Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls


Since the passing of Labor Day, I'm seeing a shift throughout the blogosphere moving steadily towards fall.  Pumpkins and apples are turning up on my favorite food blogs and Halloween ideas are filling their pages.

Living in San Diego, though, not much has really changed.  Actually, since Labor Day we have had our hottest days of summer, less morning marine layer (fog), and more gorgeous warm and clear mornings at the beaches that are now suddenly free of out of town travelers.  My garden is overflowing with flowers, and I think summer is finally here!

September and October are beautiful months in Southern California, and I'm not planning on letting go of my summer any time soon.  The local markets are still filled with summer berries and the heirloom tomatoes are hitting their peak.  However, in an effort to stay with current trends I'm willing to use "fallish" ingredients while still embracing my summer.

Breaking out a leftover can of Trader Joe's organic pumpkin I put together the kid's favorite Cinnamon Rolls.  Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls, while definitely exuding the essence of fall, are well received and oft requested at our home year round.  Cans of pumpkin line our pantry shelves just for these sweet spirals and the rolls grace our table numerous times a year.

Based on an October, 2001 recipe from Cooking Light, these cinnamon rolls, while not guilt free, are definitely "guilt reduced" with the inclusion of the vitamin rich pumpkin and whole grain flours.  Though the butter in dough of this recipe is most definitely reduced when compared to many other traditional cinnamon roll recipes, these rolls bake up tender and light and with a beautiful pumpkin hue.  The cinnamony goodness oozes from the spirals and combines with the sweet glaze for a true summer (or fall...) treat.

Summer Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls!

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

Dough:
¾ cup room temp milk (we use Silk almond milk)
½ cup pumpkin puree (fresh or canned)
2½ Tbs butter, cut into small pieces
1 Tbs honey
1 tsp salt
⅛ tsp nutmeg  
1 3/4 cups plus 1-2 Tbs all-purpose flour
1  cup whole wheat or spelt (may use all all-purpose)

2 tsp dry yeast


Filling:
2½ - 3 Tbs butter, melted
⅓ cup brown sugar
generous 2 tsp cinnamon
⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
 

Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
½ tsp vanilla
1 Tbs milk or non-dairy milk (add enough to make a thick glaze)
 

Place dough ingredients into a bread machine programmed for the dough cycle.  Process as directed by your machine.  If using bread macine skip the next paragraph.

Alternatively, process dough ingredients in a stand mixer or by hand - will need to knead approximately 10 minutes, or until smooth and elastic.  When kneaded place the dough in a large bowl sprayed with cooking spray and allow to rise about 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until doubled in size.

When dough cycle is complete, dump the risen dough onto a well floured surface and punch down.  Allow to rest for a few minutes while you are melting the butter and gathering ingredients for the filling.

Spray a baking dish with cooking spray - I use a rectangular dish slightly larger than a 9x9, enough to fit 16 rolls.

Roll the dough into a large rectangle, about ½ inch thick.  Brush the rolled dough with the melted butter and sprinkle with the brown sugar.  Add extra sugar if the entire surface is not covered.  Sprinkle cinnamon over the brown sugar, feel free to adjust the cinnamon measurement to your taste.  Starting with the longest edge, begin to carefully roll the dough into a fairly tight roll.

Preheat oven to 375º.


With a sharp knife cut the rolls into 16 pieces and place flat into the baking dish, I do 4 rows of 3 rolls each row.  Cover with a cloth and allow to rise for about half of an hour. (Alternatively, you may cut the rolls a bit thicker into 12 slices and use a 9x9 square baker).

Bake for about 18 - 20 minutes or until lightly browned.  Cool on a rack while you are preparing the glaze.  For the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, vanilla and enough milk to make a thick, yet still "drizzable" glaze.  Whisk until smooth.  Spoon the glaze over warm rolls and serve.  The rolls melt in your mouth when warm, but are equally delicious hours later when they are cold.  To return to "fresh from the oven" goodness, microwave for 10-30 seconds (depending on your microwave!).

Note:  I made my dough yesterday and placed the cut rolls into the prepared pan.  I then placed the pan with the cut rolls into the refrigerator (covered the pan with plastic wrap) and cooked them this morning for the kids for breakfast!  Simply preheat the over, remove pan from the fridge while the oven is preheating, remove the plastic wrap and bake when oven is ready.

