Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls (Perfect for Breakfast or Brunch)

Carrot cake for breakfast? Absolutely acceptable.
These cinnamon rolls are ultra-soft, warmly spiced, studded with real carrots, and finished with a rich cream cheese frosting. Perfect for Easter brunch—or honestly, any cozy Sunday

⏱️ Time & Yield

Prep: 25 minutes
Rise: 1½–2 hours
Bake: 25 minutes
Makes: 9–12 rolls

🧺 Ingredients

Dough

¾ cup warm milk (about 110°F / 43°C)
2¼ tsp instant yeast (1 packet)
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
2½–3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg
¼ tsp ginger
½ tsp salt
¾ cup finely grated carrots (squeeze excess moisture)

Cinnamon-Carrot Filling

⅓ cup brown sugar
1½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg
3 tbsp soft butter
½ cup finely grated carrots
¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Cream Cheese Frosting

4 oz cream cheese, softened
3 tbsp butter, softened
¾ cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1–2 tbsp milk (to thin)

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1️⃣ Make the Dough

Mix warm milk, yeast, and sugar. Rest 5 minutes until foamy.
Add egg, melted butter, spices, salt, and carrots.
Gradually mix in flour until a soft dough forms.
Knead 5–7 minutes until smooth.
Cover and let rise 1–1½ hours, until doubled.

2️⃣ Fill & Roll

Roll dough into a 14×9-inch rectangle.
Spread butter evenly.
Mix brown sugar and spices; sprinkle over dough.
Scatter carrots and nuts.
Roll tightly and cut into rolls.

3️⃣ Bake

Place rolls in a greased baking dish.
Cover and rise 30 minutes.
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 22–25 minutes, until golden.

4️⃣ Frost

Beat frosting ingredients until smooth.
Spread generously over warm rolls.

🌟 Tips & Variations

Extra carrot cake vibe: Add raisins or crushed pineapple (well-drained) to filling.
Make ahead: Refrigerate shaped rolls overnight; bake fresh in the morning.
Lighter frosting: Swap half cream cheese with Greek yogurt.

❓ Quick Q&A

Can I freeze them?
Yes! Freeze baked (unfrosted) rolls up to 2 months.

Too sweet for breakfast?
Reduce sugar in frosting or enjoy with coffee ☕—perfect balance.

No mixer?
No problem. This dough is easy to knead by hand.

Soft, spiced, and irresistibly cozy—carrot cake cinnamon rolls make every morning feel like a celebration 🥕✨

Author
Recent Posts

Sara Mitchell

Sara Mitchell is an expert restaurant content creator who writes easy-to-read guides about CAVA and other Mediterranean fast-casual chains in the United States. She covers locations, menus, prices, and hours, making it simple for visitors to find nearby restaurants and what to order quickly.

With years of experience in restaurant research and local SEO, Sara creates accurate, user-friendly guides that work for both people and search engines. Her goal is to help users go from search results to their nearest restaurant or menu choice with as few clicks as possible.