This just so happens to be one of my FAVORITE Christmas morning traditions. Orange rolls are my very favorite sweet roll, and they are the perfect breakfast treat for any special occasion!
There are also directions to makes delicious cinnamon rolls below 🙂
You will start out with The Delicious Dinner Roll Recipe. If you wish to use the full dough recipe you will need to double the ingredients for the orange rolls listed below. OR you can make 1 batch of orange rolls and 1 batch of cinnamon rolls. OR… you can make one batch of dinner rolls and 1 batch of sweet rolls. This recipe is directed for HALF the delicious dinner roll recipe. Make the roll dough just the same as directed in the Delicious Dinner Roll post. When the dough is close to finishing rising the “first time”, you will start the orange roll filling.
To make the filling combine:
1/2 cup sugar
6 Tablespoons melted butter
grated rind from one orange
Bring these ingredients to a boil and remove from the heat.
On a floured counter roll the dough into one large rectangle about 1/4-1/2 inch thick. Pour the orange filling onto the dough.
**Alternatively, if you wanted to make cinnamon rolls you would spread the dough with melted butter, then cover the dough with brown sugar, and sprinkle cinnamon on top (as much as you like).
Spread the mixture evenly over the dough
Roll the long edge of the dough, be careful not to pull the dough as you roll it. Gently lift and roll the dough.
Use a piece of thread or floss to cut the rolls. Slide the string flat under the dough to 1 1/2 inches (or desired thickness) from the end of the roll, cross the string over the dough and pull. VOILA! Repeat this step until all the rolls are cut.
You have two options for baking these rolls.
1. Place each roll in a regular sized muffin tin
2. Place the rolls on a cookie sheet about 1 1/2 inches apart. You will generally place 12 rolls on a sheet.
Let the rolls raise until they are touching (if using a cookie sheet) or until they have risen well above the muffin tins.
Bake the rolls at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes until they are golden brown.
Allow the rolls to cool slightly while making the glaze.
In a small bowl combine:
2 cups powdered sugar
juice of one orange
To thicken: add more powdered sugar. To thin: add more juice or water.
**for glaze over cinnamon rolls, combine:
1/3 cup softened cream cheese
1/4 cup softened butter
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
a tiny pinch of salt
Use a fork to combine the glaze ingredients.
Use a spoon to drizzle the glaze over the warm rolls. Use as little or much as you would like!
You can enjoy these hot and fresh or cooled. They are the most delicious sweet rolls I have ever tasted.
This recipe will make approximately 18 sweet rolls, if you would like 36 sweet rolls use the full roll dough recipe!
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You can also use this dough recipe for Alison’s yummy Monkey Bread Recipe! Let the dough raise the “first time”, then divide into balls and follow the rest of Alison’s directions!
Mmmmm. I can’t wait for Christmas morning 🙂
Puna says
Those look seriously yummy but if you put the ends against or, at least, facing the the roll next to it by it you wouldn’t have ends that hang over the edge of the pan.
Laura says
I’m confused… I don’t see the filling for the cinnamon rolls. I know someone posted below they loved the cinnamon rolls, but I can’t find anything about cinnamon! Am I going blind… Can you explain to me where it is! Thanks!!!
Puna says
These are orange rolls but she says “*Alternatively, if you wanted to make cinnamon rolls you would spread the dough with melted butter, then cover the dough with brown sugar, and sprinkle cinnamon on top (as much as you like).” 🙂
Robert says
I have been able to print and copy and paste your recipe for your crescent rolls. Thank you they look delicious. I was trying to print the recipe for the wonderful looking Sweet Glazed Orange Rolls but find no way to print them. I like to copy and paste so I can have the photos to help a putz in the kitchen like me. Any suggestions?
Thanks, greenthumb
Jennifer says
These do sound delicious, I made the bread for Thanksgiving and they were a hit! My family even suggested that I make them into cinnamon rolls. Then I found this post. I can’t wait.
Krista White says
I made these with our leftover dough from the Thanksgiving crescent rolls and they were delicious!!! Thanks for the great recipe!
Enza Reale says
Hi ladies
Would love a printable version of this to add to my recipe collection.
Looks amazing and, though oranges are not in season in Australia at Christmas time, will be sure to make the cinnamon version on Christmas morning as a special treat for my husband and daughters.
Thanks for the great recipes!
Kelly says
These look so delicious! I can’t wait to make them. One quick question. You said “You will start out with The Delicious Dinner Roll Recipe. If you wish to use the full dough recipe you will need to double the ingredients for the orange rolls listed below.” So does that mean we cut the dinner roll recipe in half or do we use all the ingredients as listed? I’m just a little confused.
Cheryl says
I would like to print this recipe!!
Candida says
I made these for New Year’s morning, and they were AMAZING. The cinnamon rolls were the best we have ever had. I used 1/2 cup of cream cheese in the frosting instead of 1/3, and it was even better! For the orange rolls, I was able to use a fresh orange from my backyard, and it made it extra special. These are fabulous!!! Start to finish took about 2.5 hours. Thanks for this great recipe!
Kayak says
They look sooooo good! will have to make some in the new year.
Would love a print out button if possible.
Samantha says
These sound devine! Do you have a printable version or a print button/icon?? Would be so helpful!
Emily @ NewlyWife says
This is a lifesaver! I recently challenged myself to make orange rolls for this Christmas breakfast. (It’s a longstanding tradition in our family, but never homemade!) The recipe I used was just OK, so I can’t wait to try this one. Will have to make it a New Year’s tradition, too!
Patti says
I have thrown out all my other roll recipes after trying yours! These rolls are the best ever, and now that we can make them into other things as well, it takes it to a whole new level. I’m putting these on my New Year’s Eve buffet!
Ashley Yve says
Those look AMAZING!
Ashleigh says
Okay. This is going to be the key to making my husband’s Christmas! He’s obsessed with orange rolls and I always make regular cinnamon rolls. I’ve never had an orange roll recipe. This will make his day and I might just be his hero. 🙂 I can’t wait to try it!
Jessica says
Have you tried freezing these before making? Or prepping them the night before so that they’re ready to go Christmas morning? They sound delicious!
Lara says
You can freeze the rolls before letting them raise, they just won’t raise as well or as fluffy as when they are made fresh
Lizzy Ford says
I love orange rolls so much! I used to eat the ones in a can every Sunday (they are full of crap though. I am definitely going to try these out. It may have to become a Christmas morning tradition for us too.
Penny says
Those look delicious! I’m going to try this recipe. yum!
Alison says
Oh my STRING!!!!!! I have been squishing my dough rolls for years with a knife. Love this! Thank you Lara.
Erin says
I use unwaxed dental floss. I hate the stuff, so if my husband buys it, it goes in my baking cupboard!