• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Lifestyle of a Foodie
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Air Fryer
    • breakfast
    • desserts
    • Diets
    • Drinks
    • Savory
    • Small Batch
    • Recipe collection
  • About me
  • Contact
  • Privacy

Home » breakfast

The Best Fluffy and Soft Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

Published on November 29, 2020 by Chahinez 6 Comments

Spread the love

Pumpkin cinnamon rolls, soft, fluffy, and topped with the best vanilla bean maple cinnamon roll frosting ever. They are our go-to recipe for those fall weekends. The rich pumpkin flavor is the best thing for any pumpkin lover.

Jump to recipe

SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST GET A FREE WEEKLY MEAL PLANNER AND RECIPE CARD!

Subscribe

* indicates required
/ ( mm / dd )
Look at that super soft cinnamon roll center! All thanks to the secret ingredient used when making them.

I can’t believe that pumpkin season is coming to an end. Winter is right around the corner, and I actually am in a full-on denial because I am not ready for it. I love Christmas baking, but fall recipes have a special place in my heart. They are so cozy and comforting and to be honest… I might continue making them throughout the year. Because if 2020 taught me somethings, it is to treat myself all the time because life can be rough.

All the pumpkin recipes I shared with you have brought me a certain sense of peace and comfort that helped me to keep going and stay positive through everything. Think, Easy Single-Serve Pumpkin Mug Cake, Easy and Healthy Pumpkin Smoothie, Easy Homemade Pumpkin Pie… and much more!

These are the best pumpkin cinnamon rolls ever!

As to these Pumpkin cinnamon rolls, I know I am a little late on posting them. But life got in the way, I ended up slacking this whole week because of some obligations but I am back with a breakfast or brunch pumpkin recipe that will change your life!

I actually even restocked my canned pumpkin stash right after thanksgiving just to be able to make these fall-inspired cinnamon rolls for a little while longer.

What makes these pumpkin cinnamon rolls so good?

These pumpkin cinnamon rolls are absolutely fantastic because they take a traditional cinnamon roll recipe and turn it into something fall-inspired wiht a twist. The pumpkin puree and the pumpkin pie spices add an amazing depth of flavor while still staying true to your traditional cinnamon roll recipe.

The best part is that the cinnamon roll icing used for this recipe is made out of maple syrup and vanilla beans (you can use regular vanilla extract if you don’t have vanilla beans for the same amazing flavor). This makes it not too sweet, but still creamy and cheesy enough to elevate the pumpkin cinnamon rolls.

  • Ingredients for cinnamon rolls

Ingredients for pumpkin cinnamon rolls

To make these cinnamon rolls you will need the following ingredients:

  • Milk- The milk will make the dough soft and light.
  • Butter– The butter is used for both our cinnamon roll dough and filling.
  • Yeast– The yeast is what will leaven our dough and make it fluffy.
  • Vanilla– The vanilla will add a light depth of flavor to the dough.
  • Egg– The egg will hold our dough together.
  • Pumpkin puree– The pumpkin puree will be added to the dough to give it that orange hue and more pumpkin flavor.
  • Flour– All-purpose flour is what we used in these cinnamon rolls.
  • Sugar– Granulated sugar will go into the dough o lightly sweeten it.
  • Brown sugar– The brown sugar will be divided between the dough and the cinnamon filling.
  • Pumpkin pie spice– The pumpkin pie spice is what will give these pumpkin cinnamon rolls their fall-holiday flavor.
  • Salt– A little salt to balance out the flavors.
  • Cinnamon– The cinnamon will be used in the filling of these cinnamon rolls.
  • Heavy cream– Heavy cream is the secret ingredient used to keep these cinnamon rolls soft and fluffy while they bake.
How to make cinnamon roll frosting

Here are the ingredients you will need to make the maple cream cheese cinnamon roll frosting:

  • Cream cheese- The cream cheese will need to be at room temperature so that it is easier to mix.
  • Butter– The butter will also need to be at room temperature.
  • Maple syrup– The maple syrup flavor goes very well with the spices of this pumpkin recipe.
  • Vanilla bean– The vanilla beans add a beautiful flavor as well as fun look to this cinnamon roll frosting.
  • Powdered sugar– The powdered sugar is used to thicken the cinnamon roll frosting.

More pumpkin recipes you will love!

  • Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
  • The best 5-ingredient Keto Pumpkin Mousse
  • The Easiest Moist Pumpkin Sheet Cake (8x8inch)
  • The Best Pumpkin Muffins with Pumpkin Streusel

How to make pumpkin cinnamon rolls?

