Orange Rolls

I’m not a baker and much prefer to support my local friends who are, but I did decide I really wanted to learn how to make my own orange rolls. I love cinnamon rolls, but there’s just something about orange rolls… They scream winter to me. I love using the juice of fresh navel oranges when they’re in season, and appreciate the tang of the orange zest alongside the classic cinnamon and sugar flavors. Keep in mind that these rolls require a bit of time because you’ll need to let them rise a couple of times. They’re fluffy and sweet and the perfect thing to make for a crowd.
This recipe was adapted from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe

ORANGE ROLLS Yields 12 rolls, total time: 3.5 hours
INGREDIENTS:
Dough:
½ cup milk, warmed
1 package instant yeast
½ cup fresh squeezed orange juice
¼ cup butter, softened
¼ cup white sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 egg
3 ½ cups flour

Filling:
½ cup butter, softened
¾ cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons fresh orange zest

Frosting:
3 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
6 tablespoons butter, softened
Pinch of salt
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
2 teaspoons orange zest
1¼ cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:
Make the Dough
1.) Warm the milk in a small saucepan until just below a simmer. Transfer the warmed milk to a stand mixer and dissolve in a package of instant yeast. Stir in the yeast.
2.) Add in the orange juice, softened butter, sugar, salt and an egg. Use a dough hook and begin to mix on low. Slowly mix in the flour. You may need as little as 3 cups or as much as 4 cups. The final product should be slightly sticky but not wet.
3.) Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough for 3-4 minutes. Form it into a ball and transfer to a lightly oiled bowl. Cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel and allow it to double in size, about an hour and a half.
Make the Filling
4.) Meanwhile, combine the filling ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Stir until combined.
Prepare the Rolls
5.) Once the dough has risen, roll it into a 10x15” rectangle. Spread the filling over the dough, leaving only a half an inch on the edges. Tightly roll up the dough into a large log. Use a serrated knife and slice into 12 even pieces.
6.) Arrange the rolls in a lightly greased baking sheet. Allow the rolls to rise for an additional hour to two hours, depending on the heat/humidity of your kitchen. They should be puffy and doubled in size. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
7.) Bake the rolls for 19-22 minutes at 350 degrees.
Make the Frosting
8.) While the orange rolls are baking, mix together the frosting ingredients with a stand mixer. The frosting should be creamy and well combined. Ice the rolls as soon as they have cooled for a few minutes. Serve and enjoy!