Orange Rolls

4.80 from 15 votes

This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.

These mouth-watering Orange Rolls with a citrus cream cheese frosting will hit the spot for breakfast, brunch or an afternoon snack! These are sweet, citrusy, light, chewy, fluffy, and oh so simple to make. Similar to Cinnamon Rolls, you’ll devour the whole pan in record time!

orange roll on a plate with a fork on the side

What are Orange Rolls?

Similar to Cinnamon Rolls, Orange Rolls are chewy, sweet, and warm. Instead of using cinnamon-sugar, we use a citrusy and lightly spiced sugar filling. Plus they are topped with an orange cream cheese frosting too!

Despite the time it takes to make these treats, they’re a great breakfast, snack, or dessert. Yes, you have to wait for the dough to rise and yes, you have to fill them and then wait again, but after all of that, I promise it’s worth it!

How to Make Orange Rolls

Orange Rolls are made up of three components, the dough, the filling and the icing! For full details on how to make these incredible orange rolls, including ingredients needed and increments, see the printable recipe card down below. Here’s exactly step by step what you can expect:

orange roll ingredients

Make the Dough

Proof Yeast

In the bowl of a stand mixer, stir warm water together with yeast and 6 tablespoons of sugar. After a couple of minutes, the mixture should be frothy. (If it’s not frothy and bubbly after about 10 mins, throw it out and start this process over again.)

Add Remaining Dough Ingredients as Followed

Add in the remaining sugar and 2 cups of flour and start to mix with the dough hook attachment. Stir in melted butter and salt. Add in another 1-2 cups of flour and let the machine work to knead it into the dough. Add in the remaining 2 cups of flour (if needed) bit by bit, letting the machine knead in the flour for several seconds before adding in more flour.

Note: Only add in enough flour to get a dough that is mostly smooth, has cleaned the sides of the bowl, the bottom is still sticking and when you touch it with your hands, it is tacky but not sticky enough to stick to your hands.

Refrigerate Dough 1-2 hours or Overnight

Scrape the dough out of the bowl and into a well-greased large bowl. Roll it around to coat in oil, cover, and refrigerate for a couple of hours or overnight.

Filling and Cutting Orange Rolls

Make the Orange Roll Filling

In a medium-size bowl, stir sugar, orange zest, and cinnamon together until combined. Set aside. 

Roll Dough into a Rectangle

Flour a clean surface and dump the risen dough onto the board. Sprinkle the dough and rolling pin in more flour and start to roll it into a rectangle.

Spread Butter Over Dough + Add Sugar Mixture Evenly

Using your fingers, spread the soft butter over the entire piece of dough, leaving a border along the top of the longer side. Sprinkle the orange sugar mixture over the butter evenly.

Roll Dough into a Tight Roll, Slice + Place on Baking Sheet

Roll dough neatly into a tight roll, towards the border of dough without sugar. Bring the entire log of the dough towards you, moving the seam side down to hold in place. Using a serrated bread knife, cut into rolls and place onto buttered parchment paper on a lightly colored half sheet pan.

Cover Rolls + Let Rise

Cover rolls with plastic wrap and rise until puffed and pretty.

Bake

Bake orange rolls until the tops are golden brown.

Making the Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

Combine Ingredients and Whip Until Smooth

In a small bowl, measure out cream cheese, soft butter, orange juice, orange zest, vanilla, corn syrup and powdered sugar. Mix slowly until incorporated and then increase the speed to whip until completely smooth and light.

Spread Frosting on Warm Orange Rolls

Spread frosting overtop warm orange rolls. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Storing Orange Rolls

I like storing my baked and iced orange rolls covered well with plastic wrap, at room temperature for up to 24 hours.

They can last up to 48 hours in the fridge, but I just prefer serving mine warm and fresh when they are at their peak softness and they just don’t stay that way for longer than 48 hours, unfortunately.

Can I freeze Orange Rolls?

Yes! You can freeze orange rolls baked or unbaked.

If baked: cool them completely on a rack, wrap well, and store in the freezer.

If unbaked: as soon as the rolls are assembled and sliced, place them in a pan, cover, and freeze.

To bake after freezing: thaw overnight and bake according to recipe directions.

orange roll being lifted out of the pan

More Cinnamon Roll Recipes to Try!

orange roll on a plate with a bite taken

This isn’t my first rodeo when it comes to sweet rolls! If you tried this Orange Roll recipe, let me know how it went in the comments below. I would also love it if you would give it a star rating. 🙂

Here’s the printable recipe card. Have a great day, friends!

frosted orange rolls in pan
PrintPrint Pin ItPin It
4.80 from 15 votes

Orange Rolls

These mouth-watering Orange Rolls with a citrus cream cheese frosting will hit the spot for breakfast, brunch or an afternoon snack! These are sweet, citrusy, light, chewy, fluffy, and oh so simple to make. 
servings 24
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 40 minutes

Ingredients

For the dough-

  • 2 cups warm water
  • 4 1/2 teaspoons quick rise yeast 2 packets
  • 6 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 6 cups all purpose flour give or take 1 cup, see NOTES below
  • 5 tablespoons melted butter and cooled
  • 2 teaspoons salt

For the filling-

For the icing-

  • 2 oz cream cheese
  • 1/4 cup softened butter
  • 1 teaspoon orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon corn syrup
  • 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

