Zesty Orange Swirls, Ready in 60 Minutes

Imagine waking up to the irresistible aroma of freshly baked goods, but with a vibrant citrus twist. These incredibly light and fluffy one-hour orange rolls are not just a dream—they’re a delightful reality! Incredibly soft, bursting with the bright, zesty flavor of fresh oranges, and ready in just 60 minutes, these sweet rolls are a game-changer for any morning, brunch, or special occasion. Forget about cinnamon rolls for a moment; these orange-infused pastries offer a refreshing and equally decadent alternative that promises to dazzle your taste buds.

If you’re accustomed to the comforting spice of cinnamon rolls but crave something new and exciting, this orange roll recipe is your next baking adventure. It combines the familiar comfort of a warm, tender roll with the invigorating brightness of citrus, creating a pastry that is both comforting and exhilarating. The swift preparation time means you can enjoy these exquisite treats without the long wait typically associated with yeasted doughs.

Why You Will Absolutely Adore This Orange Roll Recipe

There are countless reasons why these quick and easy orange rolls will become a staple in your kitchen. First and foremost, the speed at which they come together is truly remarkable. Being ready in just one hour makes this recipe ideal for spontaneous baking sessions, last-minute guests, or simply when you desire a fresh, homemade treat without spending your entire morning in the kitchen. Imagine surprising your family with warm, gooey orange rolls straight from the oven on a weekday morning—it’s entirely possible with this recipe!

Beyond convenience, the flavor profile is what truly sets these rolls apart. Each bite offers a harmonious blend of sweetness and tangy orange zest, creating a vibrant taste that is both refreshing and deeply satisfying. The dough itself is designed to be exceptionally light and fluffy, melting in your mouth and leaving behind a lingering taste of fresh citrus. This isn’t just a pastry; it’s an experience that rivals any high-end bakery creation, delivering a homemade touch that makes it all the more special.

The texture is paramount in any roll, and these orange rolls excel with their pillowy softness. They are designed to be irresistibly tender, providing the perfect canvas for the luscious orange filling and the sweet, sticky glaze. As these rolls bake, your home will be filled with the enchanting aroma of orange blossoms—a sweet, comforting scent that is almost as delightful as eating the rolls themselves. This sensory experience alone is enough to make you fall in love with the recipe.

The crowning glory of these rolls is undoubtedly the sweet orange glaze. Crafted with powdered sugar, fresh orange zest, and a touch of vanilla, it provides the perfect balance of sugary stickiness and intense citrus notes. This decadent topping beautifully complements the rich orange filling within, transforming each roll into an indulgent treat that everyone, from children to adults, will eagerly devour. Whether served warm for breakfast or as a delightful dessert, these orange rolls are guaranteed to impress and leave a lasting impression.

If you’re already a fan of our other sweet treats, be sure to explore our Cinnamon Crumb Coffee Cake, Overnight Cinnamon Rolls, Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls, or Cinnamon Raisin Bread for more delightful baking inspiration.

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Orange Rolls

Crafting these extraordinary orange rolls requires a few fundamental ingredients, each playing a crucial role in achieving the desired taste and texture. What’s fantastic is that these are all common pantry staples, making this recipe incredibly accessible. The secret truly lies in the freshness of your orange zest and juice!

• For the Light and Fluffy Dough:
  • Warm Water: Activates the yeast, ensuring a good rise.
  • Buttermilk: Adds incredible tenderness and a subtle tang to the dough, enhancing its flavor and texture. Make sure it’s at room temperature for optimal yeast activity.
  • Melted Unsalted Butter: Contributes richness and moisture, resulting in a soft, pliable dough.
  • Large Eggs: Provide structure, richness, and help bind the dough, ensuring a beautifully soft crumb. Room temperature eggs blend more easily.
  • Granulated Sugar: Feeds the yeast and sweetens the dough, contributing to browning.
  • Bread Flour: Higher in protein than all-purpose flour, bread flour gives the rolls their characteristic chewiness and strength, allowing them to rise beautifully.
  • Active Dry Yeast: The leavening agent that makes these rolls incredibly light and airy. Ensure it’s fresh for best results.
  • Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor of the dough, while also regulating yeast activity.
• For the Zesty Orange Filling:
  • Softened Unsalted Butter: Acts as a rich base, allowing the sugar and zest to spread easily and infuse flavor.
  • Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create that signature gooey texture once baked.
  • Fresh Orange Zest: This is the star of the show! It infuses the rolls with an intense, aromatic, and genuinely fresh orange flavor that powdered juice simply cannot replicate.
• For the Sweet and Tangy Glaze:
  • Powdered Sugar: Forms the base of the smooth, pourable glaze.
  • Fresh Orange Zest: Adds another layer of bright orange flavor and a lovely visual appeal to the glaze.
  • Vanilla Extract: A touch of vanilla complements the orange beautifully, adding depth to the sweetness.
  • Fresh Orange Juice: Provides the necessary liquid for the glaze, delivering a vibrant tang and ensuring a perfectly smooth, spreadable consistency.

