon rolls for as long as I can remember and nothing beats homemade. Last year I made these Eggnog Cinnamon Rolls, but this year I’m switching it up again and baking these easy spiced gingerbread cinnamon rolls.
To make the dough.
First, these are not your typical cinnamon roll. I wanted them to be extra cinnamony, but also perfectly spiced with ginger and hinted with molasses too. Just like your favorite gingerbread cookies.
For the dough, simply mix flour with Fleischmann’s® Rapid Rise Yeast, a touch of ginger, and a pinch of salt. Add warm milk, a touch of honey, eggs, and salted butter. Then mix until smooth, let the dough rest for ten to fifteen minutes, and then it’s time to shape the rolls. And that’s the beauty of Fleischmann’s® RapidRise® yeast! We get to skip an entire hour-long rise.
For me, skipping the rising step is everything. It means I can start making these rolls at the last minute and not be stressed about getting them prepped and ready before things get crazy in the kitchen.
For the filling, I mixed the butter with blackstrap molasses for a true gingerbread swirl throughout. Then sprinkled on a simple mix of brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.
I like to use brown sugar for a nice depth of flavor. And I go heavy on the cinnamon and ginger for sweet, cinnamon, gingery swirls throughout.
Shaping the rolls.
Roll the dough, cut into rolls, and place them into a baking dish. Simple, but always so pretty.
If you enjoy warm rolls fresh out of the oven, you can do a quick rise and bake right away. Then simply frost, eat, and enjoy! Cinnamon rolls in under two hours. Perfect for baking up super last minute.
For the frosting, I did something a little more special, but still simple. Browned butter + cream cheese + vanilla + cinnamon. Simple, but incredibly delicious when spread over these gingery rolls.
Can you make these ahead of time?
Yes, you can! I love the fact that I can make these from start to finish in under two hours. But I’m also fully aware that none of you want to be prepping breakfast on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. So, I made sure these rolls could be made ahead of time, for any of you looking to get a jump start.
Here is what I do. I make these a day or two ahead and let them rise in the fridge, skipping the counter rise completely. That way, on Christmas Eve morning, all I have to do is bake and frost them. This gives me plenty of time to one, sleep in, and two, relax instead of spending the morning in the kitchen.
I cannot think of a better holiday breakfast to enjoy with your family. Of course, these are great for Christmas, but they can truly be enjoyed all winter long. I’ve yet to share these with my family, so I can’t wait to recreate them next week. Fingers crossed that they love these rolls as much as I do!
And with that, I hope to see you tomorrow for the very last Christmas Cocktail Saturday of 2019!
If you make these easy gingerbread brioche cinnamon rolls, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Easy Gingerbread Brioche Cinnamon Rolls with Cinnamon Browned Butter Frosting
Servings: 12
Calories Per Serving: 423 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 - 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more if needed
- 1 packet Fleischmann’s® Rapid Rise Yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3/4 cup warm whole milk
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 large eggs
- 6 tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature
Gingerbread Sugar Filling
- ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
- ½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing
- 3 tablespoons molasses
Cinnamon Browned Butter Frosting
- 6 tablespoons salted butter
- 4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- 1¼ cups confectioners' sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- 1. To make the dough. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine 3 1/2 cups flour, the yeast, ginger, and salt. Add the warm milk, honey, eggs, and butter. Using the dough hook, mix until the flour is completely incorporated, about 4-5 minutes. If the dough seems sticky, add the remaining 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of flour. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes or up to a few hours at room temperature.2. Meanwhile, make the filling. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In a separate small bowl, mix together the butter and molasses. Line a 9x13 inch baking dish with parchment. 3. Lightly dust your work surface with flour. Turn out the dough, punch it down, and roll it into a rectangle about 10 x 16 inches. Spread the molasses butter evenly over the dough. Sprinkle the ginger sugar evenly over the butter and lightly push into the butter. Starting with the long edge closest to you, carefully roll the dough into a log, keeping it fairly tight as you go. When you reach the edge, pinch along the edge to seal. Using a sharp knife, cut into 12-15 rolls smaller rolls or 8 large rolls. Place the rolls into the prepared baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise 20-30 minutes.4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake the rolls for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. For larger rolls, bake an additional 10 minutes. 5. Meanwhile, make the frosting. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Cook for about 5 minutes, until the butter is lightly browned and smells toasted. Immediately remove from the heat. Let cool.6. In a medium bowl, beat together the cooled browned butter, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla until smooth. If the frosting is too thick for your liking, add a tablespoon of milk.7. Spread the frosting over the warm rolls. Serve warm and enjoy.
Notes
To Make Ahead: prepare the rolls through step 3. Do not let the rolls rise at room temp. Cover the rolls and place in the fridge (up to overnight). When ready to bake, remove the rolls from the fridge 45 minutes prior to baking, then bake as directed.