82 comments:

  1. Fist, I'm thoroughly jealous that the heirloom tomatoes are just coming in. I'm mourning the death of our vines. Second, I want one of those rolls, really, really badly. Please make sure Liv realizes that this is something she loves and I don't see a single morsel of chocolate anywhere. It's way possible to love good food without needing chocolate. I'm just saying.

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  2. Cinnamon and pumpkin do make for a nice flavor combination. This is a great fall item and your pictures are really making me crave them. Great post.

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  3. I might be a little in love with you. I have buzzed and stumbled these gorgeous rolls!

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  4. Ooooo I swear I can smell these baking from here!So soft, rich and sweet...I can just imagine. (Loving that plumeria BTW if that's what that yellow, white and pink flower is...) Summer just got here and yet it's time to roll out the pumpkins!

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  5. Holy frekkin Moly!! I was just talking with my guy about how we need to find a good pumpkin recipe. I think I hit the jackpot here. Thanks Kim!! Your pictures are simply stunning!

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  6. I just made some brioche dough. Pumpkin seems cinnamon rolls seems like a great way to use it!

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  7. Gorgeous cinnamon rolls. The addition of pumpkin just makes for a more comforting roll! Perfect for fall! Can't wait to break out some pumpkin!

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  8. I love pumpkin and I love cinnamon rolls... I think I tried to make something similar and I had a "Fail" with the yeast. So sad- orange hockey pucks. Yours look delish! I wish I had one for an afternoon snack, desert and breakfast. LOL

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  9. delicious looking pumpkin rolls looks wonderful it is the first post I put on my site
    regards

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  10. Oh, man, these sound amazing! And such a gorgeous color from the pumpkin! YUMMY!

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  11. These look and sound amazing!!! I HAVE to make them and soon! Since we are practically neighbors, I know what you mean about just getting summer. The weather has been great and we are going to be soaking up more summer this weekend while we will are camping at the beach in San Clemente. Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe!

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  12. Hi Kim...Marie read that recipe and so I had to download and print it off!
    We just got a couple of squash, so away we go tomorrow. She will get the bread machine going and do what you did, but with Lactaid milk. Tell Liv to leave a couple of those for her brother! :-))!
    Cheers,
    old Doug & Marie in BC

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  13. YUM YUM!! I love these! I would probably eat like 5 of them in one sitting they look so good! I'm so loving all the great fall recipes!

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  14. These look so delicious! Bookmarked and can't wait to try!!!!

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  15. I'm not ready for summer to be over yet, but I'm okay with it if fall comes with these tasty gems! Yay for pumpkin!

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  16. Kim,
    These rolls look so good and definitely speak of Fall. I'm in Fall denial here, even as I rustle through the leaves in my yard. I like that this recipe has less sugar and butter, than most roll recipes.

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  17. Mmmm....that looks great. I banned myself from eating cinnamon roles years ago because I have no self control. But these look delightful.

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  18. I can't wait for fall every year so I can have pumpkin in everything. It is a good excuse anyway. Great recipe!

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  19. It's DEFINITELY feeling like fall in MN...the low temp for tonight is in the 30's!! I'm definitely putting these cinnamon rolls on my list of fall baking...especially since it's a "lighter" version :)

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  20. these are wonderful! OMG I have fallen in love with them! Your photos are gorgeous too!!

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  21. Well hello delicious pumpkin cinnamon rolls!! I LOVE this time of year just for all of these delicious pumpkin recipes. Yummy!! :)

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  22. Anything with pumpkin - and I swoon!!! ~Megan at Wanna Be A Country Cleaver

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  23. WOW - my mouth is watering. I NEED to make these over the weekend for my hubby. He loves anything with pumpkin and will get him the mood for his favorite time of year - the fall season! Hope you are doing well.

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  24. I'm in the Bay Area and I know what you mean about the weather being confusing. I want to bake with pumpkin, but I'm simultaneously raiding the farmer's market for the last of the season's peaches and trying to figure out what to do with all the tomatoes coming out of my garden. It's so bizarre. :) Anyway, I looooove pumpkin and looooove cinnamon rolls, so I can't wait to loooooove these. :)

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  25. What a perfect Sunday morning treat with a cup of chai!

