Pumpkin brioche rolls taste like a cross between dinner rolls and pumpkin pie. They proof twice, bake golden, and come out soft enough to pull apart warm.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
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Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Proof Time
1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time
2 hours 5 minutes
Servings
12 rolls
Difficulty
Intermediate
Calories *
186 kcal per serving
Technique
Mix and knead dough, proof twice, score tops, brush with egg wash, and bake.
Flavor Profile
Buttery brioche rolls warmly spiced. Think pumpkin pie meets dinner roll!
* Based on nutrition panel
So delicious! Cold-proofed overnight, so I made the recipe with 1/2 the amount of yeast. Perfectly delicious, not too spiced, perfect hint of sweetness. Thank you! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Alex
Think of this recipe as the result of the fact that a) I love carbs and b) because of my carb love, I couldn’t decide between pumpkin pie and dinner rolls. So I combined them.
Genius/crazy/this is my brain on Thanksgiving? It’s probably all of the above.
Thanksgiving has looked a little different for us every year for the last five or so years. While growing up it was always at my parents’ house, since Elliott and I got hitched it’s also been in our tiny apartment in Iowa, at his parents’ place and this year, we are hosting again. Except on Saturday, instead of Thursday (because the husband has to work on the holiday, boo).
Another new tradition that’s popped up somewhat unplanned-ly is the fact that I always end up making the dinner rolls and at least one of the desserts. It’s not like we even decided, “Hey Steph, these are the things you make.” It just happened that way — which means those are just the things I tend to make for funsies. Someone else can be in the charge of the turkey; I’m very good at eating that, though.
This year, these pumpkin pie brioche rolls will obviously be gracing the Thanksgiving dinner table as the dinner roll portion of the evening’s eating festivities. If they can make it that long. I’ve already polished off three of them for testing purposes, ahem.
Brioche continues to be one of my favorite types of breads to bake because the dough is so soft and the results are SO FLUFFY. And there are not many better things than a warm, fluffy roll with melty butter on top of these or my sally lunn bread. In this case, I highly suggest maple butter. Trust.
These rolls seemed to be extra fluffy and soft, though, and I think that’s because of the pumpkin (and because I baked them with love, dawwwwww). Combine that with pumpkin pie-ish spices like cinnamon and nutmeg and an ever-so-slightly-crusty crust on account of the egg wash, and my friends, you’ll be doing a dinner roll dance in your kitchen as I did. I mean, no I didn’t. I mean…
Nope. I did. And I’m doing it again right now.
If there is any reason to break with Thanksgiving tradition, it’s these rolls, or sweet potato dinner rolls. Either, you will not regret. And yes, this does mean you can still have pumpkin pie for dessert, OBVI.
Recommended Fall Recipes
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Quick Breads
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Cookie Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how it goes in the comments below! I love hearing from you and your comments make my day!
Pumpkin Brioche Rolls
Ingredients
- 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon cloves
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- ½ cup canned pumpkin
- ¼ cup warm water, about 110 to 115 degrees F
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened and cut into cubes
- 2 large eggs
Egg wash:
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- In a large bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, combine 1 ¾ cups flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and yeast. Add pumpkin, warm water, butter and eggs. Stir, adding just enough of remaining 1 ½ cups flour until a dough forms that pulls away from sides of bowl.
- On a lightly floured surface, knead dough by hand 10 minutes until smooth, soft, elastic and only slightly sticky; OR, knead dough with dough hook attachment in stand mixer on medium speed 5 minutes until smooth, soft, elastic and only slightly sticky. Shape dough into a ball, then place in a large lightly greased bowl; turn to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place 1 hour until doubled.
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Punch down risen dough, then divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, then place on prepared baking sheet spaced at least 2 inches apart. Cover with a tea towel or lightly greased plastic wrap and let rise 30 minutes until doubled.
- Just before baking, use scissors or a sharp serrated knife to score tops of rolls about 1/4-inch deep. Brush tops and sides of rolls with egg wash. Bake 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this recipe? Rate & comment below!P.P.S. And in case you need more Thanksgiving carb/dinner roll ideas, here are a few more!
Brown Butter Sweet Potato Buttermilk Rolls
Brown Butter Apple Cheddar Pie Crescent Rolls
Croissants, Step by Step
Garlic Cheddar Brioche Buns
Oatmeal Pan Rolls
Pumpkin Cranberry Twists
Parker House Rolls
Pumpkin Pie Brioche Rolls! Little Goat Bakery in Chicago is making them too – but now I know how to make them at home. Thanks!
These look so soft and gooooood, Steph! Love them to bitty pieces 🙂
These are just absolutely perfect for Thanksgiving! Love the combination of pumpkin pie flavors with brioche rolls!
oh my gawd, these rolls!!! These have to happen soon in my kitchen. . love!!
I love brioche. I think this is more genius than crazy!
Yuuuuuum that picture with the melting butter is killing me. The things I would do to have one of these for breakfast! They look amazing. Pinned!
These look so amazing! I want to try them out.
Pumpkin + brioche?! Yes please, these rolls look dreamy!
What a great combo. I have been ”playing” with brioche recipes recently so I can’t wait to try this one x
Pumpkin pie in my Thanksgiving rolls?? Sign me up, sister! I love holiday traditions and baking fantastic rolls for company is definitely one to keep! Can I come to your Thanksgiving??