Description
These Orange Cinnamon Rolls are made with a super soft, fluffy dough that’s flavored with fresh orange juice and orange zest. It’s generously filled with a buttery, melt in your mouth brown sugar cinnamon pecan filling, then topped with a smooth and creamy orange cream cheese icing. If you’re crunched for time, don’t worry, these rolls can be made in roughly an hour.
Ingredients
Dough:
- 3/4 cup warm whole milk (warmed to 110F)
- 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) instant dry yeast
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (roughly the juice of 1 orange)
- Zest of 1/2 orange
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
Filling:
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
Icing:
- 3 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 3 tablespoons salted butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons orange juice (roughly the juice from 1/2 an orange)
- Zest of 1/2 an orange
- 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the dough hook attachment, combine the milk, yeast, sugar, egg, flour, salt, orange juice, orange zest and softened butter. Knead for 5 minutes. Place dough in a lightly greased bowl. Spray top of dough with nonstick spray. Cover with plastic wrap. Allow to rise for 1 hour, OR, for a faster rise, preheat oven to 100F. Once the oven reaches 100F, turn oven OFF. Place covered dough in warm oven and allow to rise for 30 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, make the filling. Combine the brown sugar and ground cinnamon. Use a fork to stir together, breaking apart any clumps in the brown sugar.
3. Once the dough is done rising, roll into a 12×18 inch rectangle. Spread softened butter over dough, then sprinkle brown sugar cinnamon mixture over top. Sprinkle pecans evenly over top.
4. Staring at the short end, roll dough into a log. Using a serrated knife, cut into 9-12 rolls. If making 9 rolls, place into a greased 8×8 pan. If making 12 rolls, place into a 9×13 inch pan. Cover pan with plastic wrap.
5. Allow rolls to rise for 30 minutes, OR for a faster rise, preheat oven to 100F. Once oven reaches the temperature, turn the oven off. Place covered rolls in warm oven and allow to rise for 15 minutes.
6. If you warmed rolls in oven, remove rolls form oven, then preheat the oven to 350F. Once the oven is up to temperature, bake the rolls in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until light golden brown on top.
7. Make the icing. In a small bowl, whisk together the ingredients for the icing until combined. Spread icing over warm rolls and enjoy!
Notes
You may use active dry yeast for these. However, if you choose to use active dry yeast, you need to activate the yeast. Add the yeast to the warm milk (the milk should be between 108 and 112F), as well as the sugar. Whisk to combine. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes, or until frothy. If the mixture does not get frothy, the yeast is inactive (it may be old, or the warm milk could have been too hot). Discard and get fresh yeast if this happens.
- Prep Time: 60
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American