There is no better smell on Christmas morning than Christmas cinnamon rolls baking in the oven. Warm cinnamon, melted butter, brown sugar and soft yeast dough do most of the work, and a handful of festive twists — cranberries, orange zest, gingerbread spice, eggnog and peppermint — turn an everyday sweet roll into something worth waking up early for. If you love holiday baking that is cozy, make-ahead friendly and guaranteed to disappear fast, this is your list.
Christmas cinnamon rolls are also the most practical bake on a busy December calendar. The dough can be made the night before, the rolls rise in the fridge overnight, and you can bake them fresh while presents are being opened. Serve them warm with coffee or a mug of our homemade hot chocolate recipes, or set them out beside a plate of Christmas cookies for a full holiday spread.
Below you will find 18 Christmas cinnamon rolls recipes, each with a short intro, a simple ingredients list, and easy step-by-step instructions. Every recipe starts with the same golden rules: use warm (not hot) milk so the yeast wakes up, knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, and do not overbake — pull the rolls when they are golden and the centres still look soft.
1. Classic Christmas Cinnamon Rolls
The roll that started the whole list. Soft, pillowy dough swirled with buttery cinnamon sugar and finished with cream cheese frosting — the one to bake first and the one everyone asks for.
Ingredients: 1 cup warm milk; 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast; 1/3 cup sugar; 1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 large egg; 4 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 cup butter, melted, for filling; 3/4 cup brown sugar; 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon; 4 oz cream cheese, powdered sugar and milk, for frosting.
Instructions: 1. Stir the yeast into the warm milk with a pinch of sugar and rest 5 minutes until frothy. 2. Mix in the sugar, butter, salt, egg and flour, then knead 8 minutes until smooth. 3. Rise in a greased bowl, covered, for 1 hour until doubled. 4. Roll into a rectangle, brush with melted butter, sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon, roll up and cut into 12 rolls. 5. Rise 30 minutes, bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes, then frost while warm.
2. Cranberry Orange Christmas Cinnamon Rolls
Tart cranberries and bright orange zest cut through the sweet cinnamon filling, giving these rolls a jewel-bright Christmas flavour that looks as festive as it tastes.
Ingredients: 1 batch classic roll dough; 1/2 cup butter, softened; 3/4 cup brown sugar; 2 tablespoons cinnamon; 1 tablespoon orange zest; 1 cup dried cranberries; 1 cup powdered sugar, orange juice and zest, for glaze.
Instructions: 1. Make the dough and let it rise until doubled. 2. Roll out, spread with butter, and sprinkle with brown sugar, cinnamon, zest and cranberries. 3. Roll up tightly and cut into 12 rolls. 4. Rise 30 minutes, then bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes until golden. 5. Cool 10 minutes, then drizzle with the orange glaze.
3. Gingerbread Christmas Cinnamon Rolls
All the warmth of gingerbread — molasses, ginger, cinnamon and cloves — swirled into a soft cinnamon roll. These taste like a gingerbread house smells.
Ingredients: 1 batch classic roll dough with 2 tablespoons molasses added; 1/2 cup butter, softened; 3/4 cup brown sugar; 2 tablespoons cinnamon; 1 tablespoon ground ginger; 1/2 teaspoon cloves; 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg; cream cheese frosting, for topping.
Instructions: 1. Make the dough with the molasses mixed into the wet ingredients and rise until doubled. 2. Roll out and spread with butter and the spiced sugar mixture. 3. Roll, cut into 12 rolls and place in a greased pan. 4. Rise 30 minutes and bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes. 5. Frost while warm and dust lightly with cinnamon if you like.
4. Eggnog Christmas Cinnamon Rolls
Eggnog replaces the milk in the dough and brings nutmeg, vanilla and creaminess with it. These are Christmas morning in roll form, especially with a light eggnog glaze.
Ingredients: 1 cup warm eggnog; 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast; 1/3 cup sugar; 1/3 cup butter, softened; 1 egg; 4 cups flour; 1/2 cup butter, melted; 3/4 cup brown sugar; 2 tablespoons cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg; powdered sugar and eggnog, for glaze.
Instructions: 1. Warm the eggnog gently (do not boil) and dissolve the yeast in it. 2. Mix and knead the dough, then rise for 1 hour. 3. Roll out, fill with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg, roll and cut into 12. 4. Rise 30 minutes and bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes. 5. Drizzle with eggnog glaze and a pinch more nutmeg.
5. Peppermint Chocolate Christmas Cinnamon Rolls
Cool peppermint and dark chocolate give these rolls a candy-cane twist. A chocolate drizzle and crushed candy canes on top make them party-ready.
