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Homemade Orange Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing Recipe

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3.8 from 28 reviews

  • Author: Sara
  • Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: 9 servings

Description

These homemade Orange Rolls are soft, fluffy, and bursting with bright citrus flavor. Made from scratch with a rich orange-infused dough and a gooey brown sugar filling, they are baked until golden and topped with a luscious cream cheese and orange glaze. Perfect for a special breakfast or brunch treat, these rolls bring a delicious twist to classic cinnamon rolls with a fresh, zesty orange punch.

Ingredients

Dough

  • ½ cup warm water (4 oz.)
  • 2 tsp dry yeast (11.8g)
  • 2 Tbsp granulated sugar (25g)
  • ⅓ cup milk (2.67 oz.)
  • 2 Tbsp salted butter, melted (25g)
  • 1 orange (juiced and zested)
  • 2½ cups all purpose flour (300g, more or less as needed)
  • ½ tsp salt

Filling

  • 6 Tbsp salted butter, room temperature (3 oz.)
  • ½ cup brown sugar (60g)
  • Zest from a second orange
  • ⅛ tsp salt

Icing

  • 4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
  • 2 Tbsp salted butter, room temperature (25g)
  • 3 Tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice (juice from the second orange)
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 1½ cups powdered sugar (187g)

Instructions

  1. Activate Yeast: Stir together the warm water, dry yeast, and 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar until the yeast is mostly dissolved. Let the mixture stand for about 5 minutes or until a thick layer of foam develops on the surface, indicating the yeast is activated.
  2. Mix Wet Ingredients: Once the yeast is activated, whisk in the milk, melted butter, orange juice, and zest from one orange until well combined.
  3. Combine Flour and Salt: In a separate bowl, stir together 1 cup of flour and ½ teaspoon salt. Pour the liquid ingredients into the flour mixture and stir until smooth.
  4. Form Dough: Gradually add more flour, about ½ cup at a time, stirring continuously until a sticky ball of dough forms and becomes difficult to stir with a spoon. Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface.
  5. Knead Dough: Knead the dough for about 3 minutes, adding a small amount of flour as needed to prevent sticking. The dough should be very soft, fairly smooth, and slightly tacky without being stiff. Approximately 2.5 cups of flour are used in total.
  6. Let Dough Rise: Place the kneaded dough back into the mixing bowl and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let it rise for one hour or until it has doubled in size.
  7. Roll Dough: Punch down the dough to deflate it, then transfer it to a floured surface. Roll the dough into a 10×13-inch rectangle, dusting with flour to prevent sticking as needed.
  8. Prepare Filling: In a bowl, mix together 6 tablespoons of room-temperature butter, brown sugar, zest from the second orange, and ⅛ teaspoon salt until a smooth paste forms. Spread this evenly over the rolled-out dough from edge to edge.
  9. Shape Rolls: Roll the dough up starting from the long side toward the long side to create a 13-inch log. Avoid rolling tightly to prevent the centers from popping up while baking. Slice the log into 9 pieces, each about 1.5 inches wide.
  10. Second Rise and Bake: Place the rolls into a greased 10×8-inch baking dish. Let them rise for 10-15 minutes while preheating the oven to 350°F (177°C). Once preheated, bake the rolls for 30 minutes or until golden brown on top.
  11. Make Icing: Beat together the room-temperature cream cheese, 2 tablespoons of room-temperature butter, orange juice from the second orange, and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually stir in the powdered sugar, half a cup at a time, until fully incorporated and the icing is smooth.
  12. Serve: Allow the baked rolls to cool for 5-10 minutes, then generously spread the cream cheese icing on top. Serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Make sure the water is warm but not hot to properly activate the yeast without killing it.
  • Do not over-knead the dough to keep the rolls soft and tender.
  • Use fresh oranges for the best zest and juice flavor.
  • Allow rolls to cool slightly before icing to prevent the frosting from melting off.
  • For a dairy-free version, substitute butter and cream cheese with plant-based alternatives.
  • The rolled dough can be made a day ahead and refrigerated before the second rise; allow to come to room temperature before baking.
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://saraflavors.com/homemade-orange-rolls-with-cream-cheese-icing-recipe/