Guest recipe and blog by Certified Nutritionist @measuremewhole
It’s the holiday season and I am SO excited for all things Christmas!
Christmas movies, Christmas music, and of course Christmas FOOD!
Personally, I live for a Friday night at home, curled up on the couch with a plate of holiday treats and a classic Christmas flick!
I could literally do that every... single... night. 😊
But here’s the thing:
When I indulge in some delicious, holiday goodies, they typically wreak all sorts of havoc on my gut.
Between the sugar and processed ingredients, my body can take a big time hit.. Bloating, gas and intense intestinal cramps are just a few of the less-than-festive side effects that occur when my holiday treats catch up with me.
So what’s a Christmas food aficionado like myself to do? Stop eating my holiday treats? As if! (cue my resting Grinch face)
This year, I decided that instead of skipping out on my favorite seasonal sweets, I would
create a recipe that could not only spoil my taste buds, but also be fortified with a gut healthy twist!
In rolls my Gut Healthy Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls with Just Thrive Probiotic “Cream Cheese” Frosting!
I created this recipe to yield 10-12 gigantic, fluffy cinnamon rolls that the entire family will enjoy. I threw in some molasses, nutmeg and cinnamon to give this confection the perfect kiss of holiday spice.
And, I made the most of my go-to gut health product – Just Thrive Probiotic – so that I could give my digestive tract some much needed support during the sweet treat season.
Why Put Probiotics Into This Recipe?
I’m sure some of you are asking, “what’s so special about probiotics anyways? Can’t I just drink a bunch of water and eat some lettuce and feel better?”
I’m all for veggies and hydration, but what’s great about Just Thrive Probiotic is that it’s been proven to support a healthy gut by driving bacterial balance in your microbiome.
Probiotics are living organisms that provide our guts with healthy bacteria. There are certainly foods that contain natural probiotics, but by ingesting Just Thrive Probiotic daily, you can guarantee that you are fortifying your gut with the beneficial bacteria it needs.
And a healthy gut is the key that unlocks the kingdom to feeling our best.
Some of the benefits of good gut health are:
- Optimal immune function
- Improved digestion
- Easier weight management
- Clearer skin
- Better sleep
- Brighter moods
These are all great gifts to give yourself this holiday season.
AND, because Just Thrive Probiotic is so resilient, you can bake these benefits into your holiday treats!
Not only will these gut-healthy cinnamon rolls sleigh your Christmas morning breakfast table (get it *wink*), they'll also help your gut feel great!
And great gut health is truly a treat that keeps on giving.
So give these ultra fluffy gingerbread cinnamon rolls a try... And make sure to add Just Thrive Probiotic or yule be sorry...
(okay I’m done now, bye)!
Merry Christmas & happy holiday baking friends,
Kaili @measuremewhole
Gut-Healthy Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
Servings: 10-12 Rolls
Prep Time: 1 Hr 40 Min
Cook Time: 20-15 Min
Total Time: 2 Hr 10 Min
INGREDIENTS FOR THE DOUGH:
- 2 cups of dairy free milk, slightly warmed
- 1/2 cup of raw cane sugar
- 1/2 cup of coconut oil, vegan butter or ghee (if not vegan)
- 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast (or 1 packet)
- 4 Cups of whole wheat flour, sifted
- 1/2 - 1 Cup of bread flour (see recipe instructions)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 Tbs molasses
- 2 tsp sea salt
INGREDIENTS FOR THE FILLING:
- 1/2 cup of coconut sugar
- 1/2 cup of coconut oil, vegan butter or ghee
- 3 Tbs of molasses
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 2 tsp of ground cinnamon
INGREDIENTS FOR THE FROSTING:
- 2 Just Thrive Probiotic Capsules
- 4 oz of dairy free cream cheese, room temp/softened
- 2 Tbs of coconut oil, vegan butter or ghee (if not vegan), softened
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 - 4 Tbs of dairy free milk of choice
- 1 1/4 cup of powdered sugar
DIRECTIONS FOR THE DOUGH:
- Add warm milk, cane sugar, molasses & coconut oil to a large mixing bowl and stir. Add in the yeast and stir to “feed the yeast”. Allow this mixture to sit for 10 minuted so the yeast can bloom (very important for the overall rise / fluff of your cinnamon rolls).
- Once yeast has bloomed for 10 minutes, add in 4 cups of sifted bread flour and mix with a wooden kitchen spoon until a wet sticky mixture has formed.
- Tightly cover the top of your bowl with plastic wrap and allow the mushy mixture to rise in a warm place for 1 hour. I usually will turn on my microwave for 2 minutes on high, BEFORE I place the bowl inside to warm the space up. This will cultivate a great rise in your dough.
- After the dough has risen for 1 hour (it should have almost doubled in size), add in 1/2 cup of bread flour and begin to combine using your wooden kitchen spoon.
- As the dough comes together, switch from your spoon to using your hands to mix. Turn the scraggly dough out onto a clean hard surface and knead for 10 minutes or until the dough begins to smoothen out and no longer stick to your hands. Add small amounts of bread flour to the dough if it is too sticky or wet. Poke the dough to see if it is ready. If it springs back you are good to go! See video above for more details.
- Once the dough is ready it’s time to roll it out. Be sure to roll your dough out on a floured surface until it’s about 1/4-1/2 inch thick.
DIRECTIONS FOR THE FILLING:
- Add all filling ingredients to a small or medium sized bowl and mix until a creamy paste forms.
- Spread filling mixture all over your rolled out dough.
- Roll the dough up as tightly as you possibly can.
DIRECTIONS FOR CUTTING & SECOND PROOF OF THE ROLLS:
- Once the dough has been rolled, use dental floss to mark off 10-12 1-inch thick rolls. Use floss to slice rolls (see video above).
- Place 6 rolls evenly spaced apart into two greased 8x8 dishes or a 9x13 dish. Be sure to leave space for the rolls to rise again.
- Cover with plastic wrap just like before and allow to rise again in a warm area for 35-40 minutes. ***SEE NOTES FOR FREEZING INSTRUCTIONS
DIRECTIONS FOR BAKING:
- After rising (the rolls should have expanded and should be touching), bake your cinnamon rolls at 350˚F for 20-25 minus or until golden brown on top.
DIRECTIONS FOR THE FROSTING:
- Add softened “butter”, cheese, vanilla and cinnamon to a bowl and cream together until smooth.
- Add in powdered sugar and whisk until smooth and creamy.
- Pour frosting over warm cinnamon rolls and serve immediately. I typically like to allow my rolls time to cool after baking, letting them cool for 15-20 minutes is best.
NUTRITION: 1 ROLL
Calories: 350 Total Fat: 17g Saturated Fat: 5g Monounsaturated Fat: 6g Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g Trans Fat: 0g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 2003mg Potassium: 70mg Total Carbohydrates: 49g Dietary Fiber: 6g Sugar: 16g Protein: 6g
NOTES:
*TO FREEZE ROLLS: After rolling and slicing cinnamon rolls, place them in a greased baking dish. Immediately cover the dish with two layers of plastic wrap and place in the freezer before the second proof. When ready to serve, defrost rolls in your refrigerator over
