• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Entrees
    • Lunch
    • Side Dishes
    • Snacks
    • Dog-Friendly
  • Life
    • Travels
    • Gift Guides
  • About
    • About Sues
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Newsletter

We are not Martha logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Life
  • About
  • Contact
  • Where I've Been
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • Life
    • About
    • Contact
    • Where I've Been
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Breakfast » Gingerbread Rolls with Eggnog Glaze

    Nov 11, 2019 · Modified: Nov 24, 2020 by Sues · This post may contain affiliate links, uses cookies, and generates income via ads · View privacy policy + disclosure statement linked in footer · 31 Comments

    Gingerbread Rolls with Eggnog Glaze

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Gingerbread Rolls with Eggnog Glaze take the classic cinnamon roll and give it a holiday spin. With the zing of ginger and sweet eggnog flavor, these buns make the perfect Christmas breakfast.

    Head-on view of a gingerbread roll with eggnog icing on a small plate with glasses of eggnog and bowl of eggnog glaze in the background and recipe title at top

    (This recipe for Gingerbread Rolls with Eggnog Glaze was originally published in December 2011, but has been updated with new photos.)

    I feel like we need to talk about holiday movies. Not the classics (everyone knows Miracle on 34th Street is the best, right?? And that Elf is a modern classic that must be watched at least once per season), but the Hallmark and Lifetime Channel Christmas movies.

    Chris and I cut cable a couple years and I actually haven't missed a thing EXCEPT for the fact that we no longer have a way to access the Hallmark channel. Which wasn't an issue that even crossed my mind until December 1.

    And then I was all "omg where's the Hallmark Channel?? I need the Hallmark Channel!! I cannot live without it! We need to get cable back ASAP. The Hallmark Channel is worth $150/month." 

    But then I took a deep breath and turned to the Lifetime Channel and told myself it would be enough. And so far, it has been. But I can't help wondering what I'm missing on Hallmark. Sigh.

    The movies are so bad. SO bad. But it wouldn't be Christmas without them and there's something so comforting and cozy about them. In trying to tell my mom what they're about (she's a fan of the crazy crime/drama/murder Lifetime movies, but can't really get behind the cheesy Christmas ones), I realized they're all about the exact same thing.

    Single overworked girl in her late 20s/early 30s set to spend another Christmas alone. Enter parent/child/niece nephew/etc. who wishes to Santa/an angel/upon a star that said female will find a man. Girl travels to small town and meets man. Female and male fall in love. Drama occurs, female learns she was set up/has to return home to her busy life. Eventually gets over it/realizes what matters in life and they spend Christmas together/happy ending occurs.

    They're all the same and they're all amazing.

    I could most definitely talk about these movies all day, but I know that's not why you're here. You're here for the gingerbread rolls. I think.

    Or maybe you want to come over and watch cheesy television Christmas movies with me and then have a Paideia Seminar about them (please tell me I'm not the only one who had Paideia Seminars in elementary school!).

    In that case, I'll serve you these gingerbread rolls while we watch.

    Cinnamon Rolls or Cinnamon Buns?

    First of all, I have to tell you I spent a lot of time researching the difference between cinnamon rolls and cinnamon buns and came to the conclusion that they're pretty much the same thing (except the buns are often referred to as sticky buns).

    I struggled with whether to call these gingerbread rolls or gingerbread buns, but ultimately decided on gingerbread rolls because it has a better ring to it.

    I could have called them gingerbread cinnamon rolls, but because there's no cinnamon in them, that would be quite deceptive. So, call them gingerbread rolls or gingerbread buns, but please just make them!

    How to Make Gingerbread Rolls

    In any event, I think cinnamon rolls/buns have a reputation for being really difficult and complicated. A lot of baked goods made with yeast do. But they're actually quite easy.

    You just need to account for some rising time and have a little bit of space to roll out the dough.

    If you don't have enough counter space, you can separate the dough into two portions and roll it out in two separate batches.

    Collage showing dough rolled out into rectangle and butter, sugar, and ginger smeared on dough

    Once the dough is rolled out and all that delicious melted butter, sugar, and ginger is spread on, roll the dough into a long tube and then slice it into little gingerbread buns.

