Orange Rolls

 

Ingredients

Rolls:

• 1 3/4 cups warm water
• 2 Tablespoons active dry yeast
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), melted
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 5 cups all-purpose flour

Filling:

• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• zest of 2 large oranges

Orange Glaze:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon orange zest (from fresh orange)
• 2 Tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice

Instructions

• In a small bowl, add water, yeast and sugar. Let rest for 5 minutes, until foamy on top. In a large mixing bowl fitted with a dough hook, add eggs, butter, salt, flour and yeast mixture.
• Knead the dough with your mixer on medium speed for 3 minutes. Cover bowl with a towel and let dough rest for 10 minutes.
• Knead dough again for 3 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes.
• Knead dough one more time for three minutes. Let rest again for 10 minutes.
• Divide the dough into 3 balls. Lightly flour your counter-top and roll each dough ball out into a 15''x8'' rectangle.
• Mix 1/2 cup softened butter with 1/2 cup sugar and the zest of 2 oranges. Spread this mixture evenly over the three rectangles of bread dough.
• Roll-up each rectangle lengthwise into a long tube (similar to how you would roll cinnamon rolls). Use a sharp serrated knife to cut the dough into 1 1/2'' sections. 
• Put each small dough round into a greased muffin tin. (You could also lay them in a greased baking dish, like cinnamon rolls, but we always make them in muffin tins!)
• Cover dough lightly with greased piece of plastic wrap and allow dough to rise once more, for 30 minutes. Bake at 400 degrees F for about 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven and drizzle with glaze.

• Orange Glaze:

  • Whisk powdered sugar, orange zest and orange juice until smooth. Drizzle over warm orange rolls.Orange rolls are best enjoyed fresh, the day they are made. Store leftoevers in an air-tight container for 1-3 days, or freeze.To Make Ahead: Make the roll dough and instead of kneading and resting, knead with a mixer for 5-7 minutes, then transfer to a well greased large bowl. Cover bowl with a lid or tightly with greased plastic wrap and refrigerate for several house or overnight. Remove from fridge allow to rest on counter for 30 minutes before rolling out dough and adding butter/orange zest filling. 
  • To Freeze: Allow the rolls to cool completely after cooking (before topping with glaze).  Place in a ziplock freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months.  To reheat, microwave the muffins for 15-20 seconds and top with fresh orange glaze.