Homemade Orange Sweet Rolls Recipe (2024)

ByLynda SelfPublishedFebruary 18, 2021September 4, 2023Updated onSeptember 4, 2023

These Orange Sweet Rolls are a refreshing twist on the classic cinnamon roll. A homemade sweet dough with orange zest is filled with homemade orange sugar and topped with sweet orange creme icing.

Inspired by orange rolls that are served at All Steak in Cullman, Alabama, I created my own version for sweet rolls that are light and fluffy and bursting with citrus goodness. Sweet cream cheese icing is the perfect way to top these sweet treats.

Ingredients

To make these sweet rolls, you need the following ingredients:

• 1¼cupsmilk
• ¼cuphoney
• 1packet rapid rise yeast
• 4cupsflour
• 1teaspoonsalt
• 1egg
• 10Tablespoonsbutter
• ½cupgranulated sugar
• 4teaspoonsorange zest
• 2ouncescream cheesesoftened
• 1⅓ cups powdered sugar
• 2Tablespoonsorange juice

How To Make Orange Rolls

The dough for these rolls can be made in a bread machine or using a stand mixer. (Recipe cards for both are below in this post.)

To make them using a stand mixer, start by warming milk in a microwave at HIGH power for 40 seconds. Stir in 1 tablespoon of honey and yeast and let it sit for 5 – 10 minutes for the yeast to bloom.

Place flour and salt in the mixer bowl. Add the yeast mixture, the remaining honey, 4 tablespoons butter, and egg. Using the dough hook attachment, mix at low speed until combined.

Increase the mixer to medium speed and knead for 3 to 5 minutes until the dough forms a ball and has become smooth and elastic.

Remove the dough ball from the bowl and spray the bowl with nonstick spray. Place the dough back in the greased bowl and spray the top of the dough with nonstick spray.

Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm environment and allow the dough to rise until doubled in size.

Meanwhile, make the orange sugar by combining sugar and orange zest together. If you like your rolls really sweet, you can double the filling. You can also substitute brown sugar for white if you’d like.

Once the dough has risen, divide in half and roll each half out into a rectangle about ½ inch thick. Spread softened butter over each rectangle being careful to leave about 1-inch around the border without any butter.

Sprinkle each rectangle with half of the orange sugar.

Starting at the longer end, roll the dough up tightly to make a log.

Using a sharp knife, cut the logs into 12 slices and place the cut-side down in a round pan that has been coated with non-stick spray. Repeat with the other half of the dough.

Let them rise until they have doubled in size.

Baking Time

Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutesor until they are golden brown.

Once the baked rolls have cooled, make the orange creme icing to drizzle over the top. It is made with some cream cheese and freshly grated orange rind.

If you drizzle the icing on the rolls while they are still warm, the icing will melt into the rolls. If you wait until the rolls have completely cooled, the icing will look more like what is pictured below.

Love fruit? Here are some more recipes using fruit that you might enjoy:

• Bakery-Style Blueberry Muffins
• Strawberry Almond Flour Cake

These rolls are great for breakfast, with a cup of coffee, or even dessert.

Be sure to come back and tell us how your orange sweet rolls turned out!