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Pumpkin Dinner Rolls

by Jessie Daye

First published: November 2, 2013 | Updated: June 10, 2026

Thanksgiving is the time to give thanks! So why not write it down and stuff it in a pumpkin roll! I made these Thanksgiving pumpkin rolls on Home and Family today on the Hallmark Channel (weekdays 10am/9c).

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? 

Pumpkin Dinner Rolls (Qty: 24)

Ingredients (for pumpkin Dough)
3/4 cup whole milk, boiling
6 tablespoons butter, room temp.
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar

1 cup canned pumpkin puree

1 teaspoon salt

1 egg
2 packages active dry yeast (1/2 ounces) plus 1 teaspoon white sugar
1/4 cup lukewarm water
5 cups all-purpose flour (*I like to use a combo of bread flour so the rolls are more dense)
Pecan halves or Cinnamon sticks

Directions
1. Pour hot milk into a stand mixer. Add butter and mix to combine.

2. Add brown and white sugar, pumpkin puree, and salt. Combine well.

3. In a small bowl proof yeast in lukewarm water (no more than 110 degrees F) with a teaspoon of sugar. When it gets foamy (approximately 8-10 minutes) add to the pumpkin mixture.

4. Beat in the egg, mix well.

5. Gradually add the flour and mix with a dough hook in a standing mixer until well combined. The dough will be sticky.

6. Kneed dough into a ball and place in a greased bowl and cover with a cloth. Let  the dough rise in a warm place until it doubles in volume (about 1 hr).

7. Take dough from the bowl and place on a floured cutting board. Cut 24 pieces and roll into balls.

8. Using a paring knife, cut each dough ball on the sides 8 times so it looks like a flat flower OR wrap with string four times until you have a pumpkin shape. Tie string at the bottom and cut. *Do not make your string super tight. The bread will expand.

9. Place the bread, 2″ apart on a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Let them rise again (about 45 minutes).

10. Preheat oven 350ºF and bake for 10-15 minutes until barely slightly golden. Do not over cook.

Pumpkin Dinner Rolls

Author: Jessie Daye
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Prep 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook 15 minutes
Total 1 hour 45 minutes
Soft pumpkin-flavored dinner rolls perfect for Thanksgiving, shaped like pumpkins or flowers.
Servings 24 rolls

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup whole milk, boiling
  • 6 tablespoons butter, room temperature
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ⅓ cup white sugar
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 packages active dry yeast 1/2 ounces total
  • 1 teaspoon white sugar for proofing yeast
  • ¼ cup lukewarm water no more than 110 degrees F
  • 5 cups all-purpose flour or combo of bread flour for denser rolls
  • pecan halves or cinnamon sticks for topping

Method

  1. Pour hot milk into a stand mixer. Add butter and mix to combine.
  2. Add brown and white sugar, pumpkin puree, and salt. Combine well.
  3. In a small bowl proof yeast in lukewarm water (no more than 110 degrees F) with a teaspoon of sugar. When it gets foamy (approximately 8-10 minutes) add to the pumpkin mixture.
  4. Beat in the egg, mix well.
  5. Gradually add the flour and mix with a dough hook in a standing mixer until well combined. The dough will be sticky.
  6. Knead dough into a ball and place in a greased bowl and cover with a cloth. Let the dough rise in a warm place until it doubles in volume (about 1 hour).
  7. Take dough from the bowl and place on a floured cutting board. Cut 24 pieces and roll into balls.
  8. Using a paring knife, cut each dough ball on the sides 8 times so it looks like a flat flower OR wrap with string four times until you have a pumpkin shape. Tie string at the bottom and cut. Do not make your string super tight as the bread will expand.
  9. Place the bread 2 inches apart on a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Let them rise again (about 45 minutes).
  10. Preheat oven to 350°F and bake for 10-15 minutes until barely slightly golden. Do not overcook.

Notes

These rolls can be shaped like flowers or pumpkins using either the knife-cut method or string-wrapping method. Use a combination of bread flour and all-purpose flour for denser rolls. Do not over-bake to maintain soft texture.

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Hi, I'm Jessie. 

I’m a Los Angeles mama, home renovator, and lifelong creative, sharing the things that make everyday life a little more beautiful. I believe food is one of the best ways to bring people together, which is why I love cooking: it turns an ordinary Tuesday into something worth remembering. From recipes I make on repeat to DIY projects, home design, and a little bit of real life in between — welcome to my corner of the internet. I’m so glad you’re here.

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