Make the Dough-

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, stir warm water together with yeast an 3 tablespoon sugar until mostly dissolved. After 10 minutes, mixture should be foamy. (If nothing has happened, throw it out and try again OR buy fresher yeast.)
    proofing yeast in stand mixer bowl
  • Add in remaining 3 tablespoons of sugar and 2 cups of flour and start to mix with the machine on low to medium speed with the dough hook attachment. Stir in melted butter and salt. Add in another 1-2 cups and let the machine work to knead it into the dough, about 2 minutes or kneading on low to medium speed. Add in remaining 2 cups of flour (if needed) bit by bit, letting the machine knead in the flour for several seconds before adding in more flour. Only add in enough flour to get a dough that is mostly smooth, has cleaned the sides of the bowl, the bottom is still sticking and when you touch it with your hands, it is tacky but not sticky enough to stick to your hands. This whole process should take about 10 minutes.
    orange roll dough formed
  • Scrape the dough out of the bowl and into a well greased large bowl. Roll it around to coat in oil, over and rise on the counter 2-3 hours. Alternately, you can refrigerate 2-3 hours to overnight.

Filling and Cutting Orange Rolls-

  • In a medium-size bowl, stir sugar, orange zest and cinnamon together until combined. Set aside. 
    orange roll filling in a bowl
  • Flour a clean surface and dump risen dough onto the board. Sprinkle the dough and rolling pin in more flour and start to roll a 24"x18 rectangle (approximately). As you roll, be sure to move the dough around to ensure no sticking. Add more flour as needed.
    rolling out dough with a rolling pin
  • Using your fingers, spread the soft butter over the entire piece of dough, leaving a 1 inch border along the top of a longer 24" side. Sprinkle the orange sugar mixture over the butter evenly.
    woman's hands rolling dough into a tight roll
  • Roll dough neatly into a tight swirl, towards the border of dough without sugar. Bring entire log of dough towards you, moving the seam side down to hold in place. Using a serrated bread knife, cut into 1 1/2" rolls (approximate is fine) and place onto buttered parchment paper on a lightly colored half sheet pan. (You should end up with 16 nice cinnamon rolls and 2 small end pieces that you can squeeze onto the sheet pan too or just toss.)
    slicing orange rolls into individual rolls
  • Cover rolls with plastic wrap and rise 1 hour or until puffed and pretty. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until tops are golden brown.
    close up of baked orange rolls

For the Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

  • In a small bowl, measure out all ingredients for frosting. Mix slowly until incorporated and then increase the speed to whip until completely smooth and light.
    hand mixer mixing orange frosting
  • Spread frosting overtop warm orange rolls. Serve warm or at room temperature.
    orange rolls

Video

Notes

Don’t let the 6 cup increment of flour fool you! This is an approximation. Only add enough flour to get you a dough that:
  • has cleaned the sides of the mixing bowl
  • still sticks to the bottom of the mixing bowl
  • is mostly smooth
  • is tacky when touched but isn’t sticky enough to leave a residue or stick
When in doubt, leave the dough a little on the sticky side and then refrigerate. You can always add in more flour later as you’re rolling out the rolls to compensate.

Nutrition

Calories: 272kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 276mg | Potassium: 58mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 284IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 2mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: orange rolls

Share a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

Recipe Rating




31 Responses
  1. Judy G

    The recipe says 24servings. The pictures show you making 12 in the pan. Your instructions say cut into 18 rolls. You say to prepare one pan. So how many does this make and how many pans will I need?

  2. Joy

    I’d like to know why you are blooming instant yeast it’s not meant to be bloomed it’s not needed. Just add it to the dry ingredients. Or do you have a reason?

  3. Peggy

    5 stars
    These are sooo good! I threw the dough ingredients in my bread maker and set the dough function. I just finished them and this recipe is great. The dough wasn’t super sticky and it was easy to work with. It had just enough of an orange flavor! This is my new favorite roll dough to use!

    1. Georgie E. McLean

      Does this recipe really fit in a bread machine. or do you have to make adjustments in the measures. thank you in advance

  4. Desiree

    5 stars
    THESE are a Thanksgiving morning tradition at my house! On Thanksgiving Eve I make the dough and fill it, then pop it in the fridge until morning. It isn’t the perfect thing to snack on during the Macy’s parade!

  5. Allison Koehler

    I grew up having orange rolls (not the homemade kind) on Christmas morning. I am so excited to make this recipe this since my parents will be visiting for the first Christmas together in 9 years. My kids have never spent Christmas with grandma and grandpa, and this year the orange rolls will be extra special. Thanks!

  6. Kate

    5 stars
    Made them and loved them! I made 12 big rolls and used a orange cream cheese icing. They were perfect! Thanks for the recipe!

  7. Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom

    Hi Lauren!
    These sweet orange rolls look great! and wow! can’t wait for the ecookbook! congrats! I love heidi from Foodie Crush! very cool!

  8. Leslie

    Lauren, I would LOVE to have one of these orange rolls! I’ve been seeing this kind of sweet roll recipe more and more, and I just need to break down and make these things!!! I am salivating over the pictures now.

    I also love when my packages come hand delivered!! I have one coming, although I’m sure facial moisterizer isn’t nearly as exciting or fun as what your boxed were filled with! 😉
    Blessings,
    Leslie

  9. Cat Davis | Food Family & Finds

    Mmmm orange rolls are my weakness. I made a bread machine version of these a couple of weeks ago and had my hubby mad at me for baking something so sweet and tempting while he’s trying to lose weight.

“logos”