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  26. It's still ridiculously hot here in Georgia too, but I too like to roll with the punches and pretend that it's fall. Besides pumpkin is good in anything, anytime, anywhere. Ok, that's probably not true, but a girl can dream right?!

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  27. Perfect for breakfast :) Wish we had a Trader Joe's in Texas!

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  28. With no sign of fall in sight for me, this is a great way to have autumn flavors without the heavy factor :) Love these buns!

    And if you come to Cayman, you must let me know so I can take y'all to lunch!

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  29. These look sooo delicious. We'll definitely be trying these at our house this fall!

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  30. I am so sad because I want one RIGHT NOW! Sigh. This is amazing!

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  31. It is essential that I try these...
    I would love if you linked this and any of your favorite Pumpkin themed blog posts to my "Happy Post" Help spread the cheer :) http://su.pr/1rMDg2

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  32. I CANNOT wait to try these!!! I love anything pumpkin! Oh my...

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  33. These look great! I buzzed you--keep me posted on the outcome!

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  34. Kim, these are sensational! I had been thinking about making pumpkin cinnamon rolls because the cream cheese cinnamon rolls I made rocked :-) Just a little recipe adjustment, you know? However, I still haven't gotten around to it as school does take up a bit of time nowadays. Last night I did make pumpkin muffins, though!

    I hope the kids' school lives are going well and they're having a great time and you enjoying the peace and quiet that you've now gotten back :-)

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  35. I'm with ya girl! Living in Southwest AZ I'm not experiencing this fall weather that seems to have hit other parts of the nation, but I'm ready for fall food and this look exquisite! Thanks for sharing!

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  36. Now these really get me excited about fall! I will be making these Sunday!!

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  37. This is incredible! I hate that I'm allergic to cinnamon! When I was able to indulge, I loved cinnamon rolls. making a pumpkin yeast roll is brilliant! I've happily buzzed these - they're beautiful!

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  38. Now this looks amazing, I would love to wake up with smell of these rolls. Just beautiful Kim! Congrats on well deserved top 9!

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  39. Those looks absolutely fabulous and my kids would go crazy for them! Congrats on Top 9!

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  40. Kim, that photo leapt out the screen at me this morning - AFTER breakfast and I'm craving one badly. Guilt reduced, on top of it, too? These are to die for. Wonderful to see them on Top9 where they should be. Bon weekend!

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  41. These look absolutely incredible! I would love to have these be them in summer winter spring or fall!!! Beautiful photos!

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  42. I'm jealous of your kitchen having these made in them. Cinnamon rolls are not my favorite thing to make, but I love to eat them!

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  43. I've never had pumpkin cinnamon rolls but I think it's about time!
    xo
    http://allykayler.blogspot.com/

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  44. I can't wait to try these pumpkin rolls! They must smell wonderful along with tasting so fantastic and looking so alluring.

    Isn't that sad for us San Diegans...little to no Fall colors for us. I've set out Fall deco already just to remind myself that it's a change of season soon to come. :) Have a great weekend and congrats on the Top 9 on FB!

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  45. Congrats on Top 9! These look delish!

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  46. I have to say, yeast dough and I don't get along too well, but these look like they would definitely be worth it!! Love the twist with the pumpkin...perfect for the cooling weather.

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  47. OMG! These look amazing. I will definitely be making these soon. I can smell them from here!

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  48. Seriously!!? what an awesome idea. oh I need to try these!

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  49. My eyes literally lit up when I saw this recipe! It sounds delicious, but most of all, it looks AMAZING! I love the sound of pumpkin cinnamon rolls :) I HAVE to make this! Thanks for sharing, have a fantastic day!

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  50. Congrats on Top 9! Well deserved! Looking at the photo of your cinnamon roll makes me drool!

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  51. I've noticed the shift to fall recipes as well. My mom's friend even dropped off my first pumpkin of the season. Time to pull out the cool weather recipes!

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  52. I have never had pumpkin in a cinnamon roll but I bet it is amazing. They look super good.