Make the cinnamon roll dough

First, start by heating the milk and the butter in the microwave for about 60 seconds or until the butter is fully melted. You want the milk and butter mixture to be warm and not too hot. I would recommend using a cooking thermometer to make sure that the milk mixture is at around 105F-110F. If the mixture is too hot, let it sit and cool down for a bit. If the mixture is too hot it can kill the yeast so this step is crucial.

Once the milk mixture is at the right temperature, pour it into the stand mixer bowl and sprinkle the yeast on top. Let it bloom for about 5 minutes.

In a separate medium bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice ad salt. Whisk until fully combined and set aside.

Add in the vanilla, egg, and pumpkin puree to the milk mixture and mix using a paddle attachement.

  • Add the wet ingredients and mix

Add in the flour mixture, change the mixer attachement to the hook attachement and knead the dough for 7-10 minutes. The dough should pull away from the sides of the bowl. if the dough looks too wet add in 1 tablespoon of flour at a time until the dough still looks slightly wet but pulls out of the sides of the bowl. Remove the dough from the stand mixer bowl, form it into a ball using your hands and place it back in a lightly greased bowl. Cover with a damp towel and let it sit somewhere warm for 30 minutes.

  • Add the flour to the dry
  • Add the flour to the wet mixture and mix
  • Let the dough rise

Make the cinnamon roll filling

In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and the cinnamon together until well combined.

Let’s make some cinnamon rolls!

Once the pumpkin cinnamon roll dough is ready, place it on a floured work surface and roll it using a floured rolling pin. You want to create a large rectangle of about 14.5 x12 inches in size. Use an offset spatula or your hand to spread the softened butter onto the entire surface of the rolled out dough. Sprinkle the dough evenly with the brown sugar mixture, then gently pat it down into the butter.

Starting at the 14.5-inch edge, tightly roll up the dough until you get to the end then gently pinch it to seal the edges if you’d like. a more clean look. Now using a large piece of floss or a sharp knife, slice off a small piece of both edges of the roll ( about ¼ inch on each end) Cut the remaining dough into 9 even slices.

Place those cinnamon rolls into a buttered 8×8 inch baking pan. Cover the baking pan with plastic wrap and let them rise in a warm area for 15-20 minutes or until they double in size. While the cinnamon rolls are rising, heat up the oven to 350F.

  • Let the cinnamon rolls proof
  • Let the cinnamon rolls proof

Once the rolls are done rising, pour the heavy cream over them and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown and cooked through. Once they’re baked, let them cook for 5 minutes, spread the homemade frosting on top, and serve.

  • Add heavy cream to cinnamon rolls

Make the maple cinnamon roll icing

While the cinnamon rolls are still baking, whisk the cream cheese, butter, maple syrup, powdered sugar, and vanilla bean paste together in a small bowl. If the frosting seems too thin add 1tbsp at a time of powdered sugar and stir. If it seems too thick add 1 tablespoon of milk at a time ad stir.

  • Step by step to make vanilla bean cinnamon roll icing
  • Step by step to make vanilla bean cinnamon roll icing

How to slice Cinnamon rolls?

When it comes to slicing the pumpkin cinnamon roll log, you have two options; after rolling your dough log tightly you can make small hash marks where you’re supposed to cut to eliminate the guesswork. Then use a sharp knife and gently go back and forth to cut each slice. I find that using a knife can sometimes squish out beautiful rolls so I prefer the second method.

The second method is to use dental floss. Use plain, unwaxed dental floss, gently slide it under your roll, bring the floss to the top and twist it using both hands. This method will yield perfectly round rolls everytime!

Tips to make pumpkin spice cinnamon rolls

These tips will help you make the best cinnamon rolls:

  • Make sure the milk is not too hot– if the milk and butter mixture is too hot, you might risk killing your yeast.
  • Use a room temperature egg– I have made the mistake of using a cold egg when making my cinnamon roll dough, and the melted butter coagulated and wasn’t melted anymore. So use a room temperature egg to avoid that from happening.
  • Don’t just sprinkle the sugar onto the butter for your filling– Take it one step further and rub with gently with your hands to make sure the filling is really getting in there.

How to store cinnamon rolls?

To store these cinnamon rolls, place them in an airtight container and in the fridge. They will last for up to 5 days this way. When you are ready to enjoy them, you can pop them in the microwave for 15-20 seconds.

