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Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

These pumpkin cinnamon rolls are super soft and delicious. Made with a sweet, brioche-style dough and filled with pumpkin and warm pumpkin pie spice, they are the perfect blend of cinnamon rolls and pumpkin pie. Topped with cream cheese icing, these rolls make a nice breakfast treat perfect for fall.

Cinnamon roll with cream cheese icing and chopped pecans.

Fresh, warm cinnamon rolls are a tasty breakfast treat any time of year, but these brioche pumpkin cinnamon rolls with pumpkin spice filling are incredibly delicious in the cooler fall months.

If you are craving a pumpkin spice pastry and don’t have time for cinnamon rolls, you may enjoy a batch of easy Air-Fryer Pumpkin Hand Pies or a fresh batch of Bakery-Style Pumpkin Scones.

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Cinnamon rolls are a popular brunch addition. They are usually made with a soft yeast dough that has been coated in sugar and cinnamon and rolled to produce soft, squishy buns with a gooey cinnamon swirl.

There are endless variations of these delicious rolls. Such as the deliciously gooey Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls, or the sweet and chocolatey Hot Cocoa Cinnamon Rolls.

This unique recipe uses pumpkin puree, along with a brioche-style dough, for a soft, slightly sweet roll that is light and moist.

Then the filling is made with pumpkin puree, brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice for tasty swirls that are reminiscent of pumpkin pie.

The warm rolls are then topped with a simple cream cheese frosting for the perfect fall treat. For a bit of added texture, you can add some chopped nuts, such as pecans or walnuts; chopped Candied Pecans would also be delicious with these pumpkin rolls.

This recipe is relatively easy for cinnamon rolls. It is made with simple pantry ingredients, and because we use a stand mixer to make the dough, it is mostly hands-off. However, directions have been included if you want to make them by hand.

Cinnamon roll cut in half to show cinnamon swirls.  Topped with icing and chopped nuts.

Ingredients & Substitutions

For a full list of ingredients and measurements, see the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Whole milk: The fat in the whole milk helps make these cinnamon rolls extra soft and fluffy. 2% milk can be used, but try to avoid 1% or skim milk, as the rolls will not have the same texture.

Sugar: This recipe uses both brown and granulated sugar for the cinnamon rolls and powdered sugar in the frosting. The granulated sugar in the dough adds just a bit of sweetness, while brown sugar makes up the filling. You can use light or dark brown sugar; both will work fine.

Yeast: The brioche dough for these rolls is made with traditional, active, dry yeast. If you want to speed up the rise time, you can use instant yeast instead, but you will want to increase the amount to one tablespoon.

Egg: Egg is an important ingredient in brioche dough and makes the dough extra soft and rich. If you are allergic to eggs, leave it out, but the dough will not have the same texture.

Butter: Another essential ingredient is butter. This pumpkin cinnamon roll recipe requires butter in the dough and the filling. I always use salted butter, but unsalted butter will work, too.

Pumpkin puree: Not to be confused with pumpkin pie filling. Should you decide to use pumpkin pie filling you will likely want to reduce both the salt and the spices.

All-purpose flour: This recipe only requires regular all-purpose flour. If you don’t have it on hand, you can substitute it with bread flour.

Spices: Pumpkin spice mix is the spice used for the filling in these cinnamon rolls. This can be purchased pre-mixed, or you can make your own homemade pumpkin pie spice. Alternatively, you can simply replace with ground cinnamon.

Cream cheese: Cream cheese is used for the rich and creamy frosting. If you don’t like cream cheese frosting, feel free to substitute it with a simple icing drizzle or your favourite vanilla frosting. If you don’t want to make your own, store-bought frosting from the baking aisle may also be used.

Ingredients for pumpkin cinnamon rolls.

Making Dough in a Stand Mixer

Begin by warming the milk to about 110°F (it should feel warm, not hot) and add it to the bowl of a stand mixer along with the yeast and sugar. Let sit for about 10 minutes until frothy.

Next add the salt, half cup of pumpkin puree, egg and milk. Using the dough hook attachment turn the mixer to low to mix the wet ingredients, then gradually add the flour.

Once most of the flour has been incorporated, cut the butter into small cubes and add to the mixer. Turn the mixer to medium speed and allow it to mix for 8-10 minutes until you have a smooth, soft dough.

Mixed dough forming a ball in the bowl of a stand mixer.

Pro Tip – When you first add the butter to the dough it is going to seem very sticky. Just let the mixer do its job. As it kneads the dough it will pull away from the sides and come together to form a soft ball.

When the dough is soft and elastic turn off the mixer. Turn the dough out onto the counter and knead it a few times and form a ball. Then return to the bowl, cover and let rise in a warm, draft free place until doubled. This will take between 1-2 hours depending on how warm your house is.

Making the Cinnamon Rolls

Once the dough has doubled, turn it out onto a floured counter or pastry mat and roll out to a rectangle of about 15×12 inches. The long end should be facing you.

Pro Tip – Do not knead the dough before rolling out into a rectangle. Working the dough before rolling will make it harder to roll. Simply turn it onto the counter and roll it out.

Mix the ingredients for the filling and spread over the dough leaving 1 inch on the long edge furthest from you bare.

Starting from the long edge closest to you, roll the dough to form a log.

Dough rolled into a rectangle spread with cinnamon mixture.

Cut the dough into 12 rolls and place in a greased 9×13 pan.

Cover and let rise approximately 30 minutes.

Twelve unbaked cinnamon rolls in a baking pan.

After the rolls have risen, bake at 375°F for approximately 25 minutes until golden brown.

Remove from the oven and ice as desired before serving.

