I have two recipes here for an easy version of Cardamom rolls and the old fashioned one that I like to bake for my family at Christmas time. the difference is in details, such as prep time and whether a simple glaze or a sugar and sliced almond finish is used for the rolls. Also, the amount made is quite different!
Easy Cardamom Rolls
Try these easy sweet rolls that are prepared the day before baking. The cardamom spice gives a warm aromatic fragrance to delicious yeast sweet rolls. A simple sugar glaze finishes the perfect breakfast roll.

Easy Cardamom Yeast Rolls
Ingredients
- 2 packages active dry yeast
- 1 cup butter unsalted + more for buttering pans
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup milk
- 4 1/2 cups flour + more for kneading
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
- 4 teaspoons ground cardamom
- 3/4 cup confectioners sugar
Instructions
- In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water (about 110°). Let sit until foamy bubbles form on surface, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, melt 1/2 cup butter in a pan over low heat and let cool just until warm. Let remaining 1/2 cup butter soften in a warm place until spreadable.
- To the yeast, add melted butter, granulated sugar, eggs, 1/2 cup milk, 4 1/2 cups flour, and salt. Stir or mix in a standing mixer with a dough hook until smooth, 5 minutes. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour
- Butter two 9-in. cake pans. When dough has doubled, punch it down and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll dough into a 2-ft. square, spread with softened butter, and sprinkle with brown sugar and cardamom. Roll dough into a log, pinching the seam to seal. Cut log into 16 pieces and arrange, cut sides up, in a single layer in cake pans. Cover with plastic wrap and chill overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350°. Remove plastic wrap from rolls and bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Let cool in pan 10 minutes.
Glaze
- Meanwhile, make glaze: Whisk together 1/4 cup milk and 1/2 cup powdered sugar in a small bowl. Remove rolls from pans and drizzle with half of this thin glaze. Add remaining 1/4 cup powdered sugar to remaining glaze and drizzle over rolls. Serve warm.
Notes
My Traditional Christmas Cardamom Rolls

Christmas Cardamom Rolls
Ingredients
Dough:
- 2 envelopes active dry yeast
- 1/2 cup very warm water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup butter or margarine
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom heaping
- 8 1/2-9 cups flour sifted
Sugar/ Almond topping
- 1 egg white
- 1/2 cup almonds chopped or sliced
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375° F. Grease two 13x9x2 inch baking pans.
- Sprinkle yeast over warm water;stir in 1 tsp. of the sugar Stir to dissolve yeast and let stand til bubbly(10 minutes).
- Combine milk,remaining sugar and butter in medium size saucepan; heat til butter melts. Pour in large bowl; cool to lukewarm. Stir in yeast mix. Beat in eggs and cardamom.
- Beat in 6 cups flour until completely blended. Gradually stir in enough flour to make soft dough. Turn out on lightly floured surface; knead til smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes) adding only enough flour to keep from sticking.
- Place dough in large greased bowl; turn to coat. Cover. Let rise away from drafts 1 hour or til double.
- Punch dough down; cover; let rise 45 minutes or til almost double. Punch down again. Turn out on lightly floured surface; knead a few times; invert bowl over dough; let rest 10 minutes
- Divide dough in quarters, keeping dough covered with bowl until ready to shape.
- Roll 1/4 dough on lightly floured surface to a 11x6 inch rectangle. Cut into fourteen 6x3/4 inch strips. Roll each strip with palms of hands to a six inch rope. Place fingertip on one end of rope and loosely bring other end around to spiral; pinch to seal. Repeat with remaining dough. Place spirals in prepared pans, dividing evenly. Cover with damp towel. Let rise in warm place,away from drafts, 30 minutes or til double.
- Beat egg white in small bowl; brush over rolls. Sprinkle with mixture of the sugar and chopped almonds.
- Bake at 375℉ for 15 minutes til light golden brown.
Notes
If you wish to find out more about Cardamom, see my post with lots of nutrition info, other types of recipes, and trivia facts!
Cardamom Spice, Recipes To Warm Your HeartFor Cookie recipes that are perfect for the Christmas season, I created a page of my favorites, all printable on Hubpages.