Best Orange Rolls Recipe
A freezer friendly orange rolls recipe that makes a dozen perfect, fluffy rolls frosted with orange cream cheese icing. A favorite brunch and breakfast!
Prep Time30 minutes mins
Cook Time30 minutes mins
rising time1 hour hr 40 minutes mins
Total Time2 hours hrs 40 minutes mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12
Calories: 554kcal
- 1 cup milk
- ¼ cup granulated white sugar
- 1 Tablespoon active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons orange zest (of one orange)
- ¼ cup fresh orange juice (of one orange)
- 4 cups all purpose flour (plus extra for rolling out)
Filling:
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons zest (of one orange)
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ cup butter
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
Frosting:
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 oz butter, softened
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 2 Tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate
- 2 cups powdered sugar
In a small bowl combine warm milk (between 100-110 F) sugar, and active dry yeast and let sit 5 minutes or until foamy. If using instant yeast, simply combine all dough ingredients. Just keep the yeast away from direct contact with the salt when combining ingredients (salt slows yeast growth).
In a stand mixer (or large bowl if mixing by hand) combine salt, butter, egg, orange zest, orange juice, and 4 cups of flour. Pour foamy yeast mixture in and mix with dough hook on low speed for 5-8 minutes until smooth and elastic (if mixing without a mixer, simply mix with a wooden spoon until you can’t mix anymore and then begin kneading by hand 8-10 minutes).
Add up to another ½ cup of flour to make dough consistency only slightly sticky. Dough should pull away from sides of bowl. Oil a large bowl, place dough inside and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise at room temperature for one hour or until doubled in size.
For Filling:
In a medium bowl combine sugar, orange zest and ground ginger. Mix in the orange zest for a minute or two so that the sugar turns orange, then mix in the flour. Set aside.
On a floured work surface, roll dough into roughly a 24 inch by 10-12 inch rectangle. I stop occasionally and shape it with my hands to keep a rectangular shape. Spread softened butter over dough. Sprinkle and spread sugar mixture evenly over butter.
Carefully roll dough lengthwise into a long roll.
Use a piece of clean string or dental floss and slide the string underneath the roll. Pick up both ends of the string, cross them, and pull tight to cut the dough into 12 equal pieces. Place rolls cut side down into an oiled 9x13 inch pan or large baking sheet, being careful not to crowd the rolls so they have room to rise.
Cover with a dish towel, and let rise for 45 minutes to one hour until almost doubled in size.Preheat oven to 350 F. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until light golden brown on top. Using a glass or dark pan may take more or less time. Cool 15-20 minute before icing.
For the Icing:
In a medium bowl combine cream cheese, butter and mix until most of the lumps are gone. I microwave them for 10-20 seconds to soften them enough to mix. Mix in powdered sugar, vanilla, and orange juice concentrate until smooth. I like my icing thicker like frosting. Add another 1-2 Tablespoons orange juice concentrate if you prefer a thinner glaze. Generously spoon icing over rolls to coat evenly. Serve warm for maximum deliciousness.
Overnight Instructions:
Follow directions to make dough, let rise once, fill, roll, and cut dough into individual rolls and place into pan, and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate immediately.
Do not let the individual rolls rise (the second rise) or they will deflate in the refrigerator.
Place in fridge overnight. Remove and let rise for 30-40 minutes in warm place before baking.
Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.
Freezer Instructions:
Follow directions to make dough, let rise once, fill, roll, and cut dough into individual rolls and place into pan, so edges are not touching, and cover with plastic wrap. Freeze immediately.
Do not let the cut rolls rise or they will deflate in the freezer. Once frozen, transfer to freezer bag or container. Freeze until ready to use up to 3 months.
Regular thawing method: Remove from freezer, place on baking sheet, cover in plastic wrap and thaw in warm place covered for 3-5 hours or until almost doubled in size.
Quicker method: Turn ON oven to 200 degrees for 2 minutes then turn OFF. Place rolls in oven and let thaw and rise covered with plastic wrap for 2-3 hours until almost doubled in size.
Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.