Kicking off December the best way I know how to, with these Overnight Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls.
As I’m sure you all can tell, I could not be more excited that December is here! December is my favorite month of the year, it holds so much magic! It’s a time for slowing down, spending time with family and friends, and enjoying the last couple weeks of the year…all while eating delicious food. Of course.
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Since today is December first, I knew I wanted to share a recipe that screamed Christmas, and these Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls have Christmas written all over them. In my family we always do a sweet and savory breakfast on Christmas morning, my mom’s Monkey Bread with a side of something like a quiche or strata. Christmas Eve morning however is reserved for Cinnamon Rolls. There’s not one person in my large family of nine that does not love cinnamon rolls. I’ve made a lot of them over my years of writing HBH, see these Eggnog Cinnamon Rolls, these Pull-Apart Cinnamon Rolls, and also these Brioche Cinnamon Rolls in the HBH Cookbook. I know, I know, how many Cinnamon Roll recipes does one need? Apparently a lot! These Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls are something extra special.
The dough is possibly one of the most delicious cinnamon roll doughs ever. Just like gingerbread, it’s made with a good amount of molasses. The molasses not only adds flavor, but keeps the rolls soft and moist. I also added a splash of vanilla extract, because everything made with vanilla is better. But the best thing about these rolls is the filling. The incredible swirls throughout come from a mix of Land O Lakes® Butter, brown sugar, plenty of cinnamon and plenty of ginger. I like to use a good amount of butter in my center filling. To me, that cinnamon (and ginger) swirl is the best part of a cinnamon roll and I like to make sure it’s extra sweet and extra gooey. The key is using salted butter. A high quality salted butter, like Land O Lakes® Butter, adds a distinctiveness to baked goods that sets them above. Trust me on this, it’s that extra special touch that every cinnamon roll needs. For the frosting, there was no doubt in my mind that I needed to do a cream cheese frosting with vanilla beans studded throughout. The cream cheese is not an overly sweet or overpowering flavor, so it allows for the cinnamon roll to shine.
With Christmas Eve and Christmas morning being so hectic, I wanted to give you guys a breakfast recipe that you could prepare the day before, keep in the fridge, and then just bake up in the morning. Meaning you can make these on Christmas Eve day or even the day before Christmas Eve. Then just take them out the next morning and bake. These are PERFECT for our family since we always open gifts first thing before breakfast. I, of course, tested these rolls with my family before sharing with you. The fact that the entire pan was gone within a few minutes of coming out of the oven means that everyone, brothers included, loved these rolls. Again, they’re super moist, buttery, sweet, gooey and all things incredible. I really could not think of a better family holiday breakfast. I am excited to make these again for Christmas in T-minus twenty-four days. Let the countdown begin!
Three weeks from Monday! {This post is sponsored by Land O’Lakes. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Half Baked Harvest cooking!}
