The Day After Christmas: Family, Games, and the Sweet Rolls That Hold It All Together
There’s something special about the day after Christmas.
The wrapping paper is gone, the house is quieter (mostly), and there’s this gentle pause before life starts moving fast again. It’s one of my favorite days of the year—a moment to reflect, sip coffee a little longer, and soak in the memories we just made.
Yesterday, our house was full in the very best way. Sixty people gathered under one roof for Christmas—kids, grandkids, cousins, laughter echoing from every room. We took our annual Christmas photo, a tradition I look forward to all year long. Every year I wonder how we manage to fit everyone in, and every year, somehow, we do.
As our family has grown, we’ve shifted traditions to match the season we’re in. Instead of a gift exchange (which gets tricky with a group this size and everyone’s budgets), we’ve embraced something even better: appetizers and games. Tables full of finger foods, a scoreboard running all day, and a little friendly competition. The overall winners get to take home the games themselves—which adds just the right amount of motivation and playful trash talk. It’s loud, chaotic, and joyful… exactly how Christmas should feel.
And somewhere in the middle of all that—between the laughter, the games, and the photo-taking—are the sweet rolls.
These cinnamon rolls have become a staple in our house. They’re soft, gooey, and indulgent in the way holiday food should be. They don’t rise dramatically before baking (which can be alarming if you’re new to the recipe), but trust me—they do their magic in the oven. Every year, someone asks for the recipe, so today I’m finally sharing it here.
This is a Cinnabon-style cinnamon roll that’s rich, comforting, and perfect for slow mornings—whether that’s Christmas morning, the day after, or any weekend when you want something special.
Homemade Cinnamon Rolls (Cinnabon-Style Sweet Rolls)
A little note from me:
These are excellent. Don’t worry if they don’t rise much before baking—they puff beautifully in the oven and come out soft and gooey every time. Here are mine before going in the oven.
Time Breakdown
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Rise Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Bake Time: 22 minutes
- Total Time: About 2 hours
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 1 cup warm milk (about 115°F)
- 2½ teaspoons instant dry yeast
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- ⅓ cup salted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4½ cups all-purpose flour, divided
For the Cinnamon Filling
- ½ cup salted butter, very soft
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon
- ½ cup heavy cream (to pour over rolls before baking)
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- 6 oz cream cheese, softened
- ⅓ cup salted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ½ tablespoon maple extract or vanilla
How to Make Them
- Pour warm milk into the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle yeast over the top.
- Add eggs, butter, and sugar. Mix until combined.
- Add salt and 4 cups of flour. Mix just until combined, then let rest for 5 minutes.
- Switch to a dough hook and knead on medium speed for 5–7 minutes, adding additional flour only if needed. The dough should be soft and slightly tacky.
- Transfer dough to a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled (about 30 minutes).
- Mix filling ingredients together while the dough rises.
- Roll dough into a large rectangle (about 24×15 inches). Spread filling evenly over the dough.
- Roll tightly from the long edge and cut into 12 slices. Place in a greased 9×13 pan.
- Let rolls rise for 20 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Warm the heavy cream slightly and pour over the rolls.
- Bake for 20–22 minutes, until lightly golden and cooked through.
- Beat frosting ingredients together and spread over slightly cooled rolls.
Overnight Option
You can assemble the rolls, place them in the pan, cover, and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, let them sit at room temperature if needed, pour on the cream, and bake.
As we move into that quiet space between Christmas and the New Year, I’m feeling especially grateful—for family traditions that evolve with us, for full houses and full hearts, and for simple comforts like warm cinnamon rolls and a good cup of coffee.
If you make these, I’d love to hear about it. Bonus points if they’re eaten in pajamas.
Here’s to leftovers, laughter, and carrying a little holiday sweetness into the days ahead. 💛
