17 Easy Breakfast Rolls, Buns, and Breads for Christmas Morning

These recipes for sticky buns, all stripes of cinnamon rolls, and more are sure to quickly draw your family from their slumber on Christmas morning.

Decadent and packed full of love, homemade breakfast rolls are the perfect way to start off Christmas morning. The smell of freshly baked rolls is enough to lure the family out of bed or (for the early and ambitious risers) away from their new gifts and over to the table.

Many of these rolls are yeasted, but you can start them the night before and let them rise overnight. Finish them up the next morning and enjoy! If you’re not an early riser you can still enjoy breakfast rolls. Open a few presents to distract yourself while these perfect rolls rise and bake. No matter which roll or bun you choose, your loved ones will be delighted.

1. Best Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

The best cinnamon rolls frosted with cream cheese frosting. — Cindy Rahe

Topped with cream cheese frosting, this recipe makes eight huge cinnamon rolls, but you can cut them to make 12 smaller but still substantial rolls. Refrigerating the dough overnight before shaping the rolls, makes the dough extra easy to work with.

2. Cinnamon Sticky Buns

Skip the frosting and make these caramel pecan rolls. Be sure to not overcook the pecan topping. You only want the butter to melt before combining and adding to the pan.

3. Savory Breakfast Rolls

Savory breakfast rolls in a dutch oven pan at a table a setting with a stack of plates (top plate has a serving of rolls and eggs), a cup of coffee, and a small bowl of marinara sauce — Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

Recipe Developer Jasmine Smith says, "These rolls filling without loading you with empty carbs. Better yet, you use frozen dinner roll dough, so they’re easy to put together."

4. Homemade Crescent Rolls

Homemade Crescent Rolls on a Baking Tray Surrounded by a Table Setting with Plates, a Small Saucer with Butter, and a Kitchen Towel — Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Contributor Kayla Hoang says, "As suggested by my brother, you can give these the chocolate croissant treatment. When you shape the dough, tuck a piece of chocolate into the center—break out the good stuff."

5. Pumpkin Spice Babka

Pumpkin Spice Babka with Slices Leaning on the Loaf — Simply Recipes / Micah Siva

Contributor Micah Siva says, "For this recipe, use bread flour instead of all-purpose flour. Bread flour has a higher protein content, meaning it will develop more gluten for a better loaf."

6. Caramel Apple Monkey Bread

Kids will love rolling the little balls for these monkey rolls. Apple cider flavored caramel and fresh apples combine for a perfect pair. If you don’t have a bundt pan, no fear, a round cake pan will work but the baking time may be a bit shorter, so keep an eye on them.

7. Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting

A pan of Homemade Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls are being frosted. — Marta Rivera

Change up your morning rolls with these pumpkin flavored rolls. Allow to rise overnight and bake off Christmas morning or bake and freeze beforehand and thaw overnight for an easy Christmas breakfast.

8. Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls

A pan of easy gluten free cinnamon rolls being topped with icing. — Kalisa Marie Martin

Gluten free? No problem! This recipe offers tips for working with gluten free dough so you can enjoy soft, tender cinnamon rolls worthy of a second helping.

9. St. Lucia Saffron Buns

Saffron infused sweet bread is shaped into a lovely “S” and baked with a golden raisin tucked into each end. If using ground cardamom, substitute 1/2 teaspoon for the whole pods.

10. Swedish Coffee Bread (Tea Ring)

Impress family with this almond paste, cinnamon and cardamom filled sweet bread. Half the recipe and make a braided bread for a smaller gathering.

11. Orange Breakfast Rolls

Orange Breakfast Roll on a Plate — Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

A kiss of orange zest and a juice-enriched glaze make these bright and cheerful rolls exactly the thing for big-time Christmas morning vibes.

12. Overnight Milk Bread Cinnamon Rolls

A platter of soft cinnamon rolls. — Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

The Japanese technique of cooking flour and liquid before adding it to the dough makes for the fluffiest, moistest rolls you can imagine. Prep the rolls on Christmas Eve while you dream of the cinnamon swirls to come.

13. Danish Kringle

Overhead view of kringle topped with icing. — Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

Contributor Mark Beahm says, "The most common filling for a Danish kringle is lys remonce, a sweet pastry filling made with almond paste, butter, and sugar. If you’re looking to add something extra, you can try one of these optional add-ins: raisins, chopped toasted nuts, or candied citrus peel."

14. Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Apple Cinnamon Rolls in a Tray with a Couple Missing — Simply Recipes / Hannah Zimmerman

Bits of fresh apple enliven a generously spiced cinnamon sugar filling. What goes better with cinnamon than apples, after all?

15. Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls

Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Rolls in a Casserole Dish with Some Glazed with Cream Cheese Frosting — Simply Recipes / Hannah Dela Cruz

If you have a sourdough starter going, there's no better use for your discard than these light and just-tangy-enough sourdough cinnamon rolls. They get a boost from commercial yeast and are easy to bake on your busy pre-Christmas timeline.

16. Povitica

Slices of Povitica Next to the Loaf on a Cutting Board — Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Okay, okay. This impressive swirled loaf does not qualify as a roll recipe. But how can you resist? Povitica has Easter European origins and remains beloved in American communities with large populations that celebrate their Easter European heritage.

17. Cranberry Orange Scones

Baked scones on baking sheet. — Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

Oh snap! Did you drift away to visions of sugar plums before you got to Christmas Eve kneading? No worries. These cranberry-studded scones come together quickly for those who prefer to snooze a little longer. It's why it's called quick bread, after all.