Chef John's Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

4.3
(60)

The addition of pumpkin purée makes Chef John's pumpkin cinnamon rolls the best cinnamon rolls I've ever tasted.

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Prep Time:
30 mins
Cook Time:
30 mins
Additional Time:
2 hrs 30 mins
Total Time:
3 hrs 30 mins
Servings:
16
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 16 servings

  • ¾ cup packed brown sugar

  • 1/2 cup white sugar, divided

  • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

  • 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast

  • ½ teaspoon white sugar

  • ¼ cup warm water (100 to 105 degrees F/38 to 41 degrees C)

  • ½ cup pumpkin purée

  • ¼ cup heavy cream

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (Optional), divided

  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger

  • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice

  • 4 ¼ cups all-purpose flour, or as needed, divided

  • 1 egg

  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil

  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar

  • ¼ cup cream cheese, softened

  • ¼ cup milk, or as needed

  • ¼ cup toasted pumpkin seeds, to garnish

Directions

  1. Combine brown sugar, 1/4 cup white sugar, and cinnamon together in a small bowl; set aside.

  2. Dissolve yeast and 1/2 teaspoon white sugar in warm water in the bowl of a stand mixer. Whisk together; let stand until yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam, about 10 minutes.

  3. Stir pumpkin purée, heavy cream, remaining 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup melted butter, salt, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, ginger, and allspice into yeast mixer in the bowl of the stand mixer. Add 2 cups flour and egg; fit mixer with dough hook attachment and mix until combined, about 2 minutes.

  4. Add remaining 2 1/4 cups flour; mix on low until dough is slightly sticky, smooth, and elastic, 6 to 7 minutes, adding more flour if mixture is too sticky.

  5. Remove dough from hook; shape into a ball. Lightly coat the stand mixer bowl with vegetable oil, return dough to the bowl, turning to coat with oil. Cover bowl with aluminum foil; set aside to rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 1/2 hours.

  6. Generously butter a 13x9-inch baking dish.

  7. Turn dough out onto a well-floured surface. Flatten into a rectangular shape about 1-inch thick using your hands. Generously sprinkle both sides of dough with flour; roll out to about a 20x12-inch rectangle. Pour 5 tablespoons melted butter over top; evenly brush over surface, leaving 2 inches along one wide edge unbuttered. Sprinkle brown sugar mixture over dough; moisten unbuttered edge with water. Roll dough tightly into a log, starting at the buttered wide edge; press firmly along moistened wide edge to seal.

  8. Trim and discard uneven ends from the roll. Slice rolled dough into 16 equally-sized pinwheels; place pinwheels, cut-sides up, in the prepared baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap; set aside to rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, 45 to 60 minutes.

  9. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

  10. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 30 minutes; set aside to cool slightly while mixing glaze.

  11. Whisk confectioners' sugar, cream cheese, milk, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract together in a large bowl until smooth; drizzle over warm cinnamon rolls. Sprinkle pumpkin seeds over rolls to serve.

96 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

326 Calories
11g Fat
52g Carbs
5g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 16
Calories 326
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 11g 14%
Saturated Fat 6g 31%
Cholesterol 38mg 13%
Sodium 232mg 10%
Total Carbohydrate 52g 19%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 25g
Protein 5g 10%
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 40mg 3%
Iron 2mg 13%
Potassium 116mg 2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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