Orange Rolls Recipe – Lauren’s Latest

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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!

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:

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.

More Cinnamon Roll Recipes to Try!

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!