Soft Orange Rolls Delight (Printable version)

Fluffy rolls infused with bright orange and topped with creamy citrus frosting, perfect for brunch or dessert.

# Ingredient List:

→ Dough

01 - 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - Zest of 1 large orange
06 - 1/2 cup whole milk, warmed
07 - 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
08 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
09 - 2 large eggs, room temperature

→ Orange Filling

10 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
11 - 2 tablespoons orange zest from approximately 2 large oranges
12 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

→ Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

13 - 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
14 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
15 - 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
16 - 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
17 - 1 teaspoon orange zest
18 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
19 - Pinch of salt

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm milk, orange juice, sugar, and yeast. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes until foamy.
02 - Add melted butter, orange zest, eggs, and salt to the yeast mixture. Mix thoroughly until well combined.
03 - Gradually add flour, mixing until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms. Knead by hand or with a dough hook for 8 to 10 minutes, adding a little more flour if needed, until smooth and elastic.
04 - Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, approximately 1 hour.
05 - Mix sugar and orange zest together in a small bowl to release the oils. Set aside.
06 - Punch down the dough and roll out on a lightly floured surface to a 16 by 10 inch rectangle.
07 - Spread the softened butter over the dough. Sprinkle evenly with orange sugar mixture. Starting from the long side, roll the dough tightly into a log.
08 - Cut the dough log into 12 equal rolls using a sharp knife or dental floss.
09 - Arrange rolls in a greased 9 by 13 inch baking dish. Cover and let rise until puffy, approximately 30 to 40 minutes.
10 - Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake rolls for 22 to 25 minutes, until golden brown.
11 - While rolls bake, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, orange juice, zest, vanilla, and salt; beat until creamy.
12 - Let the rolls cool for 10 minutes, then spread frosting generously over warm rolls.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They smell like a bakery mixed with a citrus grove, and your kitchen will be the happiest place on earth for hours.
  • The dough is forgiving enough that you won't stress, but impressive enough that people will think you spent all morning on them.
  • Orange cream cheese frosting hits different when it's still warm against the rolls—creamy, tangy, and not too heavy.
02 -
  • Temperature matters more than time for rising—a cold kitchen means your rolls will take 1.5 hours instead of 1, and that's completely okay as long as they eventually double in size.
  • Under-kneading creates gummy rolls; if you knead by hand and the dough feels sticky and tears easily after 8 minutes, keep going for 2 more minutes even if it feels tedious.
  • Never skip the 10-minute cooling period before frosting—it firms up the rolls just enough that frosting won't slide off, but they're still warm enough that the frosting melts into the crevices.
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients (especially eggs and cream cheese) mix smoother and create better texture in both dough and frosting—take them out of the fridge 30 minutes before you start.
  • Dental floss cuts rolls cleaner than knives because it doesn't compress the dough, giving you taller, airier rolls with beautiful swirls visible on the sides.
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