There are certain flavors that instantly make you think of fall. Pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, maple, and coffee all have a way of bringing to mind cool mornings, colorful leaves, warm kitchens, and the comfort of slowing down with something delicious.

Today’s Breakfast of the Day — Pumpkin Spice Latte Cinnamon Rolls — brings many of those favorite autumn flavors together in one warm, gooey breakfast treat.

Imagine pulling a pan of freshly baked cinnamon rolls from the oven. The dough is soft and fluffy, the centers are filled with pumpkin, brown sugar, cinnamon, and warm spices, and the entire kitchen smells like fall.

Then comes the part that makes these cinnamon rolls different: coffee-flavored cream cheese icing.

That little touch of coffee transforms an ordinary pumpkin cinnamon roll into something inspired by a pumpkin spice latte.

If you love cinnamon rolls and pumpkin spice coffee, this breakfast gives you the best of both worlds.

Why Pumpkin Spice Latte Cinnamon Rolls Are Perfect for Fall

A traditional cinnamon roll is already one of the ultimate comfort breakfasts. Warm bread, melted butter, cinnamon sugar, and sweet icing are difficult to beat.

But fall gives us an excuse to make them even better.

Pumpkin puree adds moisture and a subtle pumpkin flavor to the dough and filling, while pumpkin pie spices bring warmth to every bite. Espresso or strong coffee in the frosting provides the familiar roasted flavor you expect from a latte.

The result is a breakfast that tastes like something you might find at a bakery or coffee shop on a chilly October morning.

They’re especially good for:

• Weekend breakfasts
• Sunday brunch
• Fall family gatherings
• Halloween morning
• Thanksgiving weekend
• Holiday breakfasts
• Football Sundays
• A cozy morning at home
• Sharing with friends over coffee

And, of course, you don’t need a special occasion.

Sometimes a pan of homemade cinnamon rolls is the occasion.

Pumpkin Spice Latte Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

Prep Time: About 30 minutes, plus rising time
Bake Time: 22–28 minutes
Servings: Approximately 10–12 cinnamon rolls

Ingredients for the Dough

• 3 1/2 to 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup warm milk
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

For the Pumpkin Spice Filling

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree

For the Coffee Cream Cheese Icing

• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 to 2 tablespoons strong brewed coffee or espresso, cooled
• Pinch of cinnamon

Step 1: Activate the Yeast

Warm the milk until it is comfortably warm but not hot.

You want it around 105–110°F. Milk that is too hot can damage the yeast.

Pour the warm milk into a large mixing bowl and stir in the yeast along with a small amount of the granulated sugar.

Allow the mixture to sit for about five to ten minutes.

You should begin seeing bubbles or foam forming on the surface. That’s a good sign that your yeast is active and ready to make the dough rise.

Step 2: Make the Pumpkin Dough

Add the pumpkin puree, remaining sugar, melted butter, egg, vanilla, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt to the yeast mixture.

Stir everything together.

Begin adding the flour gradually.

Start with about three cups and continue adding flour until a soft dough forms.

You don’t want to add too much flour. Cinnamon roll dough should remain slightly soft and tacky rather than becoming stiff and dry.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for approximately five to eight minutes.

The dough should eventually become smooth and elastic.

Step 3: Let the Dough Rise

Place the dough into a lightly greased bowl.

Cover it with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and place it somewhere warm.

Allow the dough to rise for approximately 60–90 minutes, or until it has roughly doubled in size.

This is the perfect time to make yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy the smell of pumpkin and cinnamon already beginning to fill the kitchen.

Step 4: Prepare the Pumpkin Spice Filling

In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, and pumpkin puree.

Mix until you have a thick, spreadable filling.

The brown sugar will caramelize slightly while the rolls bake, creating those wonderfully sticky cinnamon-roll centers.

Step 5: Roll Out the Dough

Once the dough has doubled, gently punch it down.

Place it on a lightly floured surface and roll it into a large rectangle, approximately 12 by 18 inches.

Don’t worry if your rectangle isn’t perfect.

Homemade cinnamon rolls aren’t supposed to look like they came off an assembly line.

A little imperfection is part of their charm.

Step 6: Add the Filling

Spread the pumpkin spice filling evenly across the dough.

Try to get close to the edges so every cinnamon roll receives plenty of filling.

Starting from one of the long sides, tightly roll the dough into a log.

Use a sharp knife or unflavored dental floss to divide the log into approximately 10–12 rolls.

Step 7: Give Them a Second Rise

Arrange the cinnamon rolls in a greased 9-by-13-inch baking dish.

Leave a little room between them because they will continue expanding.

Cover the pan and allow the rolls to rise for another 30–45 minutes.

By the end of the second rise, they should look noticeably larger and softer.

Step 8: Bake Until Golden

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Bake the cinnamon rolls for approximately 22–28 minutes, depending on your oven and the thickness of the rolls.

