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I could not let Christmas pass by without sharing my overnight eggnog brioche cinnamon rolls. Buttery, eggy brioche dough made with seasonal eggnog, sprinkled with warming cinnamon sugar, and frosted generously with a browned butter and cream cheese frosting. There’s nothing not to love, every bite is melt in your mouth delicious. These rolls are a great make ahead breakfast, and perfect for your Christmas celebrations!
Happiest Friday before Christmas!!
For a lot of you, today is probably your last day in the office for 2018. I hope everyone is feeling the excitement in the air like we are over here. There’s still a few things to finish up over the weekend, but that just goes with the territory of running your own business…it’s somewhat non-stop.
I feel like it’s super important to be real with you guys. The internet and social media can paint this perfect picture. But the reality is that nothing (and no one) are perfect. It’s so easy for me to sit here and type that out, but I really need to listen to my own words.
This week I let myself fall down the Instagram rabbit hole that feels lonely and miserable. I know a lot of you can probably relate. For some reason I let my guard down and broke all the Instagram rules I set for myself long ago. I played the comparison game all week long. It was zero fun and I’ve decided that I will not let that happen anymore. This means no scrolling Instagram for a while. Instead I’ll be focusing on what really matters. Cooking good food, spending time with my family (arriving tonight), celebrating Christmas, working to finish up a big project, and hopefully playing in the snow a little too.
No real reason for the life talk other than the fact that I know a lot of you can struggle with comparison too. When that happens, it’s really important to step away from social media and focus on what you really want to be focusing on. For me right now that’s family and work. And at this very moment, sharing these delicious cinnamon rolls!
I was out hiking yesterday morning and had a mild panic attack (not really, but going for dramatics) when I realized I never shared these cinnamon rolls with you guys. I have been planning to make these for months and months now. Yet somehow the last Friday before Christmas snuck up on me way faster than I could have imagined.
I had another post planned for today, but I knew I needed to share these first. So I spent all day perfecting this recipe. And here they are, my Christmas Cinnamon Rolls. They turned out better than I could have wished, and I’m really excited to be sharing them with you guys today. Hoping you still have time to fit them into your Christmas baking list.
Seeing as everything is hectic this time of year, I wanted to keep these as easy as possible. I took the base recipe from the salted brioche cinnamon rolls I have in my cookbook, sped up a few things, and flavored the recipe with seasonal eggnog. Now, I know that eggnog is rather a touchy ingredient. You either love it or hate it…I get the feeling there may be more haters out there than lovers.
I too am not the biggest fan. BUT, have you ever baked with eggnog? If you have not, you’re missing out. Using eggnog in sweet breads is truly my favorite thing to do during the holidays. The eggnog is flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg, so in reality it’s just like favored whole milk. And everyone, it’s delicious when used in a cinnamon roll recipe.
So add some eggnog to the brioche dough. Let the dough rise a bit, then roll it out and sprinkle with a brown sugar cinnamon. I like to use brown sugar for a nice depth of flavor. And I go heavy on the cinnamon…I mean, these are cinnamon rolls!
Roll the dough, cut into rolls and place in a baking dish to rise. Next, you have two options. You can do a quick rise or you can let the rolls rise overnight in the fridge. I love to make these a day or two ahead and let them rise in the fridge. That way, on Christmas morning, all I have to do is bake and frost them. This gives me plenty time to open gifts and drink coffee by the fire with little miss Asher (who’s really not so little anymore…enter sad face).
For the frosting, I stuck with my standard.
Browned butter + cream cheese + vanilla. Simple. Easy. And the best. I cannot think of a better Christmas morning breakfast. Very excited to be making these for my family this year. Hoping you all will be too!
See you tomorrow for the very last Christmas Cocktail Saturday of 2018!
If you make these cinnamon rolls, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Overnight Eggnog Brioche Cinnamon Rolls
Servings: 12
Calories Per Serving: 1574 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup high quality eggnog, warmed (you can also use whole milk)
- 1 tablespoon instant yeast
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter, melted
- 3 1/2 – 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- ½ tsp kosher salt
Filling
- ½ cup dark brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- ½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing
Frosting
- 6 tablespoons salted butter
- 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1¼ cups confectioners’ sugar
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- 1. To make the dough. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the eggnog, yeast, honey, eggs, butter, 3 ½ cups flour, and salt. Using the dough hook, mix until the flour is completely incorporated, about 4-5 minutes. If the dough seems sticky, add the remaining ½ cup of flour. It’s better to have a sticker dough rather than a dry do, so add flour 1 tablespoon at a time.2. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for 1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size.3. Meanwhile, make the filling. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, and cinnamon. Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with parchment. 4. Lightly dust your work surface with flour. Turn out the dough, punch it down, and roll it into a rectangle about 10 x 16 inches. Spread the softened butter evenly over the dough. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar evenly over the butter and lightly push into the butter. Starting with the long edge closest to you, carefully roll the dough into a log, keeping it fairly tight as you go. When you reach the edge, pinch along the edge to seal. Using a sharp knife, cut into 12-15 rolls. Place the rolls in the prepared baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise 20-30 minutes or transfer to the fridge to rise overnight (this is ideal if you have time).5. Remove the rolls from the fridge. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake the rolls for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown.6. Meanwhile, make the frosting. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Cook for about 5 minutes, until the butter is lightly browned and smells toasted. Immediately remove from the heat. Let cool.7. In a medium bowl, beat together the cooled browned butter, cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla until smooth. If the frosting is too thick for your liking, add a tablespoon of eggnog or milk.8. Spread the frosting over the warm rolls. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt (if desired) and serve.
This post was originally published on December 21, 2018
I made these last night and baked them this morning. AMAZING. Loved the brioche and the brown butter frosting- yum. Question- since Eggnog is seasonal- any suggestions on what to substitute the rest of the year to keep these in production? Thanks!
You can just use regular whole milk. Please let me know if you have any other questions. So glad you loved this recipe. Thanks so much and happy Holidays!! xTieghan ?
Hi there! Looking forward to making these for my family for Christmas. However we have a four hour drive and will be arriving on Christmas Eve, I would like to do some prep before hand.
Any suggestions on at what point of the reciepe would be the best for transport or should I bake all the way and keep in the fridge and warm Christmas morning?
Thank you for the advice! Can’t wait to try them!
Hi! You can assemble the rolls all the way up in until you are ready to bake, then place in the fridge and bake when ready. Hope you enjoyed the rolls and had a great Christmas!
These look incredible! Do you think the dough can be left in the fridge for more than just one night?
Sure! I would say up to 3 mights in the fridge. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much and happy Holidays!! xTieghan ?
These look so good! Do you think the same recipe would work using a Gluten Free flour (like Cup for Cup) instead of the regular flour?
I have not tried it, but I think it should work just fine. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much and happy Holidays!! xTieghan ?
Hi, I accidentally bought self raising flour. Can I use it instead of the regular flour and east? I’m not really sure how it works
HI! I am sure self rising flour will be fine. I would only used 2 teaspoons of yeast since the flour will help the rolls rise as well. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much and happy Holidays!! xTieghan ?
Well…..I keep hearing Well done Gramma” this morning……Made these yesterday baked this morning …There are 4 of us…they are all gone!!! I have been trying to make cinnamon rolls for over 50 years and never succeeded. Until this morning.
All your recipes have been a success ……
You should never compare yourself to anyone..ever. You do stand alone and that is a great thing. Don’t change……you are the best in this bloggers world. Sincerely.
Wow thank you so much for this! It is so sweet and much needed!
Has anyone tried to make these or another version of overnight cinnamon rolls with bobs one-to-one gluten free flour? I try to avoid gluten and wheat when I can and I know over the holidays i will be having so much, I was curious if this was one way I could cut it out ?
Hi Jackie! I have not tried it, but I am sure it would work great! Thank you!