Ingredients: 1 batch classic roll dough; 1/2 cup butter, softened; 3/4 cup brown sugar; 2 tablespoons cinnamon; 1/2 cup chocolate chips; 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract; melted chocolate and crushed candy canes, for topping.
Instructions: 1. Make the dough and rise until doubled. 2. Roll out, spread with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and chocolate chips. 3. Roll, cut into 12 rolls and place in a greased pan. 4. Rise 30 minutes and bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes. 5. Cool slightly, drizzle with melted chocolate, sprinkle with crushed candy canes and a little peppermint extract in the glaze if you like.
6. Caramel Apple Christmas Cinnamon Rolls
Soft cooked apples and salted caramel tucked into cinnamon rolls make a loaf-pan dessert that tastes like Christmas at an apple orchard. These Christmas cinnamon rolls are wonderful served warm with vanilla ice cream.
Ingredients: 1 batch classic roll dough; 2 apples, peeled and diced; 2 tablespoons butter; 1/4 cup brown sugar; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/2 cup butter, softened, for filling; 3/4 cup brown sugar; 2 tablespoons cinnamon; salted caramel sauce, for drizzling.
Instructions: 1. Cook the apples in butter, brown sugar and cinnamon until just tender, then cool. 2. Make the dough and rise until doubled. 3. Roll out, spread with butter and cinnamon sugar, scatter the apples, roll and cut into 12. 4. Rise 30 minutes and bake at 350°F for 28-32 minutes. 5. Drizzle generously with salted caramel while warm.
7. Maple Pecan Christmas Cinnamon Rolls
Toasted pecans and a thin maple glaze give these rolls a nutty, caramel edge — a wonderful neighbour gift and a strong partner for morning coffee. Pair a warm roll with a slice of our Christmas banana bread for a Christmas breakfast board.
Ingredients: 1 batch classic roll dough; 1/2 cup butter, softened; 3/4 cup brown sugar; 2 tablespoons cinnamon; 1 cup chopped toasted pecans; 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons maple syrup, for glaze.
Instructions: 1. Make the dough and rise until doubled. 2. Roll out, spread with butter and cinnamon sugar, and scatter the pecans. 3. Roll, cut into 12 rolls and place in a greased pan. 4. Rise 30 minutes and bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes. 5. Drizzle with maple glaze and scatter a few extra pecans on top.
8. Double Chocolate Christmas Cinnamon Rolls
Cocoa in the filling and chocolate chips in every swirl turn these rolls into a dessert roll — rich, dark and perfect warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Ingredients: 1 batch classic roll dough; 1/2 cup butter, softened; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 2 tablespoons cinnamon; 2 tablespoons cocoa powder; 1 cup chocolate chips; chocolate glaze, for topping.
Instructions: 1. Make the dough and rise until doubled. 2. Roll out and spread with butter, then the cocoa, brown sugar and cinnamon mixture. 3. Scatter the chocolate chips, roll and cut into 12. 4. Rise 30 minutes and bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes. 5. Cool 10 minutes, then drizzle with chocolate glaze.
9. Brown Butter Cream Cheese Christmas Cinnamon Rolls
Browning the butter first gives the frosting a nutty, toffee depth that makes the classic roll taste like it came from a bakery. This is the version to bake when you want to impress.
Ingredients: 1 batch classic roll dough; 1/2 cup butter, softened; 3/4 cup brown sugar; 2 tablespoons cinnamon; 1/2 cup butter, browned and cooled, for frosting; 4 oz cream cheese; 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla.
Instructions: 1. Make the dough and rise until doubled. 2. Roll out, fill with butter, brown sugar and cinnamon, roll and cut into 12. 3. Rise 30 minutes and bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes. 4. Beat the browned butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. 5. Spread thickly over the warm rolls.
10. Mini Christmas Cinnamon Roll Bites
The same beloved roll, baked as mini bites in a muffin tin with red and green sprinkles. They are faster to bake, easy to freeze, and perfect for school parties and cookie trays.
Ingredients: 1 batch classic roll dough; 1/2 cup butter, softened; 3/4 cup brown sugar; 2 tablespoons cinnamon; Christmas sprinkles; vanilla glaze, for drizzling.
Instructions: 1. Make the dough and rise until doubled. 2. Roll out, fill and roll as usual, then cut into 24 small pieces. 3. Place in a greased mini muffin tin. 4. Rise 20 minutes and bake at 350°F for 15-18 minutes. 5. Drizzle with glaze and top with sprinkles while warm.
