• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Nina Kneads to Bake
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Contact
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Bread

    Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls

    Published: Sep 26, 2021 Modified: September 26, 2021 by Nina

    • Share
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    A cinnamon roll on a white plate with a baking dish in the background with more cinnamon rolls in it.

    These pumpkin spice cinnamon rolls have real pumpkin in the yeasted dough. They are filled with a pumpkin spice cinnamon swirl, and are topped with a sweet cream cheese frosting. Make these a day ahead and pop them in the oven on a chilly autumn morning for a breakfast the whole family will love!

    A cinnamon roll on a white plate with a dish of more cinnamon rolls in the background.
    Jump straight to the recipe!
    • 🍂Cinnamon rolls with a fall twist
    • 🥘Ingredients
    • 🔪Instructions
    • ✔️Expert tips
    • 💭FAQs
    • 📋Recipe
    • 📋 Recipe

    🍂Cinnamon rolls with a fall twist

    I have a few recipes for cinnamon rolls - soft cinnamon rolls, red velvet cinnamon rolls, and funfetti cinnamon rolls. Pumpkin spice cinnamon rolls is my newest addition, and it is perfect for fall!

    The pumpkin is in the yeasted dough and the cinnamon swirl is elevated for fall with the tastes of warm pumpkin spice.

    You can even make these the day before and bake them the next morning (which is what I prefer to do). Or, if you can't wait, bake them the same day!

    🥘Ingredients

    • Whole milk
    • Unsalted butter
    • Pumpkin puree - either canned or homemade.
    • Brown sugar - light or dark both work well.
    • Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, salt
    • Large egg
    • Yeast - I used dry active yeast. Use whichever type you normally use for bread making.
    • All purpose flour
    • Cream cheese
    • Confectioner's sugar
    A baking dish with cinnamon rolls in it.

    🔪Instructions

    Make the dough

    Melt butter and milk together in the microwave. Pour it into a large mixing bowl with yeast. Add pumpkin puree, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Mix to combine. Mix in the egg, and then 1 cup of flour. After the 1 cup of flour is mixed in, knead in the remaining flour.

    Place the dough in a greased bowl, and cover until it has doubled in size. When ready, roll it out on a floured surface.

    Make the filling

    Combine butter, brown sugar, and the spices in a small bowl. Spread softened butter all over the rolled out dough. Sprinkle the filling all over the butter. Pat it down so it sticks to the butter. Roll the dough from the longest side. Cut 12 slices into the dough to make rolls. Place the rolls in a greased baking dish, leaving spaces so they can rise.

    If you would like to make the cinnamon rolls the same day, cover and let the rolls rise until double in size. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Uncover and bake the rolls at 350°F for 22-28 minutes, or until their temperature is 190°F. If they brown too much while baking, cover with aluminum foil.

    Instructions to make pumpkin spice cinnamon rolls.

    Overnight Cinnamon rolls

    If you would like to finish making the rolls the next day, don't let the rolls rise in the baking dish. Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator. The next day, let the rolls warm at room temperature and double. This can take about 2 hours.

    What I do, is warm an oven up. Turn on your oven to 350°F and let it start to preheat for a few minutes. Turn the oven off. It will feel warm inside the oven, not hot. Place the cinnamon roll in the oven and close the door. The cinnamon rolls will warm to room temperature and double in size much faster.

    When the cinnamon rolls have doubled in size, take the plastic wrap off and bake at 350°F for 22-28 minutes, or until their temperature is 190°F. If they brown too much while baking, cover with aluminum foil.

    Make the cream cheese frosting

    Beat cream cheese and butter together until combined. Add in confectioner's sugar and mix until combined. If you would like the frosting to seep into the cinnamon rolls, spread the frosting on when they are still warm. Spread the frosting on them when they have cooled to get a thicker frosting on top.

    For more step-by-step pictures and instructions, see the web story for pumpkin spice cinnamon rolls!

    ✔️Expert tips

    • Don't overheat your milk and butter. They should be between 105°F - 115°F in temperature. Anything hotter and it will kill the yeast. The milk and melted butter mixture should be warm when you dip a finger in. If it is too hot, let it sit for a few minutes.
    • Use softened butter for the filling. I have tried using melted butter, but the filling seeps out of the buns while baking. Not good!
    • After you sprinkle the brown sugar and spices all over the rolled out and buttered dough, pat it in so all that goodness stays on the rolls.
    • Add some nuts into the filling if you like. Pecans would be amazing!
    • The cinnamon rolls have been baked through when they reach 190°F.
    • Leftovers can be kept airtight at room temperature for up to 4 days.
    A baking dish with cinnamon rolls in it.