Hey Tieghan,
I think these cinnamon rolls looks lovely and would be a wonderful Christmas breakfast idea. I was thinking of making these cinnamon rolls with your cinnamon crunch bread (for extra cinnamon) and am looking forward to making both! I’m sorry about being busy and hope you’re able to enjoy your hikes and wrapping any more gifts to give. I still have to get maybe sibling their gift but agree the holidays arrived fast! Anyways, I hope all is well and you have a lovely weekend. ☺️
Thank you so much Kristin! I hope you love these cinnamon rolls!
Really want to try this for a brunch on Sunday.hoe er my mixer doesn’t have a dough hook. Can I knead by hand? Thanks & merry Christmas.
Hey Julie! You can mix by hand, but just use a little elbow grease until the dough forms a smooth ball. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much and happy Holidays!! xTieghan ?
OMG, Teighan, I have been thinking about you all day. And all week for that matter. You have influenced my entire family and what we eat almost daily. I think you are such an influencer is so many areas. I mean, gaaaak, Anthropologie decorated your new AMAZING “barn”. All the “props” too from them? I LOVE beautiful serving/special dishes. NOT to mention your excellent taste in clothing, you are responsible for me dropping $200+ on Rachel Comey cream jeans for my 24 year old daughter. My daughter is forever changed by the fit of quality pants.
You are THE modern Martha Stewart……yep I hate to compare but how else can I express this thinking? You are YOU, an original……but I predict…..
Now let’s talk your recipes. This week alone, my Comey daughter, a pescatarian……sigh. Made your pasta figiole soup. AMAZING. Then, last night I made both lasagnas, white/veggie and the boldness lasagna for a pot luck. 10 out of 10 5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Sadly they eat everything…..no leftovers.
Lastly, I’m feeling really low myself. My kids (Ha! 21 and 23) have been buying everything they want, so no presents for Christmas Day. No family, just my two kids and my daughter chose to spend Christmas with her BF (a first) and we had a fight. Then my son was fighting with his dad via internet….ick Everyone is losing their marbles. My son is coming down with cold/flu I just had for 3 days……oy, what a gripe
Btw…I don’t know if I can wait for Christmas Day to make these ?⛄️????
Hi Laurie! You are so sweet. Thank you so much for your kind words they truly made my day!! I am really sorry you are going through a hard time right now, but I hope Christmas day with your son will be so special! Also, I hope he gets over the flu soon! Thank you again for this comment!
You are the best. Thank you for your transparency on the social media rabbit hole. I’ve been feeling the same way and feeling down on myself so your post is very timely. And obv I am going to make these cinnamon roles for Christmas even though my husband hates eggnog. I will make him a believer.
Hi Jessica! I am glad you can relate, but sorry that you’re going through it as well! I hope you love these cinnamon rolls!
I’m so excited because just today I decided I was going to make Cinnamon rolls for the first time ever. I’m having brunch on Xmas morning and thought cinnamon rolls would be great. And then this popped up in my feed. I’m going to try them!
YES perfect timing! I hope you love these Jennifer! Thank you!
Do you suggest trying these over the east fluffy eggnog rolls from 2013? I love those! But these look great too!
Hi Karina! I am sure you would love this one just as much! I would try it out!
These are more decadent, fluffier, and softer. A little less sweet too with a richer frosting too. So depends on your taste. Both are great recipes! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much and happy Holidays!! xTieghan ?
T, you are leading the pack. I love your recipes, comments, and photography. You are so talented! I ordered your cookbook the SECOND you said it could be pre-ordered. Please know you are amazing, have so much to share, and yes, are imperfect like the rest of us. We are all on a journey. Thank you for sharing yours with us.
This is so sweet! Thank you so much for this. I hope you continue to love my recipes and the posts I share!
I’m lazy and it’s predicted r☔️ain on Christmas? off to the store I go then home to make these warm delicious ro?lls
Yes! I hope you love these Loretta! Thank you!