Soft Orange Rolls Delight (Printable)

Fluffy citrus rolls filled with sweet orange and topped with a creamy orange-infused frosting.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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 about 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. Mix well until fully incorporated.
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 additional 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 - In a small bowl, mix sugar and orange zest together 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 the orange sugar mixture.
08 - Starting from the long side, roll the dough tightly into a log. Cut into 12 equal rolls.
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 baking, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, orange juice, zest, vanilla, and salt; beat until creamy and fully combined.
12 - Let the rolls cool for 10 minutes, then spread frosting generously over warm rolls.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They're soft and pillowy with actual orange flavor throughout, not just a hint of it hiding in the background.
  • The dough comes together faster than you'd expect, and the rising time works perfectly for morning prep.
  • Watching someone's face when they taste the frosting on top is absolutely worth the extra five minutes of beating it smooth.
02 -
  • Cold dough is your enemy here—if your kitchen is chilly, the rolls will take forever to rise and might not puff up properly, so find that warm spot or they'll disappoint you.
  • Over-kneading is rare with hand-kneading but possible with a mixer, so stop once the dough is smooth and elastic, not when it's shiny and tight.
03 -
  • Make these rolls the night before by shaping them, refrigerating overnight, then letting them come to room temperature for about two hours before baking—it's the ultimate game-changer for stress-free entertaining.
  • If you want extra citrus punch, add three or four drops of orange extract to the frosting and reduce the vanilla to half a teaspoon so the flavors don't compete.
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