The

Can I freeze cinnamon rolls?

You sure can! You can freeze the cinnamon rolls after baking them.Let them cool down completely before wrapping them tightly or placing them in airtight container. The second option is to freeze each cinnamon roll individually.

When you are ready to enjoy then, thaw in the fridge overnight, then warm up in the oven at 350 for 10-15 minutes. I like to warm them up individually in the microwave for 20-30 seconds once they are defrosted.

Now, you can freeze them with or without icing, whatever works best for you. I froze this cinnamon roll icing before and the texture is still great. So it’s a pretty freezer-friendly cinnamon roll icing recipe.

The best pumpkin cinnamon roll recipe

If you tried this 8×8 inch pumpkin cinnamon roll recipe and loved it please leave us a rating by clicking on the 5 stars under the title and description.

Soft and fluffy pumpkin cinnamon rolls best thanksgiving dessert recipes

8×8 inch pumpkin cinnamon rolls

These are the best small batch pumpkin cinnamon rolls ever. They are soft, fluffy, and packed with all the fall flavors.
5 from 14 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 1 hr 30 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 2 hrs
Course Breakfast, brunch, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 9 cinnamon rolls
Calories 429 Calories

Equipment

  • 8×8 inch baking pan

Ingredients
  

Pumpkin cinnamon roll dough

  • ½ cup & 2 tablespoon milk
  • 3 tablespoon butter
  • 1 teaspoon yeast
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 large egg at room temperature
  • ¼ cup pumpkin puree at room temperature
  • 2 & ½ cup all purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoon brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Pumpkin cinnamon roll filling

  • ¼ cup butter softened
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon

Topping before baking

  • ¼ cup heavy cream

Maple cinnamon roll frosting

  • 4 oz Cream cheese at room temperature
  • 3 tablespoon Maple
  • 4 tablespoon Butter at room temperature
  • 2 tablespoon Powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract

Instructions
 

Make the cinnamon roll dough

  • First, start by heating the milk and the butter in the microwave for about 60 seconds or until the butter is fully melted. You want the milk and butter mixture to be warm and not too hot, I would recommend using a cooking thermometer to make sure that the ilk mixture is at around 105F-110F. If the mixture is too hot, let it sit and cool down for a bit. If the mixture is too hot it can kill the yeast so this step is crucial.
  • Once the milk mixture is at the right temperature, pour it in the stand mixer bowl and sprinkle the yeast on top. Let it bloom for about 5 minutes.
  • In a separate medium bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice ad the salt. Whisk until fully combined and set aside.
  • Add in the vanilla, egg, and pumpkin puree to the milk mixture and mix using a paddle attachement.
  • Add in the flour mixture, change the mixer attachement to the hook attachement and knead the dough for 7-10 minutes. The dough should pull away from the sides of the bowl. if the dough looks too wet add in 1 tablespoon of flour at a time until the dough still looks slightly wet but pulls out of the sides of the bowl. Remove the dough from the stand mixer bowl, form it into a ball using your hands and place it back in a lightly greased bowl. Cover with a damp towel and let it sit somewhere warm for 30 minutes.

Make the cinnamon roll filling

  • In a small bowl, mimx the brown sugar and the cinnamon together until well combined.

Let's make some cinnamon rolls!

  • Once the pumpkin cinnamon roll dough is ready, place it on a floured work surface and roll it using a floured rolling pin. You want to create a large rectangle of about 14.5 x12 inches in size. Use an offset spatula or your hand to spread the softened butter onto the entire surface of the rolled out dough. Sprinkle the dough evenly with the brown sugar mixture, then gently pat it down into the butter.
  • Starting at the 14.5-inch edge, tightly roll up the dough until you get to the end then gently pinch it to seal the edges if you'd like. a more clean look. Now using a large piece of floss or a sharp knife, slice off a small piece of both edges of the roll ( about ¼ inch on each end) Cut the remaining dough into 9 even slices.
  • Place those cinnamon rolls into a buttered 8×8 inch baking pan, cover with plastic wrap and let them rise for 15-20 minutes or until they doubles in size. While the cinnamon rolls are rising, heat up the oven to 350F.
  • Once the rolls are done rising, pour the heavy cream over them and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown and cooked through. Once they're baked, let them cook for 5 minutes, spread the homemade frosting on top and serve.

Make the frosting

  • While the cinnamon rolls are still baking, whisk the cream cheese, butter, maple syrup, powdered sugar, and the vanilla bean paste together in a small bowl. If the frosting seems too thin add 1tbsp at a time of powdered sugar and stir. If it seems too thick add 1 tablespoon of milk at a time ad stir.

