Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls (Printable)

Soft pumpkin dough spiraled with cinnamon sugar, topped with creamy frosting.

# Ingredient List:

→ Dough

01 - 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
02 - 1 packet (2 ¼ tsp) active dry yeast
03 - ⅓ cup granulated sugar
04 - ½ cup whole milk, lukewarm
05 - ¾ cup canned pumpkin purée
06 - ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
07 - 1 large egg, room temperature
08 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
09 - ½ tsp salt
10 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
11 - ½ tsp ground nutmeg

→ Filling

12 - ⅔ cup brown sugar, packed
13 - 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
14 - ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened

→ Cream Cheese Frosting

15 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
16 - ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
17 - 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
18 - ½ tsp vanilla extract
19 - Pinch of salt

# Directions:

01 - Combine warm milk and yeast in a large bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
02 - Add sugar, pumpkin purée, melted butter, egg, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
03 - Gradually add flour, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Knead for 6–8 minutes until a soft, elastic dough forms. Add more flour if sticky.
04 - Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
05 - Punch down dough and roll out on a floured surface to a 16x12-inch rectangle.
06 - Spread softened butter over dough, leaving a ½-inch border. Mix brown sugar and cinnamon, then sprinkle evenly over buttered dough.
07 - Roll up tightly from the long side. Slice into 12 even rolls.
08 - Arrange rolls in a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Cover and let rise for 30–40 minutes until puffy.
09 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake rolls for 22–25 minutes, until golden and cooked through.
10 - Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt; beat until creamy.
11 - Spread frosting over warm rolls. Serve fresh.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The pumpkin keeps these rolls incredibly moist for days unlike regular cinnamon rolls that can dry out
  • That cream cheese frosting on warm pumpkin dough is basically fall comfort on a plate
  • Your whole house will smell like cinnamon and nostalgia while they bake
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients matter, especially the cream cheese and butter for the frosting or you will fight lumps forever
  • Do not use pumpkin pie filling instead of pumpkin purée or your dough will be way too sweet and spiced
  • The dough might feel stickier than regular roll dough because of the pumpkin, but resist adding too much extra flour
03 -
  • Use unflavored dental floss to slice the rolls for perfectly clean cuts without squishing the dough
  • If your kitchen runs cold, let the dough rise in your oven with just the light on for gentle warmth
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