    💭FAQs

    Can I freeze these?

    For any leftovers, wrap each roll in plastic wrap and then put them in a freezer bag before putting them in the freezer. To thaw, grab a roll, unwrap it and microwave for 30-60 seconds until it is warm.

    How do I slice cinnamon rolls?

    You can use a serrated knife or plain unwaxed dental floss.

    Can I make these in advance?

    Yes, the cinnamon rolls can be made up to just before their second rise (when they are ready to rise in the baking pan). Cover and store in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, bring the cinnamon rolls to room temperature and bake.

    Is allspice a mixture of spices, like pumpkin spice?

    No, allspice is a spice made from dried berries of an allspice tree.

    A cinnamon roll on a white plate with a dish of more cinnamon rolls in the background.

    📋Recipe

    📋 Recipe

    A cinnamon roll on a white plate.

    Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls

    Nina
    These pumpkin spice cinnamon rolls have real pumpkin in the yeasted dough. They are filled with a pumpkin spice cinnamon swirl, and are topped with a sweet cream cheese frosting. Make these a day ahead and pop them in the oven on a chilly autumn morning for a breakfast the whole family will love!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 35 mins
    Cook Time 28 mins
    Rising Time 2 hrs
    Total Time 3 hrs 3 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine North American
    Servings 12 servings
    Calories 369 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    Pumpkin dough

    • ¼ cup milk warm
    • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
    • 2 ¼ teaspoons yeast
    • ¾ cup pumpkin puree
    • ¼ cup packed brown sugar
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 large egg room temperature
    • 2 ⅔ cups all purpose flour

    Filling

    • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
    • ½ cup packed brown sugar
    • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
    • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice

    Frosting

    • 8 oz cream cheese
    • ¼ cup unsalted butter
    • 1 cup powdered sugar

    Instructions
     

    Pumpkin Dough

    • Place milk and butter in a small bowl. Warm in the microwave until the milk is warm so that the butter will melt when stirred into the milk. This should be between 105°F -115°F. It should feel warm when you dip your finger in. If it is too hot, let it sit until it has cooled a bit.
    • Place the yeast in a large mixing bowl and pour the milk and butter mixture over it. Add pumpkin puree, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Stir to combine. Mix in egg until combined.
    • Mix in 1 cup of flour, and then the remaining flour. Knead until the dough comes together and does not stick to the bottom of the mixing bowl. If you need more flour, pour 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough is ready.
    • Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

    Cinnamon Roll Filling

    • When the dough is ready, roll it to a large rectangle on a floured surface, about 15 x 20 inches. Spread butter all over the top of the dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges.
    • Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice in a small bowl and mix well. Sprinkle evenly over butter. Pat the sugar mixture into the butter so that it won't seep out during baking.
    • Roll the dough starting at the long side of the rectangle. Cut the dough into 12 rolls and place them into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish.
    • If you are baking the rolls right away, preheat oven to 350°F. Cover the cinnamon rolls with plastic wrap and allow them to double in size, about 30 minutes. Bake the cinnamon rolls for 22-28 minutes, or until they are 190°F in the center. If the tops of the rolls are browning too quickly, lightly cover them with tin foil.
    • For overnight cinnamon rolls, cover the baking dish of cinnamon rolls with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator until morning. The next day, let the cinnamon rolls come to room temperature and then double in size. This can take a few hours. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°F. Bake the cinnamon rolls for 22-28 minutes. Remove from the oven onto a wire rack .

    Cream Cheese Frosting

    • Beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Mix in confectioner's sugar until combined.
    • If you would like the frosting to seep into the cinnamon rolls a bit, spread frosting on them when still warm. If you would like a thicker frosting on the cinnamon rolls, wait for them to cool before frosting.

    Notes

    1. Don't overheat your milk and butter. They should be between 105°F - 115°F in temperature. Anything hotter and it will kill the yeast. The milk and melted butter mixture should be warm when you dip a finger in. If it is too hot, let it sit for a few minutes.
    2. Use softened butter for the filling. I have tried using melted butter, but the filling seeps out of the buns while baking. Not good!
    3. After you sprinkle the brown sugar and spices all over the rolled out and buttered dough, pat it in so all that goodness stays on the rolls.
    4. Add some nuts into the filling if you like. Pecans would be amazing!
    5. The cinnamon rolls have been baked through when they reach 190°F.
    6. Leftovers can be kept airtight at room temperature for up to 4 days.