Notes

These cinnamon rolls are best served right out of the oven when they are still warm, but you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Just reheat them in the microwave for 15-20 seconds. 

Nutrition

Calories: 429CaloriesCarbohydrates: 53gProtein: 6gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 81mgSodium: 311mgPotassium: 145mgFiber: 2gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 1797IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 66mgIron: 2mg
Keyword baked pumpkin donut, cinnamon roll icing, cinnamon rolls, fall baking, maple, pumpkin cinnamon rolls, pumpkin recipe
Tried this recipe?Follow us and tag us on Instagram! @chahinez_tbt

Thank you so much for making it all the way down here 

Did you enjoy these pumpkin cinnamon rolls too? We would love it if you could leave a comment letting us know. In the meantime don’t forget to follow us on Instagram.

how to make no bake keto cheesecake

Shop this recipe

This post may contain affiliate posts, meaning that at no cost to you I will get a small percentage of every purchase you make!

If you make these pumpkin cinnamon rolls and enjoyed them, don’t forget to pin them for later!

  • The best pumpkin cinnamon rolls
  • The best pumpkin cinnamon rolls
« The Best Croissant french toast bake EVER!
Quick Rotel cheese & ground beef crescent rolls »

Filed Under: breakfast, Make Ahead, Weekend Brunch Tagged With: cinnabon, cinnamon roll, cinnamon rolls, pumpkin cinnamon rolls, pumpkin recipe

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ronnie

    October 09, 2021 at 9:02 pm

    5 stars
    I have made them twice now and the family loves it. Not only are they good pumpkin rolls but they are the best cinnamon rolls.

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      April 21, 2022 at 7:01 pm

      So glad you loved these Ronnie!

      Reply
  2. Liv

    October 05, 2021 at 9:01 pm

    5 stars
    I just wanted to let you know that I made these rolls today for friendsgiving and wow! They were incredible!

    I don’t have a stand mixer so I had to knead the dough by hand for about 15-20 minutes, but it was totally worth the extra effort. The rolls came out pillowy soft, not too sweet, and just the right amount of pumpkin flavour. My friends loved them, even the ones who don’t usually like pumpkin! I’m definitely going to be making these again 🙂

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      October 09, 2021 at 3:25 pm

      Wow, Liv! You’re a trooper! So proud of you going that extra mile to try these pumpkin rolls and I am so happy that you and your friends enjoyed them
      Chahinez

      Reply
      • Yc

        November 24, 2021 at 4:53 pm

        Can you leave the slice rolls overnight and bake in the AM?

      • Chahinez

        November 25, 2021 at 9:48 am

        Yes! Allow them to rise, wrap in plastic wrap, store in the fridge, then in the morning let them cool down to room temp a bit and bake.
        Chahinez

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

About me

Hey there! My name is Chahinez, and I’m the brains behind the blog, Lifestyle of a Foodie. LOAF was started back in 2018 during my last semester ...

Read More

Categories

Footer

Most popular posts

Crumbl copycat cookies

In the past few months, Crumbl cookies have gotten so popular! Tiktok went crazy for them the second I shared my first chilled sugar cookie recipe on there. Since then I have put my baking expertise to test by going through their whole menu and bringing you the best Crumbl copycats found online! The hundreds of reviews on the Crumbl cookie recipes that have been posted throughout the past few months can be proof of that! In this article I have 39 Crumbl cookie copycat recipes to satisfy all your cravings, so get ready!

Social Slider

  • Imagine taking a bite of a thick buttery cookie that’s topped with caramel cream cheese frosting, caramel popcorn, and a
    by chahinez_tbt 8 months ago
    Imagine taking a bite of a thick buttery cookie that’s topped with caramel cream cheese frosting, caramel popcorn, and a
  • Nothing more comforting than the smell of these chocolate chunk cookie cups baking in the oven! Today I am sharing
    by chahinez_tbt 7 months ago
    Nothing more comforting than the smell of these chocolate chunk cookie cups baking in the oven! Today I am sharing
  • If you’re not ready to let summer go, you have to make these lemon poppyseed cookies!!! Each one is filled
    by chahinez_tbt 8 months ago
    If you’re not ready to let summer go, you have to make these lemon poppyseed cookies!!! Each one is filled

Copyright © 2023 Lifestyle of a Foodie on the Foodie Pro Theme