Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls

I love a good dessert mashup, especially when it combines a classic cake with a beloved breakfast baked good. Carrot cake cinnamon rolls do exactly that: They’re cinnamon rolls inspired by moist homemade carrot cake, made with shredded carrots in the dough and a filling enhanced with typical carrot cake spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, and even chopped nuts.

Once baked, you’ll end up with fluffy, gooey cinnamon rolls that feature all the best flavors of carrot cake. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a carrot cake-inspired sweet without a generous topping of cream cheese frosting. Bake a batch of these cinnamon rolls for Easter or a springtime celebration, or simply as a weekend baking project that results in a comforting treat.

Ingredients for Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls

• Milk: Milk serves as a liquid base for the cinnamon roll dough. Start with warm milk to help activate the yeast, and add a splash to the frosting for the right consistency later. We use 2% milk in this recipe, but you can swap in whole milk if desired.
• Granulated sugar: Granulated sugar lightly sweetens the dough and gives the yeast what it needs to activate properly.
• Active dry yeast: Active dry yeast is a crucial part of making cinnamon rolls. Once activated in warm milk, the yeast helps the dough rise while proofing and baking. Our guide to proofing yeast provides several tips if you haven’t yet mastered the baking skill.
• Butter: Melted butter is incorporated into the dough for flavor, and it serves as a base for the filling. Softened butter is beaten with cream cheese to make the frosting spreadable on top of the carrot cake cinnamon rolls.
• Eggs: Two eggs add a rich texture to the cinnamon roll dough. Letting the eggs come to room temperature helps with easier incorporation.
• Shredded carrots: As with traditional carrot cake, these carrot cake cinnamon rolls incorporate shredded carrots. It’s best to shred the carrots yourself, rather than buying pre-shredded carrots.
• All-purpose flour: All-purpose flour is a crucial building block, providing structure for the cinnamon rolls.
• Salt: Just a touch of salt balances flavor and sweetness in this carrot cake cinnamon rolls recipe.
• Brown sugar: Use brown sugar to make the filling for these cinnamon rolls for a wonderful depth of flavor. Choose light brown sugar or dark brown sugar for a bolder taste.
• Cinnamon: Cinnamon is key for baking a batch of homemade cinnamon rolls with a flavorful filling. In this recipe, a small amount of cinnamon is incorporated into the dough as well.
• Nutmeg and cloves: Add additional typical carrot cake spices like nutmeg and cloves to the filling.
• Pecans: Pecans are optional in the filling, but they add a touch of crunch.
• Cream cheese: For a cream cheese frosting on top, start with softened cream cheese. Softened cream cheese can be incorporated more easily for the smoothest frosting without lumps.
• Vanilla extract: Add a splash of vanilla extract to enhance the flavor of the cream cheese frosting.

Directions

Step 1: Make and proof the dough

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, stir together the warm milk and sugar. Sprinkle yeast on top and let sit until foamy, 5 to 10 minutes.

Editor’s Tip: If you bought whole carrots, you can shred them while the yeast is activating. Grate them in a food processor, then transfer them to a doubled paper towel and pat them dry to remove any excess moisture.

Turn the mixer speed to medium and gradually mix in 2 cups of flour, the melted butter, eggs, shredded carrots, cinnamon and salt. Continue to gradually add the remaining flour, mixing until the dough comes together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. It will be slightly sticky but still hold its shape.

Transfer the dough to a greased bowl. Cover with a towel.

Let rise at room temperature until the dough has doubled in size, about one hour.

Step 2: Roll out and fill the dough

For the filling, in a bowl, mix the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and half the melted butter.

Then, sprinkle a cutting board or countertop with flour and transfer the dough to the floured surface.

Use a rolling pin to roll the dough into a 16×12-inch rectangle. Brush the dough with the remaining melted butter.

Cover with the brown sugar mixture, spreading evenly to within 1/2-inch of the sides of the rectangle. Sprinkle with chopped pecans, if using. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side, and pinch the seam to seal.

Step 3: Cut the rolls and let rise

Cut the roll into 12 slices.

Step 4: Bake the cinnamon rolls

Place the rolls in a greased 13×9-inch pan, cut side down. Cover with a kitchen towel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled, 40 minutes to 1 hour. Then, preheat the oven to 350°F.

Bake the rolls until lightly golden brown, 25 to 28 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 15 to 20 minutes.

Step 5: Top with frosting

Place softened cream cheese and butter in a large mixing bowl. Beat on medium speed until smooth, about two minutes. Gradually mix in confectioners’ sugar, milk and vanilla extract, and beat another one to two minutes until smooth. Spread the cream cheese frosting on warm cinnamon rolls.

Carrot Cake Cinnamon Roll Variations

• Try another frosting: Cream cheese frosting is a classic choice for both regular cinnamon rolls and carrot cake cinnamon rolls, but you could try another option. Use a simple confectioners’ sugar glaze to finish off the rolls.
• Add other nuts: Instead of pecans, use chopped walnuts in the filling for an alternate flavor profile and crunch.
• Top with toasted coconut: Finish the tops of the cinnamon rolls with a sprinkle of regular or toasted coconut for a pop of flavor.

How to Store Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls

With cream cheese frosting on top, carrot cake cinnamon rolls should be stored in the refrigerator. Keep them covered, wrapped or in an airtight container for up to four days. Unfrosted cinnamon rolls can be stored covered at room temperature for up to two days.

Can you freeze carrot cake cinnamon rolls?

You can absolutely freeze carrot cake cinnamon rolls. However, because the carrots add additional moisture to the dough, it’s best to freeze only fully baked cinnamon rolls. Cover or wrap the cinnamon rolls and store them in the freezer for up to two months. Alternatively, store wrapped and frosted cinnamon rolls in the freezer.

For either option, thaw the cinnamon rolls overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the microwave or in the oven at 300°.

Can you make carrot cake cinnamon rolls ahead of time?

If you’d like to prep this carrot cake cinnamon roll recipe ahead of time and bake the rolls fresh, you certainly can! Make and proof the dough, and then fill and assemble the cinnamon rolls. Instead of doing the second proof once they are formed and in the baking dish, cover the dish. Leave it in the fridge overnight, and then let the rolls proof for the second time in the morning. Then, bake as directed.

Alternatively, you can prep and fully bake the cinnamon rolls the night before you plan to serve them. Once cool, cover the baking dish and leave the rolls at room temperature. Then, warm them in a 300° oven in the morning before topping with cream cheese frosting.

Carrot Cake Cinnamon Roll Tips

Why didn’t the cinnamon roll dough rise?

Two key things make cinnamon rolls rise—active yeast and warmth. Let the yeast activate in the warm milk until foamy to make sure it’s ready to get to work before making the dough. It’s also crucial to give the dough time to rise in a warm place for the best fluffy texture.

Why is the cinnamon roll dough too sticky?

Adding shredded carrots to cinnamon roll dough will introduce extra moisture. While making the dough, you can add a bit of extra flour to combat this, incorporating small amounts at a time as needed until the dough is only slightly sticky but can still be handled.

How do you slice cinnamon roll dough before baking?

The key to making cinnamon rolls with the best spiral shape and design is to avoid pressing the dough down. Once the cinnamon rolls have been filled and rolled up, use a serrated knife to gently saw through and cut each roll.

How can you decorate carrot cake cinnamon rolls?

These carrot cake cinnamon rolls can stand on their own with carrot pieces studded throughout and a luscious cream cheese frosting on top. Or, you can dress them up for an Easter brunch or another occasion by topping each with a small piece of peeled carrot and greenery, or sprinkling them with chopped pecans or walnuts.