    YOUR OWN NOTES

    Click here to add your own private notes

    Nutrition

    Serving: 12gCalories: 369kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 6gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 172mgPotassium: 148mgFiber: 2gSugar: 25gVitamin A: 2997IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 59mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe? Follow me on Instagram!Mention @ninakneadstobake or tag #ninakneadstobake!
    • A loaf on a white decorative plate. Two slices have been cut from the loaf, and they lie where they were cut.
      Gingerbread Latte Loaf with Cream Cheese Frosting
    • A loaf of bread on a wire rack. Two slices are cut from the bread, and they lay in front of the loaf. A white kitchen towel is behind the loaf.
      Apple Butter Cinnamon Swirl Bread
    • A cinnamon roll on a white plate. The cinnamon roll is frosted and has sprinkles on top.
      Funfetti Cinnamon Rolls {overnight}
    • Four slices of stromboli on a rectangular white plate.
      Easy Pepperoni Stromboli
    • Five pretzels scattered on a table. The front pretzel has a piece torn from it, to show it's fluffy interior.
      Buttery Soft Pretzels
    • Loaf of sweet bread on a piece of parchment paper. A few slices have been cut from the loaf.
      Cranberry Orange Bread with Glaze
    • Banana bread with some slices cut from it. A spreading knife lays on one side of the bread and a bowl of butter on the other side.
      Classic Banana Bread Recipe
    • Yorkshire Puddings on a dinner plate.
      Yorkshire Pudding Recipe

    More Bread Recipes

    • Irish Soda Bread with Raisins
    • An above view of a homemade pizza.
      Homemade Pizza Dough
    • A cinnamon roll on a white plate. The rest of the cinnamon rolls are in a baking dish in the background.
      Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls
    • A philly cheesesteak with extra buns behind it.
      Philly Cheesesteak with Homemade Bun

    Reader Interactions

    Did you try this recipe? Comment below to let me know ☺️ Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Nina! I am a self-taught baker and have a love for baking and trying new techniques. Here you will find easy step-by-step sweet and savoury recipes, with lots of tips.

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • A slice of cake being lifted from the rest of the cake. The cake sits on a white cake stand.
      Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Mousse Filling
    • A slice of cake on a white plate.
      Cherry Layer Cake {with Cherry Cream Cheese Frosting}
    • A slice of pie on a white plate. Limes and the rest of the pie are in the background. In the foreground is a fork.
      Authentic Key Lime Pie {without condensed milk}
    • A slice of cake on a white cake. You can partially see the rest of the cake in the background.
      White Cake with Strawberry Filling
    • A slice of cheesecake on a white plate. Strawberry sauce is on top of the cake, and it is spilling down the sides, onto the plate.
      Olive Garden Sicilian Cheesecake {with strawberry topping}
    • A cake slice being pulled from a cake with a cake server.
      Cheesecake Factory Italian Lemon Cream Cake

    Winter Recipes

    • A slice of pie on a white plate. Red and green apples are behind the plate.
      Irish Apple Amber Pie
    • One brownie on a white plate. A raspberry sits on top of the brownie.
      Raspberry Truffle Brownies
    • A slice of cheesecake on a white plate. A gold fork sits in front of the plate.
      Toffifee Cheesecake
    • Two brownies stacked on a white plate. The top brownie has a bite out of it. Three chocolate chips sit in front of the brownies. More brownies are in the back on a wire rack.
      Pecan Pie Brownies
    • A slice of cheesecake on a white plate. Two chocolate chips are on the plate, in front of the cheesecake.
      No Bake Chocolate Kahlua Cheesecake
    • A turtle cookie with some more scattered around it.
      Snappy Turtle Cookies

    Game Day Recipes

    • A casserole plated with a serving spoon beside it.
      Cheesy Chicken Noodle Casserole
    • A side view of a casserole.
      Pizza Rice Casserole
    • Spahgetti and meat sauce on a plate with a forkful of spaghetti on a fork.
      Best Spaghetti Meat Sauce Recipe
    • A dinner roll split open with butter on it.
      Best Homemade Dinner Rolls
    • Focaccia Bread on a wire rack.
      Super Simple No Knead Focaccia Bread
    • A slice of bread with three slices cut from it. An orange kitchen towel sits beside the bread loaf.
      Soft French Baguette

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy & Terms of Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact