Orange Cinnamon Rolls

5.0
(3)

These orange cinnamon rolls are fluffy, soft, and sweet. Covered in a sticky orange cream cheese glaze, they are an amazing breakfast or brunch treat that make your entire house smell incredible!

a high angle view of a single orange roll plated and served with some coffee.
2
Prep Time:
35 mins
Cook Time:
25 mins
Additional Time:
1 hr 30 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs 30 mins
Servings:
12
Yield:
12 cinnamon rolls
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 12 servings

Dough:

  • ¾ cup warm whole milk (110 degrees F (43 degrees C))

  • 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast

  • 1 large egg, room temperature

  • 1 large egg yolk, room temperature

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened

  • 2 tablespoons honey

  • 1 ½ teaspoons freshly grated orange zest

  • ¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice

  • 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour, divided, or more as needed

  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt

  • cooking spray

Filling

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened

  • ½ cup light brown sugar

  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

  • 1 ½ teaspoons freshly grated orange zest

Frosting

  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened

  • 1 cup powdered sugar

  • 1 tablespoon freshly grated orange zest

  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice

  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Directions

  1. Pour warmed milk into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment for the dough. Sprinkle yeast evenly over the surface of the milk. Let stand until foamy, 5 to 10 minutes.

    Warm milk poured into a mixer with yeast sprinkled over the surface, standing until it gets foamy.

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  2. Add egg and egg yolk, butter, honey, orange zest, and orange juice to the yeast mixture. Beat on low until combined, about 45 seconds. Add 2 cups flour; beat on low until a wet dough forms, about 1 minute. Turn off mixer; switch to the dough hook attachment. Add 1 ½ cups flour and salt, beat on medium until dough is soft and elastic, 7 to 10 minutes. If necessary, add an additional ½ cup flour, tablespoon by tablespoon, using as little as possible to achieve a soft dough. The dough should be quite sticky.

    Egg yolk, butter, honey, orange zest and juice, added to the yeast mixture, beaten on low until combined.

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  3. Gather dough into a ball and transfer to a large greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside to rise at room temperature until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

    a soft dough transferred to a grease bowl before rising.

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    Dough ball transferred to a greased bowl, set aside to double in size.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. To make the filling: Combine butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and orange zest in a bowl. Mix with a spatula until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Set aside.

    Butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and orange zest mixed with a spatula until smooth and creamy.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Grease a 13x9-inch baking dish; set aside. Punch down the dough and transfer to a well-floured surface. Roll dough into a large 10x18-inch rectangle. Spread the filling over the surface of the dough, leaving a ½ inch border along the top long edge.

    Dough rolled into a large rectangle, and filling spread over the surface of the dough.

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  6. Roll the dough away from you to create a log, and pinch seam to seal.

    dough being rolled away from you on a lightly floured marble countertop

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  7. Cut dough log into 12 equal rolls (about 1 ½ inches wide). Transfer rolls to prepared baking dish. Loosely cover with plastic wrap, and set aside to rise at room temperature until puffy and almost doubled in size, 30 to 45 minutes.

    Dough cut into 12 equal rolls and transferred to a greased baking dish.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  8. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

  9. Bake rolls in the preheated oven until golden brown, 22 to 25 minutes.

  10. While rolls are baking, prepare the frosting. Combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, orange zest, orange zest, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat at medium-high speed until very smooth and creamy, 2 to 3 minutes.

  11. Remove rolls from oven and transfer to a wire rack. Let cool 2 minutes, then spread frosting evenly over the rolls. Serve warm.

    Once rolls are cooled, spread frosting evenly over the top.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

409 Calories
21g Fat
50g Carbs
7g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 12
Calories 409
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 21g 27%
Saturated Fat 12g 61%
Cholesterol 98mg 33%
Sodium 238mg 10%
Total Carbohydrate 50g 18%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 21g
Protein 7g 13%
Vitamin C 5mg 5%
Calcium 56mg 4%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 124mg 3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.