Look for lightly golden tops and fully baked centers.

One of the hardest parts of this recipe is waiting.

Once pumpkin, cinnamon, butter, and brown sugar start baking together, your kitchen is going to smell incredible.

Step 9: Make the Coffee Cream Cheese Icing

While the cinnamon rolls bake, prepare the frosting.

Beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth.

Gradually add the powdered sugar.

Mix in the vanilla.

Then add the cooled coffee or espresso about a teaspoon at a time until the frosting reaches your preferred consistency.

Finish with a small pinch of cinnamon.

The coffee flavor doesn’t need to overpower everything else.

You’re looking for enough coffee to give the frosting that recognizable pumpkin spice latte flavor.

Step 10: Frost Them While They’re Warm

Allow the cinnamon rolls to cool for about five to ten minutes after removing them from the oven.

Then spread the coffee cream cheese icing generously across the tops.

The frosting will begin melting into the warm rolls, working its way between the layers of cinnamon, pumpkin, and brown sugar.

Serve them warm.

And don’t be surprised if everyone immediately reaches for another one.

What Makes These Taste Like a Pumpkin Spice Latte?

Pumpkin spice doesn’t actually mean one particular spice.

It usually refers to a combination of warming spices traditionally associated with pumpkin desserts, including cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and sometimes allspice.

Pair those spices with pumpkin and coffee, and you get the familiar flavor combination associated with a pumpkin spice latte.

That’s why the coffee icing is important here.

Without it, you have delicious pumpkin cinnamon rolls.

With it, you get Pumpkin Spice Latte Cinnamon Rolls.

Make Them Even More Decadent

There are plenty of ways to customize this recipe.

For additional crunch, sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts over the filling before rolling the dough.

You can also drizzle a little caramel sauce over the finished cinnamon rolls.

For even more coffee flavor, mix a small amount of instant espresso powder into the filling.

If you love maple flavors, replace part of the vanilla in the icing with maple extract.

And for an especially indulgent breakfast, serve the warm cinnamon rolls with whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon.

At that point, you’re somewhere between breakfast and dessert.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Can You Prepare Them the Night Before?

Yes.

This is especially useful when you’re preparing breakfast for guests.

Prepare the cinnamon rolls through the point where they have been sliced and placed in the baking dish.

Cover the pan tightly and refrigerate overnight.

The next morning, remove the pan from the refrigerator and allow the rolls to sit at room temperature for approximately 30–60 minutes.

Then bake as directed.

You’ll get freshly baked cinnamon rolls without having to wake up extremely early to prepare the dough.

What to Serve With Pumpkin Spice Latte Cinnamon Rolls

These rolls are definitely rich, so pairing them with something simple works well.

Fresh berries or sliced apples provide a refreshing contrast.

You could also serve them alongside scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, or a vegetable omelet if you’re preparing a larger brunch.

And then there’s the obvious choice.

Coffee.

A hot cup of coffee is almost mandatory with these cinnamon rolls.

Try regular coffee, a cappuccino, vanilla latte, pumpkin spice latte, chai latte, or even hot apple cider.

How to Store Leftover Cinnamon Rolls

If somehow you have leftovers, keep the cinnamon rolls covered in the refrigerator because the icing contains cream cheese.

They should remain good for approximately three to four days when properly stored.

Reheat an individual cinnamon roll in the microwave for roughly 15–25 seconds.

That little bit of heat softens the dough and makes the icing gooey again.

They’re almost as good the second morning.

Almost.

A Breakfast Worth Slowing Down For

Some mornings are rushed.

You grab coffee, find something quick to eat, and head out the door.

Other mornings deserve something different.

They deserve a hot cup of coffee, a warm kitchen, and the smell of cinnamon rolls baking in the oven.

Pumpkin Spice Latte Cinnamon Rolls aren’t an everyday breakfast, and that’s exactly what makes them special.

They’re the kind of breakfast you make when you want the morning to feel a little more memorable.

Maybe it’s the first cold weekend of fall.

Maybe family is visiting.

Maybe you’re watching football.

Maybe you’re preparing for the holidays.

Or maybe you’ve simply decided that today deserves cinnamon rolls.

You don’t always need a bigger reason.

Breakfast of the Day

Today’s Pumpkin Spice Latte Cinnamon Rolls combine everything we love about a classic cinnamon roll with some of the best flavors of fall.

Soft pumpkin dough.

Cinnamon and brown sugar.

Warm autumn spices.

Coffee cream cheese frosting.

And that incredible smell filling the house while they’re baking.

Pour yourself a fresh cup of coffee, grab one while it’s still warm, and enjoy a breakfast that tastes like fall wrapped inside a cinnamon roll.

Would you eat your Pumpkin Spice Latte Cinnamon Roll with a regular cup of coffee, a pumpkin spice latte, or a cold glass of milk?