    Place them in a pie plate, taking care not to crowd them too much since they'll rise more. You should be able to get two standard pie plates out of them.

    Collage showing dough rolled into log on counter and rolls sliced and placed in pie plate

    And then bake them and let the ridiculously delicious smell of holiday gingerbread spread throughout your home.

    How to Make Eggnog Icing

    While the gingerbread rolls are in the oven, you can whip up a simple eggnog glaze to drizzle on top. The glaze is super easy consisting of just confectioners' sugar, eggnog, and nutmeg.

    Just whisk it all together in a bowl and when the rolls are out of the oven, drizzle the icing over them.


    Like I said, these aren't actually cinnamon rolls... because there's no cinnamon involved! I stuck to ginger and sugar for a more festive flavor with these gingerbread rolls.

    I guess they're not really true gingerbread without the molasses, but they're packed with sweetness and ginger flavor and perfect for a Christmas breakfast.

    They'll certainly get your family and/or friends out of bed if you strategically put them in the oven first thing in the morning.

    Probably if you have small children, you don't have any problems getting them out of bed first thing on Christmas morning, so maybe you can use these as a ploy to keep them tucked away longer, telling them, "don't get out of bed until you smell the gingerbread rolls!"

    Head-on view of a pie plate of gingerbread rolls with eggnog glaze with glasses of eggnog, bowl of eggnog glaze, and silver mini tree in background

    And then you can force them to sit at the table and eat these gingerbread rolls before they can open their gifts from Santa. Muhaha. Just kidding, that's mean.

    We were always allowed to open presents before breakfast, until I was in high school. And then I actually liked eating breakfast first because I loved the anticipation of the day to come.

    And also, eggs Benedict. But I was always a weird kid and actually stayed in bed until my sister came to get me. My favorite part of Christmas was the excitement of what was to come and I didn't want to rush it.

    Landscape head-on view of a gingerbread roll with eggnog glaze on a white plate with silver tinsel with glasses of eggnog and bowl of eggnog glaze in background

    Can You Freeze Gingerbread Rolls?

    Yes! This recipe makes two pans of gingerbread buns, so you don't have to worry about rushing through them. In fact, I recommend freezing a pan before baking and bringing them out in the new year when you really need them.

    To freeze a batch, after arranging rolls in pan (and before baking), wrap tightly in saran wrap and place in refrigerator or freezer until ready to bake. Simply bring to room temperature and bake when ready.

    This also works well if you want to make the gingerbread rolls the week before you're planning to serve them.


    The ginger obviously gives them a holiday kick, but ginger is a year-round spice, too, and can certainly be enjoyed after the holidays. A vanilla glaze would be just perfect.

    But if you're enjoying them during the holidays, they go most perfectly with a tall glass of cold eggnog. I swear I love eggnog more and more every year. I think the best part is that it has such a short season that I never get sick of it.

    Overhead view of a gingerbread eggnog roll on a small white plate with glasses of eggnog and bowl of eggnog glaze in the background

    Of course, gingerbread rolls make for the perfect movie-watching snack, as well. And obviously they pair best with cheesy holiday movies.

    Also, if you have extra eggnog glaze, try your best not to eat it right from the bowl. But I won't tell on you if you do (pro tip: you can drizzle it over pancakes or waffles for a semi-more acceptable way of indulging).

    Head-on view of a gingerbread roll with eggnog icing on a small plate with glasses of eggnog and bowl of eggnog glaze in the background

    What are your favorite movies to watch during the holiday season? Are you a cheesy made-for-television holiday movie lover like me? Do you have the Hallmark Channel?

    If so, can you please record all of the new movies for me and send me a DVD? Haha... I'm only semi kidding!

    If you're looking for more gingerbread treats to enjoy during the holiday season, check out my Gingerbread Chocolate Caramel Fudge and my Gingerbread Cookie Cake. I also love this gorgeous Gingerbread Bundt Cake from Oh, Sweet Basil!

