Festive Cranberry Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

These festive cranberry cinnamon rolls are a delightful treat perfect for holiday gatherings. With a sweet cinnamon filling and a tart cranberry twist, they offer a unique flavor combination that will impress your guests.

This recipe is simple to follow and results in soft, fluffy rolls topped with a creamy glaze. They can be prepared ahead of time, making them a convenient option for your holiday brunch.

Delicious Cranberry Cinnamon Rolls for the Holidays

A tray of golden cranberry cinnamon rolls drizzled with glaze, garnished with cranberries, set against a festive holiday backdrop.

These cinnamon rolls are filled with a mixture of cinnamon, sugar, and fresh cranberries, then rolled up and baked until golden. The recipe takes about 2 hours from start to finish and yields 12 rolls.

Ingredients

4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk, warmed
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 large eggs
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup powdered sugar for glaze
2 tablespoons milk for glaze
1 teaspoon vanilla extract for glaze

Instructions

Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, combine the warm milk, melted butter, and sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over the mixture and let it sit for about 5 minutes until frothy. Add the eggs and mix well.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until a dough forms.
Knead the Dough: Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Prepare the Filling: In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon. Roll out the dough on a floured surface into a rectangle. Spread melted butter over the dough and sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture and chopped cranberries evenly on top.
Roll and Cut: Starting from one long side, roll the dough tightly into a log. Cut the log into 12 equal pieces and place them in a greased baking dish.
Second Rise: Cover the rolls with a cloth and let them rise for another 30 minutes.
Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the rolls for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
Make the Glaze: While the rolls are baking, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Drizzle over warm rolls before serving.