Decadent Homemade Orange Rolls: A Quick & Easy Recipe You’ll Love
There’s something truly magical about the aroma of freshly baked sweet rolls filling your home. While I absolutely adore classic homemade cinnamon rolls, these delightful orange rolls hold an equally special place in my heart. The vibrant citrus zest and sweet, tangy cream cheese frosting create a flavor profile that’s simply irresistible. The only drawback? The time commitment that often comes with traditional yeast rolls.
But what if you could enjoy that luxurious, homemade taste without spending hours waiting for dough to rise? This quick orange rolls recipe is designed precisely for those who crave the unparalleled quality of homemade baked goods but prefer a faster process over the convenience (and often inferior taste) of canned options like Pillsbury orange rolls. Say goodbye to long waits and hello to warm, fluffy, orange-infused goodness!
My children, when they were little, had a charming way of asking for these. They’d request “orange cinnamon rolls,” recognizing the familiar swirl and soft texture of their favorite sweet treats, but keenly aware of the bright, zesty orange flavor that set them apart. These homemade orange rolls are more than just a breakfast item; they are a decadent experience, bursting with citrus notes and topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting. They are, quite simply, positively wonderful and a beloved family tradition.
Why You’ll Love This Quick Orange Rolls Recipe
The Joy of Homemade Orange Rolls
As my children have grown into adults, a couple of them have come back to me, asking for the secret to these amazing orange rolls. They want to recreate that cherished sweet roll recipe from their childhood! And I’m always delighted to share it because these orange sweet rolls truly are incredibly easy to make. They offer that comforting taste of homemade goodness without the usual fuss and extensive proofing times that often deter home bakers. This recipe streamlines the process, ensuring you can have warm, fresh rolls on your table much sooner.
Perfect for Any Occasion
Whether you’re planning a relaxed Sunday morning breakfast, a special holiday brunch, or simply craving a sweet treat, these orange rolls are an ideal choice. The recipe is easily doubled, making it perfect for feeding a crowd during the holidays or when you have guests. Imagine the delight on your guests’ faces as they bite into a tender, orange-scented roll, generously slathered with creamy frosting. They will undoubtedly thank you for such a memorable start to their day!
Essential Ingredients and Tools for Perfect Orange Rolls
Crafting these delectable orange rolls requires a few key ingredients and some helpful kitchen tools. The quality of your ingredients, especially fresh oranges and good quality butter, will make a noticeable difference in the final flavor and texture. Here’s what you’ll need to get started:
Key Ingredients for Fluffy Orange Rolls
- Bread flour (for that perfect chewy-yet-tender texture)
- Quick rise yeast (to shorten proofing time)
- Egg (for richness and structure)
- Fresh oranges (the star of the show for zest and juice)
- Granulated sugar (for sweetness in the dough)
- Salt (to balance flavors)
- Unsalted butter (for richness in dough, filling, and frosting)
- Powdered sugar (the base for our delightful frosting)
- Cream cheese (for the irresistible tangy cream cheese frosting)
Recommended Kitchen Tools for Baking Success
Having the right tools can make the baking process smoother and more enjoyable:
- Stand mixer or handheld mixer (essential for kneading dough and whipping frosting)
- 9×9 inch square baking pan (the perfect size for a batch of 9 rolls)
- Parchment paper (for easy rolling and cleanup)
- Citrus zester (to extract maximum orange flavor)
- Measuring cups and spoons (for precise ingredient amounts)
- Rubber spatula (for scraping bowls and folding)
- Icing spatula (for spreading that generous layer of frosting)
Expert Tips for Baking Perfect Orange Rolls
To ensure your orange rolls turn out beautifully, I’ve compiled some essential tips. Taking a moment to read through these before you begin will help you achieve the best results and avoid common baking pitfalls.
Understanding Your Yeast: Rapid Rise vs. Regular
This recipe specifically calls for rapid rise yeast, also known as instant yeast, which is designed to activate quickly and allow for a shorter proofing time. This is key to our “quick” orange rolls! While you *can* use regular active dry yeast, be aware that the rise time may be a bit longer. If using active dry yeast, you might need to activate it in warm water with a pinch of sugar for 5-10 minutes until foamy before adding other ingredients. Regardless of the type, your dough should visibly double in size during the rise, indicating a successful proof.