To Prepare and Freeze: assemble the rolls through step 3, then cover the pan and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw the rolls overnight in the fridge or on the counter for a few hours. Once thawed, bake as directed.
To Bake and Freeze: bake the rolls as directed and let cool completely. Cover well and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw and warm before serving.
{This post is sponsored by Fleischmann’s®. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Half Baked Harvest cooking!}
Hi there! Can I use Active Dry Yeast instead of Rapid Rise Yeast? So excited to try these! Thanks!
Hi!
Yes you can use active yeast, you will just need to proof this in the milk before mixing the ingredients. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I just made these and used Rapid Rise Yeast. The dough didn’t double in size nor are they rising now that I have them cut and in the 9×13 pan? Going to put into the refrig overnight. What could I have done wrong? The yeast didn’t seem to bubble up and proof like it usually does. Is that because I used Rapid RIse instead of instant? THanks!
Hi Rebecca,
I know you said you used rapid rise yeast, but the packet should also say “instant yeast” or “active yeast” on it. If it was instant yeast you did not need to let it proof and bubble so that could be your issues. If you used active yeast and it didn’t bubble that probably means your liquid was too hot or the yeast was bad. I hope this makes sense. Please let me know how else I can help you! xTieghan
These turned out amazing! The best cinnamon roll recipe I have ever made.
Thank you so much Carol! xTieghan
Quite messy but very good.
Thank you Amy! xTieghan
Made these and froze for a few days before finishing them on Christmas morning. Was the perfect delicious breakfast to enjoy with coffee and opening gifts. Thanks HBH!
Thank you!! I am so glad this was the perfect breakfast for Christmas morning! So magical! xTieghan
I made these twice over Christmas and they were a HUGE hit. The dough was so easy to make and everything came together quickly. The brown butter frosting was to die for and I’ll be using that for other recipes in the future!
Thank you so much Kelly! I am so glad you loved this! xTieghan
Hi Tieghqn, Hope you’re enjoying some great family time. Made these for Christmas morning and will be starting a new tradition at our house. Roll our eyes back delicious! PS My husband asks about the Sunday Meatballs ALL THE TIME! ? Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Yes!! That is so great to hear! Thank you Sarah! xTieghan
Excited to try these… I made them through step three, left in the fridge and they didn’t seem to “rise”… could the yeast have de activated somehow?
HI! No, I don’t think so. How did the rolls turn out? They should have risen in the oven a bit and puffed up. Did they? Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and Happy New Year! xTieghan
I made these for Christmas morning and they were sooo good! The dough was a little tricky to get right (had to add more flour) but the end result was amazing. Thanks!
Thank you so much Becky! xTieghan
This was a huge hit this Christmas! My family and friends absolutely loved these rolls and have requested them anytime I make Cinnamon Rolls now! I used your Gingerbread Cupcake icing instead because I have a lot of non-Cream cheese icing lovers. They were a huge hit! Thank you!
I am so glad these turned out so well and worked for everyone! Thank you for trying them Christie! xTieghan
Hi Tiegan,
Made these yesterday as a Christmas Day project. I actually tried the overnight method and they turned out great. The icing is a killer frosting. Totally great frosting.
Thank you so much Bruce!! I am so glad these turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Another year – another Christmas hit from HBH!! Last year, HBH’s recipe for Cranberry Brie Tarts, was the hit for my dinner guests! Today’s hit was this recipe for Easy Gingerbread Brioche Cinnamon Rolls!! Tiegan’s directions were spot on! Not only was this an easy recipe to make, but it was also a huge gastronomical delight! I don’t have a stand mixer with a dough hook, but do enter every drawing in an attempt to win one! Instead, I used my hand mixer briefly, and then used a sturdy wooden spoon to finish the dough mixing, and it worked just fine. Thank you Tiegan for sharing your recipes, and for always making me look like a pro when I prepare and serve them!! Merry Christmas!
This is so amazing to hear! Thank you for trying these, Tracy! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!! xTieghan
Hi, just wanted to say when you translate to metric it nearly DOUBLES!!!! the amount of flour needed! Not sure what conversion thing you are using but it’s not working properly. It also told me I only needed 1 tbl of honey not two…
HI Rachel! Thank you for making me aware of this. Looking into it right away. So sorry for any trouble. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and I hope you had Merry Christmas! Sorry my response is a bit late! xTieghan
Hi, I just baked these without the icing ahead of time for Christmas. Do I need to freeze them or can I refrigerate them? Will Ice them on Christmas day
HI! You can simply leaves these in the fridge. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and I hope you had Merry Christmas! Sorry my response is a bit late! xTieghan
Hello,
These sound absolutely amazing, but I was wondering if there would be a way to make them gluten free? Can you just sub an all-purpose gluten free flour for the regular?
Thanks!
Annika
Hi!! I have never made this with GF flour so I can’t really say how it will turn out. If you do try it, I recommend Cup4Cup flour. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and I hope you had Merry Christmas! Sorry my response is a bit late! xTieghan