The Cinnamon Rolls I Make Every Christmas Morning

Warm, gooey, and made for slow holiday mornings — spoiler alert: you probably have a can of the main ingredient already ;)

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I grew up having Pillsbury Cinnamon rolls for breakfast every year on Christmas morning.

This recipe is a nod to that childhood memory, only remixed for more cinnamon-y, gooey yumminess and combined with my own cream cheese frosting, since I like that better.

For me, it’s all about filling the house with warmth before anything else begins.

You’ll find this remix easily elevates a simple dish and everyone will be wondering how you got this from a can.

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This recipe is part of my Holiday Catalogue — a curated collection of cozy recipes, festive details, and simple ideas to make the season feel warm without the overwhelm.

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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Assembly Time: 3-5 minutes
Bake Time: 25-30 minutes
Serves: 5 rolls (1 can)

Ingredients

For the Rolls

• 1 can Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls

• ¼ cup heavy cream

• 2 tbsp melted butter

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• ½ tsp cinnamon

• ¼ tsp nutmeg (optional)

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

• 4 oz cream cheese, softened

• 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

• ¾ cup powdered sugar

• ½ tsp vanilla extract

• pinch of salt

*Hear me when I say - soften this butter but do not melt it. This will prevent everything from blending beautifully and may leave chunks of powdered sugar in the mix :/

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter a round or square baking dish.

2. Arrange rolls in dish. Pour heavy cream evenly over the top.

3. Whisk melted butter, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Drizzle over rolls.

4. Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, until golden but soft.

5. While baking, whip the frosting: blend cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt.

6. Frost while warm. Serve immediately — and don’t expect leftovers.

Optional Extras

• Sprinkle with orange zest

• Add candied walnuts or pecans

• Drizzle maple syrup

• Pinch of sea salt for balance

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• Silicone Brush - Perfect for brushing melted butter into every corner of the pan (and generously over the rolls themselves). Silicone makes this easy to clean and gentle on bakeware—no bristles left behind, ever.

  • Tip: I use this for everything from buttering pans to brushing icing over warm rolls.
    

• Piping Bag - Not required—but lovely if you want a bakery-style finish. This makes drizzling icing smooth, controlled, and mess-free, especially if you’re serving guests or gifting a pan.

  • Tip: You can also use a zip-top bag with the corner snipped.
    

• Heavy Cream - This is the secret to extra-soft, bakery-style cinnamon rolls. Pouring a little over the rolls before baking keeps them pillowy and rich without making them heavy.

  • Trust me—this one small step makes a big difference.
    

• Baking Dish (Medium size) - The ideal size for snug, cozy rolls that bake evenly and stay tender. I also love a ceramic dish because I can add it straight to my holiday table and it’ll look amazing!

  • Tip: Butter the dish generously for easy serving.

Enjoy Friends!

With Love,
Ambyr