Tessa’s Recipe Rundown
Taste: Just as the name describes! Bright, sweet, and citrusy.
Texture: For all of the shortcuts taken to make this recipe quick and easy, these rolls are shockingly fluffy and tender.
Ease: Super easy, but a little messy.
Pros: Nostalgic and delicious, but easy enough to make for a special breakfast or brunch.
Cons: None!
Would I make this again? Have already made these several times!
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Orange Sweet Rolls are comfort food with a fresh citrus twist!
Take cinnamon rolls, but replace all of the cinnamon flavor with bright and fresh orange flavor and you’ve got this delightful recipe. It’s absolutely perfect for any spring brunch, like Easter or Mother’s Day.
This recipe takes a lot of shortcuts to save time and energy. It relies on the power of instant yeast to make fluffy rolls with just 10 minutes of “rising” time. You may notice these are slightly less puffy and fluffy than traditional rolls, but they’re still absolutely mouthwatering.
Actually, when I shared these rolls with my friend and photographer, Constance, she was taken back to making similar rolls with her grandma as a kid.
That’s the beauty of baking.
More Recipes You’ll Love:
- Gooey Cinnamon Rolls Recipe (traditional cinnamon roll flavors with the fluffiest texture ever!)
- Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake
- Cranberry Orange Scones
- The Best Classic Banana Bread
- Old-Fashioned Sour Cream Doughnuts
Orange Sweet Rolls
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Ingredients
For the dough:
- 1 cup lukewarm milk
- 1/3 cup lukewarm water
- 1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) instant yeast*
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 3 1/2 cups (445 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
For the filling:
- 3 tablespoons (43 grams) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup (200 grams) orange marmalade
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) light brown sugar
For the icing:
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 cup (125 grams) powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
For the dough:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine all the dough ingredients and stir until combined. Turn the mixer on medium speed and knead for 5 minutes, or until smooth. Remove the dough to a floured work surface, cover, and let rest for 10 minutes.
For the filling:
- In a small bowl combine the butter, marmalade, and salt.
- After the dough has rested, use a floured rolling pin to roll it out into about a 9 by 15-inch rectangle. Spread the butter mixture all over, leaving a 1/2-inch border at the far edge. Sprinkle the sugar all over. Roll the dough up, pinching with your fingers to keep it tightly rolled. Press the seam to seal before positioning the log seam side down.
- Use a very sharp knife to cut off the ends then cut the dough into 11 to 12 equal pieces. Place in greased pie pan or 9 by 13-inch baking pan.
MAKE AHEAD:
- At this point you could cover and refrigerate the rolls overnight then let them come back to room temperature for 1 hour before baking.
- Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. Let cool on a wire rack for at least 5 minutes.
For the icing:
- While the rolls cool, whisk together the icing ingredients until smooth. Drizzle all over the warm rolls and serve.
Recipe Notes
The Ultimate Cookie Handbook
Learn the sweet SCIENCE of cookie baking in a fun, visual way to customize your own recipes frustration-free. Plus, my best 50+ homemade cookies!
Photos by Constance Higley.
These were heaven on a plate! They turned out absolutely perfect on my first attempt. I will be making them over and over and over again. Hands down best sweet rolls ever!
So happy to hear how much you loved them!
Yummy, and delicious!!!
I am not having the problem of the jumping on your blog. The rolls look delicious thou… and will try to get to make them in a time I will have.
Try using dental floss to cut rolls out of the rolled up dough perfect rolls
These were so good! I made them exactly and they came out perfect! The only thing I did was when I made the dough,I used it the next day.It was much easier to work with. I cut the dough in half and will make the other batch this week.Great recipe! Will make again.
Hi Tessa how are you, I want to know what is orange marmalade please help me is it orange juice or, I want to make them
I made this last weekend for the first time when we had company. Everyone loved them and have been still talking about them all week. Currently making my second batch. Can’t believe how easy and delicious they are. Might need to make this a weekly tradition. 🙂
I’m so pleased to hear that, Sandy! Thanks for sharing xo