While none of these ingredients are particularly exotic, their combination and the quality of the fresh orange zest truly elevate these pastries from good to absolutely phenomenal. The aroma of citrus permeates every component, making for a truly memorable baking and eating experience.

How To Master Quick And Easy One-Hour Orange Rolls

Creating these heavenly orange rolls is surprisingly straightforward, especially with our detailed, step-by-step guide. Follow along, and you’ll have warm, fresh rolls ready in just 60 minutes!

Preparing the Dough for Maximum Fluffiness

1. Activate the Yeast: In the large bowl of your electric stand mixer, combine the warm water, room temperature buttermilk, granulated sugar, and melted butter. Sprinkle the active dry yeast over the mixture. Gently whisk these ingredients together, then let them sit undisturbed for 15 minutes. This crucial step allows the yeast to proof, confirming it’s active and ready to work its magic, creating a bubbly, frothy surface.
2. Mix and Knead the Dough: Attach the dough hook to your stand mixer. Add the salt, slightly beaten room temperature eggs, and 5 cups of bread flour to the yeast mixture. Begin mixing on low speed, then increase to medium speed. Continue to knead the dough for a full 10 minutes. During this process, the dough will become smooth and elastic.
3. Adjust Flour (Carefully!): As the dough kneads, observe its consistency. If it’s too sticky and doesn’t pull away from the sides of the bowl, add the remaining 1 cup of bread flour gradually, one tablespoon at a time, until it just barely pulls away. It’s vital not to add too much flour; an over-floured dough will result in dense, tough rolls instead of light, fluffy ones. A slightly sticky dough is preferable to a dry one.
4. Short Rest for the Dough: Turn off your stand mixer and cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap. Let the dough rest in a warm spot for another 10 minutes. This brief rest allows the gluten to relax, making the dough easier to roll out.

Crafting the Irresistible Orange Filling

1. Combine Filling Ingredients: While your dough is resting, prepare the vibrant orange filling. In a small bowl, thoroughly mix together the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and fresh orange zest until well combined and fragrant. The orange zest is key here, infusing the filling with intense citrus flavor.

Assembling and Baking Your Orange Rolls

1. Roll Out the Dough: Lightly flour your work surface or grease it with a little oil. Transfer the rested dough onto it and, using a rolling pin, roll it out into a large rectangle, approximately 12×16 inches. Aim for an even thickness across the entire sheet of dough.
2. Spread the Filling: Evenly spread the prepared orange filling over the rolled-out dough. Make sure to leave a border of about 1/2 inch clear along all the edges to ensure a neat seal when rolling.
3. Roll and Seal: Starting from one of the long edges, carefully and tightly roll the dough up into a log. Once rolled, pinch the seam firmly to seal it completely, preventing the filling from escaping during baking.
4. Cut the Rolls: Using a sharp knife or unflavored dental floss, cut the dough log into 12 equally sized large rolls. For the neatest cuts, measure each roll to be about 1 to 1.5 inches thick.
5. Arrange and Rise: Lightly butter a 9×13-inch baking pan. Place the cut orange rolls into the prepared pan, leaving a little space between each roll for expansion. Cover the pan loosely with plastic wrap or parchment paper. Allow the rolls to rise in a warm place for 15 minutes.
6. Preheat Oven: While the rolls are rising, preheat your oven to 400ºF (200ºC). This ensures the oven is at the correct temperature for immediate baking once the rolls have finished their short rise.

7. Bake to Golden Perfection: Place the baking pan in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the rolls are beautifully golden brown on top and cooked through. Keep an eye on them; if they start to brown too quickly, you can loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning.
8. Cool Slightly: Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and let the rolls cool slightly in the pan for about 5-10 minutes. This allows them to firm up slightly before glazing.

The Finishing Touch: Zesty Orange Glaze

1. Prepare the Glaze: While the rolls are cooling, make the simple yet exquisite orange glaze. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, fresh orange zest, vanilla extract, and approximately 3 tablespoons of fresh orange juice.
2. Achieve Perfect Consistency: Continue to whisk until the mixture is smooth and lump-free. If the glaze is too thick, add a tiny bit more orange juice, a teaspoon at a time, until you reach a smooth, pourable, or spreading consistency. If it’s too thin, add a little more powdered sugar.
3. Glaze and Serve: Generously spread or drizzle the vibrant orange icing over the slightly warm rolls. The warmth of the rolls will allow the glaze to melt slightly, creating that irresistible ooey-gooey texture.

Serve these soft, fluffy, and sweet orange pastries immediately to enjoy them at their absolute best. Your family and guests will be utterly amazed by their homemade deliciousness!

