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Test Kitchen Approved

Orange Rolls

Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Yield: 12 servings

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About

Mmm, you can just smell those rolls baking to a golden brown in the oven, enchanting your morning with... wait a minute. That's not a cinnamon aroma. Rather it's a sunnier and brighter scent that's perfuming the whole house. What a delightful twist! Orange Rolls indeed fills the hypnotizingly sweet swirls of its fluffy pastry with a tangy, orange filling that invokes the summer day in all the best ways. Then each one is draped with a zesty and rich glaze that packs even more orange flavor in every bite. Orange Rolls add a new enchantment to your morning spellbook of sensational treats, and this is a spell that will charm everyone!

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Ingredients

  • For the dough:
  • 1 cup of warm water
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 5-6 cups all-purpose flour, plus more as needed
  • For the filling:
  • 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons orange zest
  • 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
  • 6 tablespoons butter, softened
  • For the orange frosting:
  • 6 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 4 tablespoons fresh orange juice, plus more as needed
  • 1/4 teaspoon orange zest
  • 3 1/2–4 cups powdered sugar

Directions

Step 1 -In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, add the warm water, buttermilk, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, melted butter, and yeast, mixing until combined.

Step 2 -Let the mixture sit for 15 minutes.

Step 3 -Add the eggs, salt, and flour.

Step 4 -Mix on medium-low speed for 8-10 minutes.

Step 5 -Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rest for 10 minutes.

Step 6 -Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Step 7 -In a small bowl, add the remaining granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons orange zest, and 1 tablespoon orange juice, stirring to combine.

Step 8 -Place a silicone baking mat or parchment paper on a baking sheet.

Step 9 -Spray the countertop with cooking spray.

Step 10 -Place the dough on the sprayed countertop and roll it into a 14x18-inch rectangle.

Step 11 -Using the back of a spoon, smear 6 tablespoons of the softened butter over the top of the dough.

Step 12 -Sprinkle the orange sugar mixture evenly over the softened butter.

Step 13 -Starting with the long side, roll the dough into a log so the resulting cinnamon roll measures 18-inches in length.

Step 14 -Cut the roll into 12 large rolls.

Step 15 -Place the rolls on the prepared baking sheet.

Step 16 -Lightly cover the orange rolls and set them in a warm place to rise for 20 minutes.

Step 17 -Bake until golden brown and cooked through, about 20-24 minutes.

Step 18 -While the rolls are baking, in the bowl of a stand mixer or with a handheld mixer, beat the remaining butter until smooth.

Step 19 -Add the remaining orange juice, remaining orange zest, and powdered sugar to the bowl and beat until smooth.

Step 20 -Add more of the orange juice, 1 tablespoon at a time, if the frosting is too thick. It should be a spreadable consistency.

Step 21 -Let the orange rolls sit for 3 minutes before frosting them while still warm.

Step 22 -Serve warm.

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