11. Overnight Make-Ahead Christmas Cinnamon Rolls
The secret to a calm Christmas morning: assemble the rolls the night before and let the fridge do the rising. These Christmas cinnamon rolls go straight from fridge to oven while the coffee brews.
Ingredients: 1 batch classic roll dough; 1/2 cup butter, softened; 3/4 cup brown sugar; 2 tablespoons cinnamon; cream cheese frosting, for topping.
Instructions: 1. Make the dough, fill, roll and cut into 12 rolls in the evening. 2. Place in a greased pan, cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. 3. In the morning, set the pan on the counter for 30-45 minutes while the oven preheats. 4. Bake at 350°F for 28-32 minutes until golden. 5. Frost while warm and serve immediately.
12. Caramel Pecan Sticky Bun Christmas Rolls
Sticky buns are cinnamon rolls baked upside-down in caramel, so every roll comes out glossy and gooey. Flip the pan while warm and watch the caramel run.
Ingredients: 1 batch classic roll dough; 1/2 cup butter, melted, for caramel; 3/4 cup brown sugar; 1/4 cup cream; 1 cup pecans; 1/2 cup butter, softened, for filling; 3/4 cup brown sugar; 2 tablespoons cinnamon.
Instructions: 1. Stir the melted butter, brown sugar and cream, pour into a greased pan and scatter the pecans. 2. Make the dough and rise until doubled. 3. Roll out, fill, roll and cut into 12 rolls, placing them over the caramel. 4. Rise 30 minutes and bake at 350°F for 28-32 minutes. 5. Rest 5 minutes, then carefully flip onto a serving tray, sticky side up.
13. Red Velvet Christmas Cinnamon Rolls
Deep red dough, a swirl of cinnamon and cream cheese frosting — these rolls bring Christmas colour to the table without any food-colouring tricks beyond a little cocoa and red colouring in the dough.
Ingredients: 1 batch classic roll dough with 2 tablespoons cocoa and 1 tablespoon red food colouring; 1/2 cup butter, softened; 3/4 cup brown sugar; 2 tablespoons cinnamon; cream cheese frosting, for topping.
Instructions: 1. Mix the cocoa and colouring into the dough and rise until doubled. 2. Roll out, spread with butter and cinnamon sugar. 3. Roll, cut into 12 rolls and place in a greased pan. 4. Rise 30 minutes and bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes. 5. Frost generously while warm.
14. White Chocolate Cranberry Christmas Cinnamon Rolls
Sweet white chocolate chips and tart cranberries are a classic Christmas pairing, and they melt into a cinnamon roll that looks as festive as it tastes. If you love cranberry bakes, you will also enjoy our buttery Christmas shortbread cookies with a cranberry twist.
Ingredients: 1 batch classic roll dough; 1/2 cup butter, softened; 3/4 cup brown sugar; 2 tablespoons cinnamon; 3/4 cup dried cranberries; 3/4 cup white chocolate chips; vanilla glaze, for drizzling.
Instructions: 1. Make the dough and rise until doubled. 2. Roll out, spread with butter and cinnamon sugar, then scatter cranberries and white chocolate chips. 3. Roll, cut into 12 rolls and place in a greased pan. 4. Rise 30 minutes and bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes. 5. Cool slightly so the white chocolate sets, then drizzle with glaze.
15. Chai-Spiced Christmas Cinnamon Rolls
Cardamom, ginger, cloves and black pepper join the cinnamon for a chai-spiced roll that tastes like a winter market. Serve with hot tea or coffee for the full effect.
Ingredients: 1 batch classic roll dough; 1/2 cup butter, softened; 3/4 cup brown sugar; 2 tablespoons cinnamon; 1 teaspoon ground cardamom; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; 1/4 teaspoon cloves; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; vanilla glaze, for drizzling.
Instructions: 1. Make the dough and rise until doubled. 2. Roll out and spread with butter and the chai-spiced sugar mixture. 3. Roll, cut into 12 rolls and place in a greased pan. 4. Rise 30 minutes and bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes. 5. Drizzle with vanilla glaze while warm.
16. Orange Cardamom Christmas Cinnamon Rolls
A Scandinavian-inspired roll with orange zest and cardamom in the filling and a pearl-sugar sprinkle on top. Light, fragrant and a little different from the usual Christmas bake.
Ingredients: 1 batch classic roll dough; 1/2 cup butter, softened; 3/4 cup sugar; 2 tablespoons cinnamon; 1 teaspoon ground cardamom; 1 tablespoon orange zest; pearl sugar, for sprinkling; orange glaze, for drizzling.
Instructions: 1. Make the dough and rise until doubled. 2. Roll out, spread with butter, sugar, cinnamon, cardamom and zest. 3. Roll, cut into 12 rolls and place in a greased pan. 4. Rise 30 minutes, sprinkle with pearl sugar and bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes. 5. Drizzle lightly with orange glaze.
17. Hot Chocolate Christmas Cinnamon Rolls
Cocoa, mini marshmallows and chocolate chips tucked inside a cinnamon roll, finished with a chocolate drizzle — like a mug of hot chocolate you can eat. For more cocoa ideas, see our homemade hot chocolate recipes to serve alongside.
Ingredients: 1 batch classic roll dough; 1/2 cup butter, softened; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 2 tablespoons cinnamon; 2 tablespoons cocoa powder; 1 cup chocolate chips; 1 cup mini marshmallows; chocolate drizzle, for topping.
Instructions: 1. Make the dough and rise until doubled. 2. Roll out, spread with butter, then the cocoa, brown sugar and cinnamon mixture. 3. Scatter chocolate chips and marshmallows, roll and cut into 12. 4. Rise 30 minutes and bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes. 5. Drizzle with chocolate while warm so the marshmallows stay gooey.
18. Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Christmas Cinnamon Rolls
The showstopper: rolls arranged in a tree shape in the pan, baked together so they pull apart at the table. Kids love pulling off their own roll, and it needs no special pan.
Ingredients: 1 batch classic roll dough; 1/2 cup butter, softened; 3/4 cup brown sugar; 2 tablespoons cinnamon; green-tinted cream cheese frosting; fresh cranberries and rosemary sprigs, for decorating.
Instructions: 1. Make the dough, fill, roll and cut into 12 rolls. 2. Arrange on a lined baking tray in rows of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 2 for the trunk to form a tree shape. 3. Rise 30 minutes until the rolls touch. 4. Bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes until golden. 5. Frost with green-tinted frosting and decorate with cranberries and rosemary before serving.
Tips for Soft, Gooey Christmas Cinnamon Rolls
Do not add too much flour — a slightly sticky dough bakes up softer than a stiff one. Use the dental-floss trick to cut clean rolls without squashing the swirl: slide unflavoured floss under the log, cross the ends over the top and pull. Bake the rolls close together in the pan so they rise into each other and stay soft at the edges. And always frost while the rolls are warm, so the first layer melts into the swirls.
For a Christmas breakfast spread, bake the rolls the night before using the overnight method in recipe 11, then warm them for 10 minutes in a low oven in the morning. They also freeze beautifully: freeze unfrosted rolls for up to two months, thaw overnight in the fridge, warm, then frost fresh.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make Christmas cinnamon rolls the night before?
Yes. Assemble the rolls, cover tightly and refrigerate overnight (see recipe 11). In the morning, let them sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes while the oven preheats, then bake as usual. This is the easiest way to have fresh Christmas cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning without an early start.
Why did my cinnamon rolls turn out dry?
Usually too much flour or overbaking. Measure flour by spooning it into the cup rather than scooping, knead just until smooth, and pull the rolls when the centres still look slightly soft — they finish cooking in the hot pan.
Can I freeze Christmas cinnamon rolls?
Yes. Freeze baked, unfrosted rolls in an airtight container for up to two months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, warm in a 300°F oven for 10 minutes, then frost fresh.
What frosting goes best on Christmas cinnamon rolls?
Classic cream cheese frosting is the favourite, but vanilla glaze, orange glaze, maple glaze and eggnog glaze all work — match the glaze to the roll’s flavour, as in the recipes above.
Can I make these Christmas cinnamon rolls without yeast?
Yeast gives the classic soft, pillowy texture, but in a hurry you can use a baking-powder dough (like a scone dough) rolled with the same fillings. Bake at 375°F for 18-22 minutes — they will be more biscuit-like than bread-like, but still delicious.
Conclusion
From the classic cream cheese roll to the Christmas tree pull-apart, these 18 Christmas cinnamon rolls cover every kind of Christmas morning — quiet ones, crowded ones, and ones with a house full of guests. Pick one for Christmas Eve night, let the fridge do the rising, and wake up to the smell that makes the whole house feel like Christmas. For another make-ahead Christmas morning idea, see our Christmas banana bread, and for a sweet finish to the day, try our buttery Christmas shortbread cookies.
For one more classic take on this bake, see this fitting recipe on our sister site: cinnamon rolls recipe on itRecipeFood.