Make-Ahead Magic: Preparing Orange Rolls in Advance

These one-hour orange rolls are incredibly convenient, but sometimes you might want to prepare them even further in advance. This recipe offers excellent make-ahead options, perfect for busy mornings or when entertaining guests.

Refrigeration Method: For the Next Day Freshness

1. Prepare and Chill: Follow the recipe instructions up to the point where you have rolled and cut the orange rolls and placed them into your lightly greased 9×13-inch baking pan. Instead of letting them rise at room temperature, cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap to prevent the dough from drying out.
2. Refrigerate: Place the covered pan directly into your refrigerator. The cold temperature will significantly slow down the yeast activity, allowing the rolls to proof slowly overnight. You can store them like this for up to 12-18 hours.
3. Bake the Next Day: On the day you plan to bake, remove the pan from the refrigerator about 1-2 hours before you want to bake. This allows the rolls to come to room temperature and complete their final rise. The duration will depend on how warm your kitchen is. Once they look puffy and have nearly doubled in size, preheat your oven to 400ºF (200ºC) and bake as instructed in the main recipe.

Freezing Method: For Long-Term Storage

If you want to enjoy these orange rolls weeks or even months later, freezing them is a fantastic option:

1. Freeze Individually: After rolling and cutting your orange rolls, arrange them in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Ensure there is space between each roll so they don’t stick together. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 1-2 hours, or until the rolls are firm and frozen solid.
2. Transfer to Storage: Once frozen, transfer the individual rolls to a freezer-safe, airtight container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. This prevents freezer burn and allows you to grab just a few rolls at a time if desired. Store in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
3. Thaw and Bake: When you’re ready to bake, remove the desired number of frozen rolls and place them in a lightly buttered baking dish. Cover them loosely with plastic wrap or parchment paper and let them thaw and rise at room temperature for several hours (4-6 hours or even overnight in the refrigerator, then an hour at room temp). They should become puffy and nearly double in size.
4. Bake as Directed: Once thawed and risen, preheat your oven to 400ºF (200ºC) and bake as specified in the main recipe. You might need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time if they are still slightly cold.

These make-ahead options ensure that even on your busiest days, a batch of warm, fresh, and irresistibly zesty orange rolls is always within reach.

Frequently Asked Questions About Orange Rolls

Easy One-Hour Orange Rolls Recipe

Super soft and fluffy sweet rolls bursting with fresh orange flavor, ready in just one hour!

Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Servings: 12 rolls

Calories: 455 kcal per serving

Author: Leigh Harris

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Ingredients

For the Rolls:

• 1 cup warm water
• 3/4 cup buttermilk, room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 3 tablespoons Active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 large eggs, room temperature, slightly beaten
• 5-6 cups bread flour (start with 5, add more if needed)

For the Filling:

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons orange zest (from about one large orange)

For the Frosting:

• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons orange zest
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons fresh orange juice (or more, for desired consistency)

Instructions

Roll Preparation:

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the warm water, buttermilk, granulated sugar, melted butter, and active dry yeast. Allow the mixture to proof for 15 minutes until bubbly.
2. With the dough hook attached, add the salt, beaten eggs, and 5 cups of bread flour. Knead on medium speed for 10 minutes. Add just enough of the remaining 1 cup of flour, if necessary, for the dough to pull away from the sides of the bowl. Do not add too much flour, as this will make the rolls dense and tough.
3. Turn off the mixer, cover the bowl, and let the dough rest for 10 minutes in a warm place.

Filling Preparation:

4. While the dough is resting, prepare the filling. In a small bowl, mix together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and orange zest until well combined.
5. Lightly flour or grease a clean surface. Roll the rested dough out into a 12×16-inch rectangle. Spread the orange filling evenly over the dough, leaving approximately a 1/2-inch border along all edges.
6. From the long edge, tightly roll the dough up into a log. Pinch the seam firmly to seal it closed. Using a sharp knife or dental floss, cut the dough log into 12 equal-sized large rolls.
7. Place the cut rolls into a lightly buttered 9×13-inch baking dish. Cover the pan loosely with plastic wrap or parchment paper. Let the rolls rise for 15 minutes while you preheat your oven to 400ºF (200ºC).
8. Bake the rolls for 15-20 minutes, or until they are golden brown. If they start to brown too quickly, you may loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil.

Frosting Application:

9. While the rolls cool slightly after baking, prepare the orange frosting. In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the powdered sugar, orange zest, vanilla extract, and enough fresh orange juice (start with 3 tablespoons) to achieve a smooth, spreadable consistency.
10. Spread or drizzle the orange icing generously over the warm rolls.

Notes

If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 48 hours. For longer storage, refrigerate them. Reheat briefly in the microwave or oven for best results.

Nutrition

Calories: 455kcal | Carbohydrates: 80g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 405mg | Potassium: 102mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 41g | Vitamin A: 376IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg