Description
These Christmas Orange Rolls are a delightful holiday treat bursting with fresh citrus flavor and a sweet glaze. Soft, fluffy rolls infused with orange zest and juice perfectly balance sweetness and tang, making them a festive centerpiece for your breakfast or dessert table. With an easy yeast dough and a luscious powdered sugar glaze, these rolls brighten any holiday morning.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 packet active dry yeast (about 2 1/4 tsp)
- 1 cup milk
- 1/4 cup butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1/2 cup orange juice
Glaze Ingredients
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons orange juice (for glaze)
Instructions
- Activate the yeast: In a bowl, combine warm milk and active dry yeast. Let it sit for 5 minutes until the mixture becomes frothy, indicating that the yeast is active.
- Mix wet ingredients: Melt the butter and mix it with sugar, eggs, salt, and orange zest until thoroughly combined, creating a flavorful base for the dough.
- Combine liquids: Add the frothy yeast mixture and orange juice into the butter mixture, blending all liquids together.
- Incorporate the flour: Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the wet mixture and knead the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic, which usually takes about 8-10 minutes.
- First rise: Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover it, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
- Shape the rolls: Roll out the dough on a floured surface into a rectangle. Cut into equal-sized rolls according to your preferred size.
- Second rise: Place the cut rolls into a greased baking dish, cover them, and allow them to rise for another 30 minutes until puffy.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the rolls for 25 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Prepare glaze: Mix powdered sugar with orange juice to create a smooth glaze that balances sweetness with citrus zing.
- Finish and serve: Drizzle the orange glaze over the warm rolls just before serving to add a shiny, sweet, and tangy finish.
Notes
- Use warm milk (about 110°F) to activate yeast properly without killing it.
- For extra orange flavor, add more zest into the dough or the glaze.
- If dough is too sticky, add flour gradually during kneading.
- Ensure rolls are covered during rising to prevent drying.
- You can substitute whole milk with any milk alternative if desired.
- Serve rolls warm for best flavor and texture.
