Orange rolls are a refreshing take on classic cinnamon rolls, filled with vibrant citrus and topped with a sweet orange glaze. This orange rolls recipe has a fresh orange flavor with warm flavors of honey.
These delicious Honey Cinnamon Rolls are perfect for any occasion and taste similar to a honey bun!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Fresh Citrus Flavor: These orange rolls are sweet and zesty with orange flavor in every bite.
- Soft and Fluffy Texture: These sweet rolls are made with ingredients like warm milk and butter that create a tender, pillowy texture.
- Homemade: Basic ingredients are used to make these rolls from scratch.
- Great for Special Occasions: Although they're perfect for holiday mornings, these orange rolls are a delightful addition to any brunch or special breakfast. These orange cinnamon rolls are perfect for Mother's Day and Christmas morning.
Ingredients in Orange Rolls
Basic ingredients are used to make these sweet orange rolls:
- Envelope of active dry yeast
- Warm water (temperature around 110°F)
- Granulated sugar
- Softened unsalted butter
- Salt
- Eggs
- Milk
- Lemon juice
- Bread flour
- Nutmeg
- Honey
- Confectioner's sugar
- Fresh orange juice
- Fresh orange zest
How to Make Orange Rolls
Follow these directions to make these homemade orange sweet rolls:
- Activate the yeast- Combine the envelope of dry yeast with water heated to 110°F and add the sugar in a bowl of a stand mixer. It will help feed the yeast and make sure that your yeast is good. Let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes or until it becomes frothy.
- Add in the wet ingredients- Using a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment, add the softened unsalted butter into the yeast mixture followed by the eggs. Once the eggs are mixed with the yeast, beat in the salt, nutmeg, milk, and lemon juice.
- Add the flour- Spoon and level the bread flour and slowly add the remaining cups of flour to the wet ingredients. The dough will start to take shape and a soft dough will form and the dough will pull away from the sides of the bowl.
- After a few minutes, turn the dough over onto a lightly floured surface. The dough will be ready when it is no longer sticky and it bounces back when fingers are pressed into it.
- Proof the dough- Place the orange rolls dough in a lightly greased large bowl and cover with a tea towel in a warm place. Proof the dough and allow it to rise for one hour.
- While the dough is proofing, prepare the honey filling. Mix the melted butter, honey, and granulated sugar in a bowl and set it aside.
- Once the hour is up, turn the dough back onto a clean workspace and roll out into an 11x15 large rectangle.
- Spread the filling- Using a pastry brush, brush the honey filling evenly over the dough. Leaving a half-inch on all sides unbrushed.
- Roll the dough- Starting with the long side, roll the dough tightly up into a log and pinch the ends together. Slice the dough into 12 equal rolls and place them in a greased 13x9 baking dish. Unflavored dental floss works well to cleanly slice the rolls.
- Allow the dough to rise for another 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven and make the orange glaze- Preheat the oven to 350°F and make the sweet orange glaze. Combine the orange juice, orange zest, confectioner's sugar, and milk in a small bowl and mix until smooth. Set aside to pour over the slightly warm orange rolls when ready.
- Bake the orange rolls- Bake the homemade orange rolls for 22-25 minutes. Oven times will vary so keep an eye on the oven at the end of baking!
- Cool the rolls- Remove the orange rolls from the oven when they are golden brown on the tops and allow them to cool for at least 10 minutes before drizzling them with the orange glaze. Store in an airtight container and consume within 3 days.
Substitutions and Variations
Here are some substitutions and variations when making homemade orange yeast rolls.
Substitutions
Yeast: This recipe uses active dry yeast but instant yeast can be used. To use instant yeast, follow the instant yeast instructions to ensure the dough rises.
Milk: Whole milk can be replaced with a lower-fat milk option or nondairy alternatives like almond or soy milk. It will change the overall texture of the baked rolls due to the change in the fat content.
Flour: All purpose flour can be used in place of the bread flour. It can substituted for a 1:1 ratio. Bread flour helps aid in producing fluffy orange rolls.
Variations
Filling: The filling for these orange rolls is a sweet honey filling. You can add orange juice and zest to the filling for more of an orange filling or sprinkle in some brown sugar, cinnamon, or dried cranberries for Christmas morning rolls.
Icing: Orange icing is used for this recipe but you can make a cream cheese frosting and spread it over the cooled rolls to prevent it from melting into the baked rolls.
Quick Tips
- Softness: To ensure your orange rolls are soft, use bread flour for fluffier rolls. Avoid over-kneading your dough to prevent a tough texture.
- Slicing the rolls: Use unflavored dental floss to easily cut the log into slices. It works better than a knife! If using a knife, use a serrated knife for easy slicing.
- Icing: Allow the rolls to cool for about 10 minutes before icing or glazing, this will help prevent the icing from melting into the freshly baked rolls.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ingredients are required to make homemade orange rolls?
How do you store orange rolls?
📖 Recipe
Orange Rolls
Ingredients
Orange Roll Dough
- 1 envelope active dry yeast - 2 ¼ teaspoons
- ¼ cup warm water - 110°F
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter - softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 4 ½ cups bread flour
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
Honey filling
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup unsalted butter - melted
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
Orange Glaze
- 2 cups confectioner's sugar
- ¼ cup orange juice - juice of one orange
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 2 tablespoon milk
Instructions
Orange Rolls Dough
- Combine the envelope of dry yeast with water heated to 110°F. Add the sugar. Let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes or until it becomes frothy.
- Using a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, add the softened unsalted butter to the yeast mixture followed by the eggs. Once the eggs are mixed with the yeast, beat in the salt, nutmeg, milk, and lemon juice.
- Spoon and level the bread flour and slowly beat it into the wet ingredients. The dough will start to take shape.
- After a few minutes, turn the dough over onto a clean workspace that is lightly dusted with bread flour. The dough will be ready when it is no longer sticky and it bounces back when fingers are pressed into it.
- Place the orange rolls dough in a lightly greased bowl and cover it with a tea towel. Proof the dough and allow it to rise for one hour.
Honey Filling
- Mix the melted butter, honey, and granulated sugar in a bowl until smooth and set aside.
Make the Orange Rolls
- Once the hour is up, turn the dough back onto a clean workspace and roll it out into an 11x15 rectangle.
- Using a pastry brush, brush the honey filling evenly over the dough. Leaving a half-inch on all sides unbrushed.
- Starting with the long edge, roll the dough tightly up into a log and pinch the ends together. Slice the dough into 12 equal rolls and place them in a greased 13x9 baking dish.
- Allow the dough to rise for another 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Place the rolls in the preheated oven for 22-25 minutes. Oven times will vary so keep an eye on the oven at the end of baking!
- Remove the orange rolls from the oven when they are golden brown on the top.
- Allow them to cool for at least 10 minutes before drizzling them with the orange glaze.
- Store in an airtight container and consume within 3 days.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
© Mama Needs Cake
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Let us know how it was!Dana is an experienced recipe creator who crafts easy and delicious recipes for all levels of home cooks.
Her recipes range from classic comfort foods to healthy and nutritious meals, and she is always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to bring flavor and variety to the table.
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