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  53. There hasn't been much change in the weather here in Phoenix either, but I'm wholeheartedly okay with embracing pumpkin nonetheless. Love these rolls :)

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  54. What a beautiful photos! I love pumpkin. I am going to try this soon.
    Congratulations on top 9!

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  55. You just won the award for first recipe to make me drool on the keyboard this morning... These are beautiful. And light - I agree, no way! Reduced, lol, thank goodness for small favors because it looks like I could eat more than one!

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  56. You just won the award for first recipe to make me drool on the keyboard this morning... These are beautiful. And light - I agree, no way! Reduced, lol, thank goodness for small favors because it looks like I could eat more than one!

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  57. I have always wanted to make pumpkin cinnamon rolls--these look sooo good!

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  58. Kim, I love the added health benefit of working the pumpkin into the dough - anything to get more vegetable into my kids! And these pictures conjure up all the aromas with your nod to fall. The shot including the summery plumeria blossom beautifully melds the two seasons together. My relatives in Carlsbad have scoffed at the marine layer that has blanketed your region most of the summer. I'm glad sunny happiness has found you all. Me? I'm ready to put 90+ degree weather in storage as I long for cooler days in the comfort of dormancy.

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  59. Yummy!! I HAVE to make these! :)

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  60. Since you probably don't have any more to share, I will have to make my own sometime! :)

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  61. Your recipes, as usual, make my mouth water. ^_^ I've been looking for the perfect start-of-fall pumpkin-y recipe, and I think this will *definitely* have to be it. Thanks for sharing...and I'm glad that this is relatively "guilt-reduced"...maybe I can convince some co-workers to eat them!

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  62. hand those babies over! I've been saying over and over that I'm not so ready for fall, but with a pumpkiny treat like that I might just dive right in. Yum!
    Meri
    http://merigoesround.com

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  63. Obviously I missed this beautiful pumpkin cinnamon rolls post!! Congrats on Top 9 (sorry it's super late) and oh boy... this looks so good!! The perfect match of pumpkin and cinnamon rolls. Two thumbs up!!

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  64. These look AMAAAAAZING! I'm definitely going to try them. I love fall treats!

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  65. I made these this afternoon using the bread machine to make the dough. They are amazingly moist and delicious and were a huge hit with the whole family.

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  66. Yay!!! Susan, I'm so glad you liked them!! Kinda eases you into the fall season.

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  67. So hey! I made these this weekend but I chopped up a cup of walnuts and rolled those puppies up inside with the sugar and spice filling. Came out SPLENDIDLY. I am eating one AS I TYPE.

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  68. Oh! I should have given you a link to see how my rolls (with walnut filling) came out:

    http://cryinganddriving.tumblr.com/post/10956498532/look-upon-my-mighty-pumpkin-cinnamon-rolls-and

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  69. I just made these this morning, and they're fantastic! The texture is perfect. And I actually made up a brown butter cream cheese icing, which put them over the top. :)

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  70. I made these yesterday using my bread machine and they turned out fantastic!! :) I am already looking forward to making them again.

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  71. Two things that I love, but never thought to combine. I will absolutely have to give this a try!

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  72. Oh mah goodness!! I love them! If you ever want to send me a care package, you know, just because, please include these rolls! ;-))

    P.S. So jealous of your weather...it's exactly 38 degrees right now in Northwest Indiana.

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  73. These look beyond amazing!! Cannot wait to make them. Pinned!

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  74. Just made these today with fresh pumpkin from the garden.....so good! Thanks for sharing

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  75. Made these for my book club meeting tonight, but my daughter and I had to give them a little taste first. :) Delicious!! I love that they aren't sickeningly sweet, and they have a special flavor. Thanks for the recipe!! Definitely a new fall favorite. Now if only the weather here in Chicago would realize it was supposed to be cold... :P

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  76. Nicol, I'm so glad you liked them!!! These beauties are a fall favorite around here too, actually, we stock pumpkin all year round just to make them!!

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  77. I made some of these today and they were fantastic! The only adjustment I made was using Bolthouse Farms Vanilla Chai Tea drink and powdered sugar for the glaze (no vanilla extract added). Thank you for the recipe!

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  78. Everyone at work loves when I bring these in fresh from the oven! I love the overnight rise.

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