Making Dough Without a Mixer

If you don’t have a stand mixer that isn’t a problem. These cinnamon rolls can easily be made by hand, they just take a bit more work.

Honestly, I find it extremely therapeutic to knead dough by hand, so when I have time I often forgo the mixer in favour of hand kneading.

Without a mixer you will follow the same directions to warm the milk and proof the yeast, then stir in the salt, pumpkin and egg.

Once the wet ingredients are mixed, add the flour and stir to combine until it forms a dough, then turn it onto a floured counter and stretch it out a bit to form a small squarish shape.

Cut the softened butter into cubes, place them onto the dough, then fold the dough over and begin to knead the butter into the dough. It will become very sticky at this point. This is normal. You can add a tiny bit more flour if it is sticking too much to your hands, but try not to add too much. As you work the dough it will become less sticky.

You are going to knead it for 10-15 minutes. As you work the dough it will become soft and smooth and should no longer stick to the counter. Keep going until you have a soft, supple dough. Then form it into a ball, place it in a bowl and let rise.

Pan of cinnamon rolls with cream cheese icing.

Preparing Cinnamon Rolls the Night Before

If you want to save yourself time in the morning but still want fresh-out-of-the-oven cinnamon rolls, you can prepare these pumpkin cinnamon rolls the night before.

You will want to start the process later in the evening, usually a couple of hours before you go to bed.

Once you have reached the step of cutting the cinnamon rolls and have placed them in the baking pan, cover the rolls with plastic wrap and place them in the refrigerator.

In the morning, please take the rolls out of the fridge and let them rise at room temperature for 30 minutes, then bake as directed.

Cinnamon cut open on a plate topped with icing and chopped pecans.

Storing Cinnamon Rolls

Due to the pumpkin filling and the cream cheese frosting, leftover cinnamon rolls should be stored in the refrigerator.

Make sure they are tightly wrapped. Refrigerated rolls will tend to dry out a bit after a day, but if you pop them in the microwave for 30 seconds they should be fine.

These rolls also freeze very well, but I recommend freezing them before frosting them. You can freeze them in an airtight container or ziplock bag. They will keep for several months.

More Delicious Bread and Rolls

More Pumpkin Recipes

Cinnamon roll on a plate with frosting and chopped pecans.

Printable Recipe

Cinnamon roll with cream cheese icing and chopped pecans.

Brioche Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

These pumpkin cinnamon rolls are super soft and delicious. Made with a sweet, brioche style dough and filled with pumpkin and warm pumpkin pie spice they are the perfect blend of cinnamon rolls and pumpkin pie.
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Course: Breads, Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Rising time: 2 hours
Total Time: 3 hours
Servings: 12
Calories: 333kcal
Author: Deanna

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup whole milk
  • ¼ Cup granulated sugar
  • 2 ¼ teaspoon active dry yeast
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 ½ cups all purpose flour
  • ¼ cup salted butter softened

Pumpkin filling

  • ¾ cup pumpkin puree
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 2 Tbsps salted butter melted

Cream Cheese Icing

  • ½ Cup cream cheese softened
  • 2 tablespoon salted butter softened
  • 2 Cups powdered sugar
  • 3-4 tablespoon Milk or cream

Optional Topping

  • chopped pecans

Instructions

  • Warm the milk to approximately 110°F either in the microwave or on the stove, it should feel warm, but not hot. Add it to the bowl of a stand mixer along with the yeast and sugar. Let sit for about 10 minutes until nice and frothy.
  • Add the ½ cup pumpkin puree, egg and salt to the milk mixture and turn the mixer on low just to combine the ingredients.
  • Add the flour and mix until it comes together to form a dough, then cut the softened butter into small cubes and add to the dough. When you first add the butter the dough will become very sticky, but just let the mixer do its job and it will all come together.
  • Turn the mixer up to medium speed and allow it to mix for 8-10 minutes until all the dough has pulled away from the bowl and you have a soft, elastic dough.
  • Once the dough is soft and elastic, turn off the mixer and turn the dough onto the counter. Knead a few times and form a ball, then return the dough to the bowl, cover and let rise until doubled. This will take 1-2 hours depending on the warmth and humidity of your home.
  • After the dough has risen, turn it out onto a floured counter or pastry mat and roll it into a rectangle of about 15×12 inches with the long end facing you.
  • Mix the ¾ cup pumpkin puree, melted butter, brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice in a small bowl.
  • Spread the pumpkin mixture over the dough leaving 1 inch on the long end furthest from you bare.
  • From the long end closest to you, roll the dough to form a log, then cut into 12 rolls. Place the rolls into a greased 9×13 baking pan, then cover and let rise for approximately 30 minutes.
  • While the rolls are rising, preheat the oven to 375°F
  • Once the rolls have risen, uncover and bake on the middle rack for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
  • Remove from the oven, let cool for 5-10 minutes and ice as desired.

Cream Cheese Icing

  • Using a stand or hand mixer, cream the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and mix well, then add the milk a bit at at time until you have the consistency you prefer.

Notes

See details in post for directions on mixing the dough without a stand mixer.
Do not knead the dough before rolling out into a rectangle. Working the dough before rolling will make it harder to roll. Simply turn it onto the counter and roll it out. 
Adding a few chopped pecans to the iced rolls, or to the filling is a nice addition if you want a bit of crunch. 
 

Nutrition

Estimated Nutrition Facts
Brioche Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
Amount per Serving
Calories
333
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
14
g
22
%
Saturated Fat
 
8
g
50
%
Trans Fat
 
1
g
Sodium
 
313
mg
14
%
Carbohydrates
 
46
g
15
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
15
g
17
%
Protein
 
7
g
14
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

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