Easy Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls You'll Make Every Christmas

Name: The Best Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls Recipe (Perfect For Christmas Morning!)
Prep time: 2 h 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 3 h
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup whole milk (or almond milk), warmed to 110°F; 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet); ½ cup granulated sugar; ⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted; ¼ cup molasses; 2 large eggs, room temperature; 4½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting; 1 teaspoon salt; 1½ teaspoons ground ginger; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg; ¼ teaspoon ground cloves; ½ cup unsalted butter, softened; ¾ cup brown sugar, packed; 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon; 1 tablespoon ground ginger; ¼ cup molasses; Pinch of salt; 4 oz cream cheese, softened; ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened; 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar; 2 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2-3 tablespoons milk (as needed); Pinch of salt

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

gingerbread cinnamon rolls with wintery bakground

These Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls are my new Christmas morning tradition! Soft, pillowy cinnamon rolls get a festive twist with molasses and warm gingerbread spices, then topped with the most incredible cream cheese frosting. The best part? You can prep them the night before so you’re not stuck in the kitchen while everyone’s opening presents.

How My Husband Turned Me Into a Pastry Person

I’ll be honest—I wasn’t always a “pastry with my coffee” kind of person. But my husband? He’s been team pastry-and-latte since day one. Over the years, he’s converted me, and now I can’t imagine my morning coffee (made in my beloved Nespresso machine, which I literally cannot live without) without something sweet on the side.

Christmas morning is when this really shines. While everyone’s shuffling around in their Christmas pajamas, I’m pulling fresh cinnamon rolls out of the oven. It’s become our tradition—homemade cinnamon rolls every single Christmas morning. The smell alone is worth waking up early for!

This year, I’m switching things up with these gingerbread cinnamon rolls, and honestly? I don’t think I’m ever going back to the classic version.

Why Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls Are the Ultimate Christmas Brunch

Let me tell you why this recipe is a game-changer for your Christmas morning spread:

The flavor combination is unreal. You get all those cozy gingerbread spices—ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves—mixed with molasses for that deep, warm sweetness. Then there’s the brown sugar filling that gets all gooey and caramelized. Top it off with tangy cream cheese frosting, and you’ve got yourself the perfect bite.

They’re impressive but not complicated. Yes, there’s yeast involved, but I promise this recipe is beginner-friendly. If you can make regular cinnamon rolls, you can make these.

They’re a complete brunch item. You don’t need a whole spread—these rolls ARE the main event. Pair them with coffee, maybe some fresh fruit, and you’re done. Perfect for a cozy Christmas brunch when you want something special without the stress.

The Overnight Chilling Method (And Why It’s a Total Game-Changer)

Okay, here’s where I’m going to save your Christmas morning sanity: you can (and should!) make these the night before.

Now, do you have to chill the dough overnight? No. You can absolutely make these start-to-finish in one go if you have the time. But let me tell you why the overnight method is my favorite:

Benefits of Chilling Overnight:

Better flavor – Cold fermentation develops deeper, more complex flavors. It’s what bakeries do!
More flexible timing – Do the work before Christmas Eve festivities start, wake up to an easier morning
Fluffier texture – The slow rise creates an even more tender crumb
Less stress – One less thing to worry about on Christmas morning when you’re already juggling gifts, family calls, and keeping the coffee flowing

How It Works:

After you’ve rolled and cut your cinnamon rolls and placed them in the baking pan, just cover them tightly with plastic wrap and pop them in the fridge instead of letting them do their second rise on the counter. That’s it! They’ll slowly rise in the refrigerator overnight (up to 16 hours), and in the morning, you just pull them out, let them wake up at room temperature for about 30-45 minutes, then bake.

The dough is totally forgiving, so even if you forget about them for a bit in the morning, they’ll be fine.

Your Christmas Morning Timeline (With Overnight Rolls!)

Let me paint you a picture of how this actually works on Christmas morning, because I know you’re wondering if you’ll still have warm cinnamon rolls ready when you need them.

The Night Before (Christmas Eve):

7:00 PM – Make your dough, let it rise, roll it out, cut your rolls
8:30 PM – Pop the pan in the fridge, cover tightly, and you’re DONE
Now go enjoy your Christmas Eve! Watch a movie, wrap last-minute gifts, sip some wine—your rolls are handled.