    Gingerbread Rolls with Eggnog Glaze -- Gingerbread Rolls with Eggnog Glaze take the classic cinnamon roll and give it a holiday spin. With the zing of ginger and sweet eggnog flavor, these buns make the perfect Christmas breakfast | wearenotmartha.com

    Gingerbread Rolls with Eggnog Glaze

    Gingerbread Rolls with Eggnog Glaze take the classic cinnamon roll and give it a holiday spin. With the zing of ginger and sweet eggnog flavor, these buns make the perfect Christmas breakfast.
    4.84 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Eggnog Recipes, Gingerbread Desserts, Holiday Breakfasts
    Prep Time: 40 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Rising Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Makes: 16 rolls
    Author: Sues

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups whole milk
    • ½ cup canola oil
    • ¾ cup granulated sugar, divded
    • 2 ¼ tsp active yeast (1 packet)
    • 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour, divided
    • ½ Tbsp salt
    • 1 ½ Tbsp, plus 2 tsp ground ginger
    • ½ tsp baking powder
    • ½ tsp baking soda
    • 1 ½ sticks unsalted butter
    • 1 cup light brown sugar

    Eggnog Glaze

    • 1 ¼ cup confectioners' sugar
    • ½ cup eggnog
    • ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg

    Instructions

    • Heat milk, canola oil, and ½ cup sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat until it's just about to come to a boil. Take the saucepan off the heat and let it cool for about 10 minutes.
    • Pour mixture into a large bowl and sprinkle the yeast over it. Let sit for one minute.
    • Add 4 cups of flour and mix together until just combined. Cover with a dishtowel, sit in a warm spot, and let rise for about an hour.
    • Remove towel and add salt, 2 tsp ginger, baking powder, baking soda, and remaining ½ cup of flour to the bowl and stir to combine.
    • On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a large rectangle, about 24×12 inches (if you don’t have enough space, you can cut the dough into two halves and do this in two batches).
    • Melt butter and pour almost all of it over the dough (saving about ¼ cup).  Generously sprinkle brown sugar, remaining ¼ cup granulated sugar, and remaining 1 ½ Tbsp ginger over the butter.
    • Starting at the end farthest from you, roll the dough tightly toward you. Pinch end seams together. Cut the dough into 1-inch slices with a sharp knife.
    • Pour remaining butter into 2 9-inch pie dishes or tins. Place 7 or 8 rolls into each dish, being careful not to overcrowd. The rolls expand as they rise more. Cover the dishes with a dish towel, place in a warm place, and let them rise for about 20 minutes.
    • While the rolls are rising, pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
    • Bake for 17-21 minutes, until the rolls are turning golden at edges.
    • Immediately drizzle eggnog glaze over the top of rolls and serve warm.

    Eggnog Glaze

    • In a medium bow, whisk confectioners' sugar, eggnog, and nutmeg together.

    Notes

    • If you want to get a head start on these rolls, after step 4,  you can cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and finish rolling dough and forming rolls when ready.
    • If you want to save a pan of cinnamon rolls for later or prep them all ahead of time, after arranging rolls in pan, wrap tightly in saran wrap and place in refrigerator or freezer until ready to bake. Simply bring to room temperature and bake when ready.
    Share a Photo of Your Finished Recipe!Mention @wearenotmartha and share a photo if you've made the recipe!
    Gingerbread Rolls with Eggnog Glaze -- Gingerbread Rolls with Eggnog Glaze take the classic cinnamon roll and give it a holiday spin. With the zing of ginger and sweet eggnog flavor, these buns make the perfect Christmas breakfast | wearenotmartha.com
    There's nothing better than waking up to these Gingerbread Rolls with Eggnog Icing on Christmas morning! | wearenotmartha.com #christmasbreakfast #gingerbread #eggnog #cinnamonrolls #brunch
    Love cinnamon rolls? You're really going to love these Gingerbread Rolls! The perfect holiday breakfast! | wearenotmartha.com #gingerbread #holidaybrunch #christmasrecipes #cinnamonrolls
    Gingerbread Rolls with Eggnog Glaze -- Gingerbread Rolls with Eggnog Glaze take the classic cinnamon roll and give it a holiday spin. With the zing of ginger and sweet eggnog flavor, these buns make the perfect Christmas breakfast | wearenotmartha.com
    Gingerbread Rolls with Eggnog Glaze
    Tweet4
    Share2
    Pin814
    Yum15
    Share
    835 Shares
    « Sweet Potato Chili
    Chocolate Peppermint Sour Cream Crinkle Cookies »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Blog is the New black says

      December 21, 2011 at 1:40 pm

      Loving this one!!!

