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Freshly baked pumpkin spice cinnamon rolls topped with creamy cream cheese icing on a white serving plate

The Best Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing

Soft, fluffy pumpkin spice cinnamon rolls are filled with a rich pumpkin-cinnamon swirl and finished with a smooth cream cheese icing. They are a cozy fall breakfast or dessert that's perfect for sharing.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Calories: 410

Ingredients
  

Equipment

  • Mixing bowl
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Rolling Pin
  • 9 by 13-inch baking dish
  • stand mixer with dough hook
  • Oven

Method
 

  1. In a large bowl, combine the warm milk, yeast, and granulated sugar. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes until foamy.
  2. Add the pumpkin puree, egg, melted butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice. Mix until combined.
  3. Gradually add the flour and salt, stirring until a soft dough forms. Knead by hand or with a dough hook for 6 to 8 minutes, adding only enough flour to make the dough soft and slightly tacky.
  4. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until doubled in size.
  5. While the dough rises, make the filling by mixing the softened butter, brown sugar, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt until smooth.
  6. Punch down the dough and roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a 16 by 12-inch rectangle.
  7. Spread the filling evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges.
  8. Starting from the long side, roll the dough tightly into a log. Slice into 12 even rolls and place them in a greased 9 by 13-inch baking dish.
  9. Cover the rolls and let them rise again for 30 to 45 minutes, until puffy.
  10. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the rolls for 22 to 28 minutes, or until lightly golden and cooked through.
  11. For the icing, beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, and 1 tablespoon of milk. Beat until creamy, adding more milk as needed for a spreadable consistency.
  12. Spread the cream cheese icing over the warm rolls and serve.

Notes

For the softest rolls, avoid adding too much flour during kneading. Make sure the milk is warm, not hot, so it doesn't kill the yeast. Rolls can be assembled the night before, refrigerated after shaping, and baked the next morning after coming to room temperature and finishing the second rise.