Christmas Morning:

7:00 AM – Wake up, start the coffee (bless my Nespresso), pull rolls from fridge
7:00-7:45 AM – Let rolls sit on counter while you put on your Christmas pajamas, get the coffee going, maybe FaceTime family who’s in a different time zone
7:45 AM – Preheat oven to 350°F
8:00 AM – Rolls go in the oven (they’ll be puffy and ready by now)
8:00-8:30 AM – Open presents! The house smells incredible while everyone’s tearing into gifts
8:30 AM – Pull rolls out, let them cool for 10 minutes while you call more family members or clean up wrapping paper
8:40 AM – Make the cream cheese frosting (takes 5 minutes, max)
8:45 AM – Frost your warm rolls and serve!

See? You’re not sacrificing anything. If anything, you’re getting MORE time with your family on Christmas morning because you’re not elbow-deep in flour while everyone else is having fun.

Alternative Timeline (If You’re Early Birds)

Pull the rolls out at 6:30 AM, let them sit while you do stockings, and bake them at 7:30 AM. Everyone can eat around 8:15 AM before the main present opening. Totally flexible!

gingerbread cinnamon roll on a plate with chritmas themed coffee mug

Tips for Perfect Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls Every Time

Get your temperatures right. Your milk needs to be between 105-115°F to activate the yeast properly—too hot = dead yeast. Too cold = yeast won’t activate. When in doubt, go slightly cooler rather than hotter.

Don’t skimp on the molasses. It’s what gives these rolls that authentic gingerbread flavor. I use regular (not blackstrap) molasses for the best taste.

Room temperature ingredients matter. Especially the eggs! Cold eggs can make your dough tough. Just let them sit on the counter for 20-30 minutes before you start.

The dental floss trick is real. For the cleanest cuts, use unflavored dental floss instead of a knife. Just slide it under the log, cross the ends over the top, and pull. Perfect slices every time.

Frost while they’re warm (not hot). You want them cooled for about 10 minutes so the frosting gets slightly melty and sinks into all those nooks and crannies. Pure heaven.

Cinnamon Rolls proofed — cinnamon rolls proofed in baking pan

Storage and Make-Ahead Options

Room Temperature: These keep for about 2 days in an airtight container. Just microwave for 15-20 seconds to warm them up.

Refrigerator: Store covered for up to 5 days. They’re great cold (yes, really!), or warm them for 20-30 seconds.

Freezer: You can freeze the baked, unfrosted rolls for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight, warm in the oven at 300°F for 10 minutes, then frost and serve.

My favorite trick: Freeze individual frosted rolls wrapped in plastic wrap. Pull one out whenever you want a treat, microwave for 45 seconds, and enjoy with your morning coffee. You’re welcome.

cinnamon rolls spread onto the cinnamon rolls — Cream Cheese Frosting spread onto the cinnamon rolls

Why These Are Better Than Regular Cinnamon Rolls

Look, I love a classic cinnamon roll. But these gingerbread ones hit different during the holidays. The molasses adds this rich, almost caramel-like depth that you just don’t get with regular cinnamon rolls. The spices make your whole house smell like Christmas. And honestly? They feel special in a way that makes Christmas morning even more memorable.

Plus, when people ask what you made, and you say “gingerbread cinnamon rolls,” the reactions are always amazing. It’s unexpected, it’s festive, and it’s SO good.

single gingerbread cinnamon roll on plate with chritmas coffe mug

Commonly Asked Questions

Can I make these without a stand mixer?

Absolutely! You can make the dough completely by hand. Just mix everything in a large bowl with a wooden spoon, then knead by hand on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes. Your arms will get a workout, but it totally works.

What if I don’t have molasses?

Molasses is really what makes these taste like gingerbread, so I highly recommend getting some. But in a pinch, you could substitute honey or maple syrup—just know the flavor will be different and less “gingerbread-y.”

Can I use a different frosting?

Sure! Cream cheese frosting is classic, but you could do a simple powdered sugar glaze (powdered sugar + milk + vanilla) or even brown butter frosting. The cream cheese frosting is my favorite because the tanginess balances the sweet molasses perfectly.

How do I know when my rolls are done baking?

They should be golden brown on top, and if you have an instant-read thermometer, the center should read about 190°F. If you don’t have a thermometer, they should look set in the middle and smell amazing. Don’t overbake or they’ll be dry!

Can I make mini rolls instead of large ones?

es! Roll your dough into a 20×12-inch rectangle instead, then cut into 20-24 smaller pieces. Reduce baking time to 18-22 minutes. Perfect for serving a crowd or freezing individual portions.