    2. Michelle Collins says

      December 21, 2011 at 1:53 pm

      These look so delicious - growing up, we always had the Pillsbury cinnamon rolls out of a tube. They sound gross, but were delicious!

    3. Simply Life says

      December 21, 2011 at 2:19 pm

      oh my gosh! I have been wanting to make cinnamon rolls for so long- I'm glad I waited for this recipe!

    4. Erica says

      December 21, 2011 at 3:10 pm

      I heart all of the holiday touches you added to this recipe. And shopping totally is cardio 😉

    5. Leah | So, How's It Taste? says

      December 21, 2011 at 4:09 pm

      Ack! I'm loving this! Homemade cinnamon rolls are the best, although I hate to admit I won't turn my nose up at the orange ones from a can. Last year for Christmas I made pumpkin cinnamon rolls and was thinking about doing it again this year, but I'm totally making your Gingerbread ones instead! Love the idea of eggnog glaze, too!

    6. Kelly says

      December 21, 2011 at 6:08 pm

      Sounds delicious. I love how you've mashed together two iconic holiday flavors. If you make these again, you might want to also try including some ground cloves in the filling mix. Cinnamon + ginger + cloves (well and molasses but not sure how you would work that into a cinnamon roll) is iconic gingerbread to me.

    7. Emily @ A Cambridge Story says

      December 21, 2011 at 7:29 pm

      What a great way to make Christmas even more Christmasy!!

    8. Sharon says

      December 21, 2011 at 9:20 pm

      As usual, your photography is superb. These look like the most delicious breakfast treats ever...are we having them this Christmas morning? I really hope so cause I only have a loaf of homeade cinnamon bread I made and froze from my CIA bread baking course I took in NYC last October. What a feast!

    9. kate says

      December 21, 2011 at 11:30 pm

      Since 1990 I have made (most years) the Gourmet Magazine winter fruit compote with grapefruit, oranges, cranberries, green grapes, and a ginger preserve based sauce... very pretty in a glass bowl.

    10. Stacey says

      December 21, 2011 at 11:42 pm

      I will have to give these a try they look yummy!

    11. Lasagna Raso says

      December 22, 2011 at 5:45 am

      These all look so tempting!Now I am seriously hungry… consider this page bookmarked for the start of my Christmas baking marathon!

      Cheers.

    12. Michelle says

      December 22, 2011 at 9:55 am

      Um, I love everything about these rolls.

    13. Susan says

      December 22, 2011 at 11:17 am

      These sound so delicious and perfect for Christmas morning!

      Merry Christmas, Sues!

    14. Christina says

      December 23, 2011 at 1:35 pm

      Mmm, ginger rolls! These would be a great change from cinnamon rolls.

    15. Shannon says

      December 24, 2011 at 12:48 pm

      Yum. I haven't made cinnamon rolls in tooo long! These might need to be made soon 🙂 Merry Christmas!

    16. CookiePie says

      December 24, 2011 at 4:44 pm

      YUM! And I love the eggnog glaze idea. Delish! Happy holidays!!!

    17. Maiah says

      December 26, 2011 at 10:46 pm

      Ah! You are seriously killing it with the holiday inspired recipes and photos. Makes me want to decorate a tree and bake up a storm 🙂

    18. Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic says

      December 06, 2017 at 5:18 pm

      Gahhh eggnog glaze sounds insane! I have to admit that I don't watch the Lifetime/Hallmark movies (yet?) but totally agree with Elf. Plus Love Actually and Sleepless in Seattle (not actually a Christmas movie, but I love it) 🙂

    19. Jillian says

      December 07, 2017 at 1:00 am

      5 stars
      I love everything about this recipe!

