Homemade Orange Sweet Rolls.

I planned for the first recipe of 2013 to be a healthier item.

…sorry, but I changed my mind.

Today’s rolls are a sequel to my Raspberry Swirl Sweet Rolls.  The two dough recipes are completely different, but they are both fruity little spin-offs of your standard cinnamon bun.  I am so in love with both fluffy, doughy, yeasty sweet roll recipes.

And I know you will be too.  Do not fear yeast!

{i realize this particular roll looks like a snail… a pretty swirly snail}

Have you ever had a Pillsbury Orange Sweet Roll before?  You know, the kind that come in a can?  I gladly admit that I LOVE those little things.  My mom always made them for us on busy weekend mornings.  The smell alone got me out of bed – light citrus paired with the nostalgic fragrance of gooey cinnamon buns.

Needless to say, down the stairs I ran with a grumbling tummy.

Today I bring you a homemade version of the zingy little breakfast rolls. I used the dough from my grandmother’s pecan rolls, which I’ll be sharing soon. The rolls are surprisingly SO easy to make.  I’ve only recently started playing around with yeasted roll/bread recipes. I’ve feared yeast in the past and now I am kicking myself for waiting so long to bake with it!

I know a lot of my readers have 2013 resolutions to begin playing around with yeast and this is a wonderful recipe to conquer that fear.

Start with a packet of dry instant yeast and 1/2 cup of warm water in a large mixing bowl.  I like Red Star Platinum yeast for my recent sweet roll recipes. The original recipe asks for the water to be 105-115F degrees. I did not take its temperature – just lukewarm water will do here.  Save yourself that step!

Let the yeast dissolve in the warm water for a minute. Give it a quick stir, then add most of the remaining dough ingredients: fresh orange zest, some orange juice, sugar, salt, 1 large egg, 2 tablespoons butter, and HALF of the flour called for in the recipe: 1.5 cups.  Beat the mixture on low, scraping down the sides as needed.  I used a hand-held mixer (rather than stand mixer) because I had much more control over the beating process.  A mixer (any kind) is definitely needed to break up all the butter and beat everything to the proper consistency.

Turn off that mixer and put it away.  Add the rest of the flour to the dough and stir with a wooden spoon.  Mix it up and add more flour (little by little) until the dough is easy to handle by hand.  You are looking for a dough that is not sticky. Poke it with your finger – if the dough springs back, it is ready to go.

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface.  This is the fun part!  Knead the dough by hand for about 5-6 minutes.  The dough should be very smooth and elastic – bouncing back as you pull on it.  This dough is some good stuff.

Waiting time.  Roll the dough into a ball and place into a clean bowl – I butter the insides with butter or spray with cooking spray to alleviate any dough sticking to the sides.  Cover the dough with a clean dish towel and place in a warm spot.  I made these rolls on a particularly chilly evening – so I heated the oven to 200F degrees and turned it off. I placed the bowl inside as the oven was still warm.  It took about 1.5 hours for the yeast ball to double in size.  While we waiting, we watched episodes of How I Met Your Mother – obsessed with this show!

Ok, grab your rolling pin and ruler.  I am very precise when rolling out these rolls and my Raspberry Swirl Sweet Rolls.  You need to make sure that the rolls are thick enough and that you have enough of them.  For these reasons, it’s important to measure the dough with a ruler as you are rolling it.

On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a 15×9″ rectangle.  Spread with 1 Tablespoon of butter.  It may not seem like enough butter, but it is.  Spread it all over the dough with a knife and sprinkle with a mix of cinnamon and sugar.  I obviously used more cinnamon/sugar than what the original recipe calls for.  I typically have a heavy hand when using cinnamon in recipes.

Love the stuff.

You may have thought that orange is somehow incorporated into the filling.  Nope.  Rather, orange is worked into the dough recipe itself and then again in the glaze.  The filling is just a typical cinnamon roll filling.

Tightly (very tightly!) roll the dough up. Using your sharpest knife, cut into 15 slices – about 1 inch wide in thickness. Stuff the rolls into a large baking pan, 5 lengthwise and 3 across. Leave some space between them (if you can), so they have room to expand.  Cover your baking pan and store in a warm place once again for about 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Time to bake! And fill your house with that glorious zesty sweet roll fragrance.

The rolls only take about 25-30 minutes in the oven at 375F degrees.  Be sure to cover your rolls with foil – it didn’t state this in the original recipe, but this is crucial to prevent the tops of your rolls from getting too brown.

You and your family are going to want to rise, dine, and shine when you smell these babies in the oven. WOW.  The smell of these baking put the “good” into “good morning.” (<– I’m so cheesy!)

When you are ready to serve the rolls, drizzle with a simple orange sweet glaze.  A mix of powdered sugar, orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla extract comes together easily and puts the finishing touch on your new favorite breakfast roll.

I baked these in the evening for breakfast the next day.  They definitely taste better fresh, but I didn’t hear anyone complaining.  They can also be made ahead of time – the rolls freeze very well (without glaze!).  Just warm up and drizzle with the orange glaze when you’re ready to serve them.

You will love how doughy, soft, and fluffy these are!  Each bite is tender – like the fluffiest bakery roll you’ve ever tasted.  You will NEVER turn to the store-bought version again. There is simply NOTHING like a fresh sweet roll made from scratch.

With one taste of the warm and sticky rolls fresh from the oven, I truly wondered why I waited so long to make these!  I like to unravel the doughy cinnamon layers as I eat them.

New spin-off recipes from today’s sweet rolls are already swirling through my head.  Make a batch of these for breakfast or brunch and invite your friends and family over.  Or not.  There really doesn’t need to be any occasion to make these!

I like to call this sweet roll per… wait for it… fection.

I think you’ll enjoy these related recipes as well.

Raspberry Swirl Sweet Rolls

30 Minute Homemade Soft Pretzels

Oatmeal Lemon Creme Bars

Gingerbread Muffins with Sweet Lemon Glaze

Mini Cake Batter Cinnamon Buns (no yeast)

More from Sally's Baking Addiction:

Tagged as: cinnamon, fruit, rolls