The Importance of Room Temperature Ingredients
For optimal dough and frosting consistency, it’s crucial to use ingredients at room temperature. Cold butter won’t incorporate evenly into dough, leading to a lumpy texture, and it won’t cream properly for the frosting. To soften butter, take it out of the fridge about 20-30 minutes before you start. Slice it into appropriate measurements and let it sit. Crack your egg into a dish roughly 30 minutes in advance. Likewise, room temperature cream cheese is vital for achieving a smooth, lump-free, and delightfully creamy frosting that spreads beautifully.
Zesting and Juicing Oranges for Maximum Flavor
While you’re waiting for your butter, egg, and cream cheese to reach room temperature, this is the perfect time to prepare your oranges. First, meticulously zest the oranges. Be sure to keep the zest from each orange separate, as you’ll need different amounts for the dough, filling, and frosting. This ensures each component gets its own burst of fresh citrus flavor. After zesting, cut the oranges in half and juice them. Trust me, freshly squeezed orange juice provides a far superior flavor compared to store-bought, making a huge difference in the final taste of your rolls.
Adjusting Flour for the Perfect Dough Consistency
When you reach the step of mixing your orange rolls dough, you might find that you need to add a little more flour than the recipe specifies. Flour absorption can vary depending on factors like humidity and the specific type of bread flour used. If your dough is still sticking excessively to the sides of the mixing bowl after the initial flour addition, add more gradually, a couple of tablespoons at a time. The goal is a dough that pulls away cleanly from the sides of the bowl, feeling soft and slightly tacky, but not overly sticky or dry. Avoid adding too much flour, as this can result in tough, dense rolls.
Master the Art of Cutting Your Rolls
Once your dough is rolled up and ready for slicing, achieving equally sized rolls is key for even baking. A simple trick is to measure the entire rolled log of dough and divide that length by nine to mark your cutting points. While a sharp knife works well, an even easier method for clean cuts, particularly with soft dough, is to use unflavored dental floss or a strong thread. Simply slide it under the dough, cross the ends over the top, and pull to slice through smoothly. Since you can’t really refrigerate this quick dough without slowing down the yeast (and there’s another rise to go!), work efficiently. Because the dough is quite soft, you might find it helpful to gently re-roll or reshape each individual piece as you place it into the baking dish.
Proper Spacing for Even Baking
As you arrange your cut rolls into the baking dish, make sure to place them with equal distance between each one. This allows ample room for the dough to rise again during the second proofing stage. Even if they aren’t quite touching after this rise, they will expand further during the baking process, filling out the pan to create a beautiful, cohesive batch of rolls. Proper spacing ensures each roll bakes evenly and develops a golden-brown crust.
The Secret to Perfectly Glazed Orange Rolls
Patience is a virtue, especially when it comes to frosting! After your orange rolls come out of the oven, it’s essential to let them cool for about five minutes before applying the cream cheese frosting. If you frost them while they are piping hot, the frosting will melt too quickly, becoming a runny mess and sliding right off the rolls. A slight cooling period allows the rolls to set slightly, creating a stable surface for the frosting to adhere to, resulting in that beautiful, luscious glaze. I often just use a measuring cup to pour and spread the frosting evenly over the warm rolls.
Serving and Enjoying Your Orange Rolls
I promise you, you are going to absolutely adore this orange roll recipe. These sweet rolls are an ideal choice for breakfast, a delightful addition to any brunch spread, and truly spectacular if you have company visiting for the holidays. The aroma that fills your kitchen while they are baking is simply divine and will instantly make your home feel warm and inviting. Best of all, they don’t demand the extensive time commitment that some other breakfast yeast rolls do, making them a fantastic option for busy mornings or when you want a homemade treat without the fuss.