    20. Liza says

      December 07, 2017 at 3:52 am

      4 stars
      Bravo , Bravo !

    21. Helen of Fuss Free Flavours says

      December 07, 2017 at 5:46 am

      5 stars
      Such a yummy breakfast idea for a winter morning, with the lovely warming of the cinnamon.

    22. Kate | Veggie Desserts says

      December 07, 2017 at 6:10 am

      5 stars
      Eggnog glaze is such an incredible idea. This sounds amazing!

    23. Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes says

      December 07, 2017 at 6:11 am

      5 stars
      I love Home Alone! We watched it with the kids two years ago, and the robbers scared my little one. Oops! I forgot about Elf. I bet they would love that one. Love the new pics! The texture looks amazing!

    24. Agness of Run Agness Run says

      December 07, 2017 at 6:16 am

      I love ginger and these rolls would be a perfect recipe to use more ginger in my diet, Sues. This would be a perfect breakfast idea with a cup of tea. Can I use some other kind of milk instead of whole milk?

    25. Dannii says

      December 07, 2017 at 6:54 am

      5 stars
      Oh these look deliciously indulgent. They would be perfect for Christmas morning.

    26. Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says

      December 07, 2017 at 10:25 am

      OMG you need to get cable back just for the month. I couldn't live through December without watching Hallmark movies. The bad acting, the plot holes, the predictable endings. . .it's all just magical. As magical as these cinnamon rolls :). Have a great weekend, Sues!

    27. Michelle Lahey says

      December 07, 2017 at 1:42 pm

      My Mom is OBSESSED with the Christmas Hallmark movies. Last year she even felt guilty because she was so busy watching them she forgot to do a lot of real-life things for Christmas. Haha!

    28. Jacklyn says

      December 09, 2017 at 5:12 pm

      These look perfect for breakfast on Christmas morning! I too am obsessed with the Hallmark Christmas movies, they are so bad but I just can't stop watching! I don't the channel either but if you google the movie title you will find lots of free links to watch them online, I haven't missed a new one yet this year. Also - if you go to wikepdia and search "Hallmark" you can get a list of all the movies by release date ... you'll have enough movies to keep you busy well past Christmas! 😉

    29. Sues says

      December 11, 2017 at 1:21 pm

      @Jacklyn- omg i think you just changed my life! I am going to hope for another snowstorm so I can have a good excuse to not leave my house for a few days!!

    30. Sues says

      December 11, 2017 at 1:22 pm

      @Michelle- This made me laugh so much! I feel like I would do the same thing :/

    31. Sues says

      December 11, 2017 at 1:23 pm

      @Kelsie- Yayyy I'm so glad you can relate!! It wouldn't be Christmas without them!

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Meet Sues

    Hi and thanks for visiting! I started We are not Martha to show you how to make recipes that impress without stress, including easy weeknight dinners, delightful desserts, + lots of cocktails.

    Learn More...

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • Easter Recipes:

    • Cadbury Creme Egg Ice Cream
    • Easter Oreo Bark
    • Cadbury Mini Egg Scones
    • Chai Carrot Cake Scones
    • Jelly Bean Ice Cream
    • Apple Spice Glazed Ham

    Mother's Day Recipes:

    • Shaved Asparagus Salad
    • Strawberry Shortcake Cookies
    • Iced Lavender Latte
    • Strawberry Crepes
    • Lemon Pepper Asparagus
    • Strawberry Souffle

    Popular Now

    • Basil Chicken in Coconut Curry Sauce
    • Momofuku Milk Bar's Cornflake Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cookies
    • Blueberry Vodka Lemonade
    • Chicken Dog Treats

    Footer

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Sues
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosures
    • Web Stories

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with Me

    BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY AMAZON SHOP TO DISCOVER SOME OF MY FAVORITE COOKING AND BAKING ITEMS THAT I USE IN MY OWN KITCHEN. WE ARE NOT MARTHA IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM. ORDERING ANY PRODUCTS MENTIONED HERE ARE AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

    Copyright © 2022 WE ARE NOT MARTHA