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Overnight Chai Spice Sweet Rolls are the perfect breakfast for Christmas morning. Make them the night before and let them rise while you’re opening gifts. Simple and delicious!
This post is sponsored by Fleischmann’s® Yeast as part of the Bake It Yourself Blogger Program. Thank you for continuing to support the brands that make My Baking Addiction possible.
We’ve hosted Christmas morning every year since we’ve moved closer to family and it’s become one of my favorite holiday traditions.
Everyone creeps in before Elle is awake and gets to watch her open gifts from Santa. It is the absolute BEST.
Since a box of cereal and a gallon of milk isn’t going to cut it on Christmas morning, I typically throw together a simple, but delicious breakfast spread complete with pancakes, make-ahead breakfast casserole, bacon, fresh fruit and, of course, sweet rolls.
Oh, and lots of coffee, because let’s be real. Santa-anticipating toddlers tend to wake up at ridiculous o’clock.
Sounds like a lot, right? Before you roll your eyes, hear me out, because Christmas morning breakfast doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, you can prep almost everything the night before.
I know homemade cinnamon rolls are a little more work than popping open a can, but the taste can’t begin to compare, it’s so worth it! And even though they might be a little intimidating to some of you, I promise you’ll have success with them and once you make them yourself, you won’t want to turn back.
All you need is a little patience and Fleischmann’s® RapidRise™ Yeast. It provides the best rise, so your rolls will be pillowy soft and delicious.
These overnight chai spice sweet rolls come together with ease and are loaded with flavor thanks to my homemade chai spice blend.
To make these chai sweet rolls the night before, you simply make everything according to recipe directions, but after you slice the rolls, loosely cover them and pop them into the refrigerator.
Come back to them within 24 hours, remove the pan from the fridge and resume rising. Easy peasy, and ready to bake!
Elle absolutely loves helping me with cinnamon rolls and can actually be pretty independent with many of the steps.
I often give her part of the dough and let her go to town on her own – my girl has become a pro at spreading butter with an offset spatula and slicing up sweet rolls with unflavored dental floss.
Yes, you read that right, use dental floss to slice your cinnamon rolls. It creates less pressure than a knife and keeps the filling from squishing out all over your counter.
Better rolls AND less clean up? You’re sold. I know you are.
I actually keep a roll of unflavored floss in my kitchen drawer, just for this use. Trust me, you’ll never slice them with a knife again.
Let’s talk about the glaze on these rolls for a second too. This super simple frosting doesn’t require anything special, but it’s what elevates these rolls from just good to OH WOW!
Just a few simple ingredients you’ve already got on hand – powdered sugar, butter, milk and good quality vanilla extract. That’s all you need to make the most delectable sweet roll glaze. You’ll never need another recipe.
Whether you’re looking for a delicious breakfast treat for Christmas morning or looking to wow your co-workers with the ultimate breakfast potluck food, these overnight chai spice cinnamon rolls are sure to please!
For more delicious recipes using Fleischmann’s® Yeast, be sure to check out this Garlic Parmesan Pull-Apart Bread and these Overnight Toffee Cinnamon Rolls!
Overnight Chai Spice Sweet Rolls
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 4-1/2 to 5 cups all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 2 packets Fleischmann's® RapidRise™ Yeast 4 1/2 teaspoons
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1-1/2 cups water
- 6 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 1 egg
For the Filling
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon chai spice blend
- 3 tablespoons softened butter
For the Frosting
- 2-1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter OR margarine softened
- 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Combine 2 cups flour, sugar, dry yeast and salt in a large mixer bowl and stir until blended. Place water and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high in 15 second increments until very warm but not hot to the touch (120° to 130°F. Butter won’t melt completely). Add to flour mixture with egg.
- Beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally. Add 1 cup flour; beat 2 minutes at high speed, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in just enough remaining flour so that the dough will form into a ball.
- Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic and dough springs back when lightly pressed with 2 fingers, about 6 to 8 minutes. Cover with a towel; let rest for 10 minutes.
- For filling, combine sugars and chai spice in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Roll dough into a 15 x 10-inch rectangle using a rolling pin. Spread 3 tablespoons butter over dough stopping at least 1/2-inch from the edges on the long sides. Sprinkle with sugar mixture.
- Beginning at long end of the rectangle, roll up tightly. Pinch seams to seal. Cut into 12 equal pieces. TIP: Use unflavored dental floss instead of a knife to cut rolls. To do, cut a piece of floss about 12 inches long. Slide floss under the roll; bring the ends up and cross over to cut each slice.
- Place, cut sides down, in greased 13 x 9 inch baking pan . If you are making these immediately, cover with towel; let rise in warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour . If you are making these the night before, loosely cover them and pop them into the refrigerator. Come back to them within 24 hours, remove the pan from the fridge and resume rising until they double in size.
- When you're ready to bake, place them into a preheated 350ºF oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until rolls are golden brown. Cool on wire rack for at least 20 minutes.
- Combine all frosting ingredients (start with 2 tablespoons milk and add more if needed) in a large bowl and beat until creamy. Spread over rolls.
Look forward to making these chia buns for my daughter – I think she will love them. Your Yorkshire puddings are a family favourite with us all now even though only one of the family is Coeliac. Thanks for all the great tips and recipes
I hope you love them, Yvonne!
These look sooo yummy! I love Chai spice! I’m adding it to my list of brunch menu options.
I hope you love them, Urvashee!
These rolls look perfect! The added chai to the filling sounds delicious ♥
Thanks so much, Natalie! I appreciate you stopping by and taking the time to comment! Happy Holidays!
-Jamie
Those look soooo yummy! I’m all for doing most of the work the night before then having 80% done sweet rolls ready in the morning!!! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much, Matt! I appreciate you stopping by and taking the time to comment! Happy Holidays to you and yours!
-Jamie