If you happened to be on Instagram recently, you might have caught a glimpse of me making these very rolls on my story! Just for fun, I’ve added the video here:
More Delicious Roll Recipes You’ll Adore
Yes, these delightful orange rolls have been a cherished favorite in our home for a really long time (this recipe was originally posted on this blog on December 13, 2009!). But our love for rolls extends far beyond just orange – we enjoy both savory and sweet variations, perfect for any meal or craving. Here are some more beloved roll recipes you might like:
- If you appreciate a lighter, thinner frosting that still delivers incredible flavor, these lemon sweet rolls are positively delicious and bright. You can even substitute the rich cream cheese frosting from this orange roll recipe if you prefer a creamier topping.
- For a truly classic experience, our ooey-gooey homemade cinnamon rolls are right at the top of our favorites list, known for their tender dough and generous cinnamon swirl. I know you’ll love them too!
- Beyond rolls, this blueberry breakfast cake offers another super popular and easy breakfast option, packed with juicy blueberries and a tender crumb.
- Another fantastic sweet treat that’s always a hit are these flaky and flavorful Cranberry Cream Cheese Pastries! They are perfect for a special breakfast or dessert.
- On the savory side of things, these chewy and salty bretzel rolls were inspired by the amazing pretzel rolls I love from a favorite steakhouse – perfect for sandwiches or alongside a meal.
- If you’re a devoted fan of cheesy recipes, then these incredibly flavorful gooey garlic cheese rolls are absolutely AH-mazing and sure to satisfy your craving.
- For every single holiday gathering at my house, these easy pull-apart dinner rolls grace the table. My whole family adores them, and they are consistently delicious and a crowd-pleaser!
- Finally, my visually appealing parmesan garlic rolls are not only fun to look at with their twisted design, but they are also wonderfully savory and make a perfect accompaniment to a piping hot bowl of comforting soup or a hearty stew!
Orange Rolls
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
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Ingredients
- 2 ¼ teaspoons SAF instant yeast or any quick rise
- ½ cup warm water 110-115 F
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 1 ¾ cups bread flour you may need more
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- zest of one orange
Filling
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- zest of HALF an orange
- 1 tbsp fresh orange juice about one orange
Frosting
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter softened
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- zest of one orange
- 2 tbsp fresh orange juice about one orange
Things You’ll Need
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Stand mixer
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9×9 baking pan
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Citrus zester
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Measuring cups and spoons
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Rubber spatula
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Offset icing spatula
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Parchment paper
Before You Begin
Instructions
Gathering your ingredients
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Since this recipe is broken into sections, I just wanted to point out that you will need a total of three oranges.
Making the Rolls
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In mixer bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water and let stand 3 to 5 minutes; stir. Add the egg, 1/2 of the flour, and the butter. Rub the orange zest, sugar and salt together with your fingers until fragrant, then add to the bowl. Beat all ingredients on medium until smooth.
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Add the remaining flour gradually until combined. Dough should clean sides of bowl. If it doesn’t, add 1/4 cup more flour. You may need to add another, just add a little at a time until the dough comes away from the bowl. Knead on lightly floured board until smooth. Cover with a clean towel and let rise for 40 minutes or until doubled in size.
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While dough is rising, grease 9×9-inch baking pan.
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Blend the filling ingredients and set aside. Combine the frosting ingredients and beat until creamy. Set aside.
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Dust a sheet of parchment paper with flour. Place dough on dusted parchment and roll out dough into a 7″ x 14″ rectangle. Spread with the filling, coming to within 1/2″ of the sides. Roll up jelly-roll style, using the parchment to help you roll it up, the dough may be a little sticky. Pinch the edges of dough to seal.
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Mark and cut dough into 9 equal parts. You may need to reroll the cut pieces as you place them into the pan and cover with a towel. Let rise in warm place until doubled, about 40 minutes. While dough is rising, preheat oven to 375 F.
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Bake 20-25 minutes, until golden brown.
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Remove rolls from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Spread with frosting. You may have some frosting left over.
Nutrition
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.
There’s truly nothing like biting into a warm, soft, and sweet orange roll, especially when you know it’s made from scratch with love and fresh ingredients. This quick recipe proves that homemade doesn’t have to mean hours of waiting. Enjoy these delightful rolls, whether as a special breakfast or a comforting treat any time of year.
This post originally appeared here on December 13, 2009.