• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Pretty Providence

  • Recipes
  • Crafts
  • Printables
  • Holidays
  • Favorite Things
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Crafts
  • Printables
  • Holidays
  • Favorite Things
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Crafts
    • Printables
    • Holidays
    • Favorite Things
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Delicious Orange Rolls

    Home » Recipes » Breakfast » Delicious Orange Rolls

    Published: May 16, 2020 · Modified: Oct 14, 2023 by Jessica · This post may contain affiliate links · 8 Comments

    Tweet
    Pin156
    Share
    Email
    156 Shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    The actual best orange roll recipe, the unique twist shape of these orange rolls ensures the entire roll is soft like a center bite and smothered in delicious icing! 

    birds eye view of an orange roll on a white plate on a cement counter

    In my home growing up, like so many others, every holiday or special occasion called for Grandma's homemade rolls...soooo yummy! If we got really lucky, my Mom would take half of the dough and make us these mind blowing Orange Rolls. The original rolls are buttery heaven, add in the orange filling and the icing on the top and they are absolute perfection. 

    Orange Rolls

    While these orange sweet rolls can be enjoyed year round, I tend to make these during the spring and summer and our favorite cinnamon rolls during the winter months. Whenever you make them you'll be met with rave reviews, and a line of people asking if you share recipes. 

    close up birds eye view of an orange roll with icing and orange zest

    Orange Roll Recipe

    I know that a recipe like these orange sweet rolls can be intimidating to some, have no fear! I have broken the entire recipe down in a super simple pictorial with a photo of each step! Read on for all the details. 

    step by step collage showing how to make dough for orange rolls

    Top Left - In a mixer combine water and dry milk until dissolved.

    Top Right - In a mixer combine water and dry milk until dissolved. Add yeast, sugar, salt, butter, egg and 2 cups flour. Mix on low until ingredients are wet, then for 2 minutes on medium speed. 

    Bottom Left - Add 2 more cups flour and mix on low 'til ingredients are wet and 2 minutes on medium speed. Add remaining flour. 

    Bottom Right - Once combined, kneed with hands, or turn on kneading hook on mixer. Knead until dough begins to pull away from the mixing bowl, or about ten minutes. 

    collage image of bread dough in an oiled bowl, and the rising process

    Top Left - Place dough in an oiled bowl and turn to coat with oil. 

    Top Right - Cover w/plastic and let rise in a warm place until double in size. 

    Bottom Left - Place dough on floured surface. 

    Bottom Right - Roll out into a large rectangle. 

    Orange Roll Filling, Twisting, Baking and Icing: 

    orange zest filling being applied to rolled out dough

    Top Left - In a small bowl mix together your filling. 

    Top Right - Brush dough with your melted butter and orange zest mixture, then sprinkle with sugar. 

    Bottom Left - Fold your topped dough rectangle in half, and cut into one inch strips using a pizza cutter or kitchen shears.  and roll up into individual rolls.

    Bottom Right - Take each strip and gently twist into a knot, and place on a lightly greased baking sheet. 

    knotted orange rolls preparing to bake in the oven

    Top Left - Repeat with all strips. The knots do not need to be perfect. If they are loose scrunch them together, or if an end is sticking out too much just fold it up over itself. 

    Top Right - When rolls come out of the oven brush immediately with butter and allow to cool for 10 minutes. 

    Bottom Left - Make your orange roll icing. 

    Bottom Right - Finally, drizzle your rolls with your orange icing mixture and devour a few while they are fresh!

    side view of a orange sweet roll on a white plate with milk in the background

    Pro Tips: 

    • If you don't have heavy cream or half and half, you can substitute regular milk for the icing. The higher the fat content, the creamier the icing will be (so 2% will work better than skim milk). 
    • After zesting my oranges, I save them to squeeze out the 2 tablespoon of fresh orange juice needed for the icing. 
    • Rolls may be made the night before. Just stick them in the fridge after assembly, then let them warm to room temperature before baking. 
    • Orange Rolls can be stored for 5-7 days, but I guarantee they won't last that long. 

    If you make this recipe and like it we would love if you would leave us a positive comment and review! They mean so much to us. 

    birds eye view of an orange roll on a white plate on a cement counter

    Orange Rolls

    The actual best orange roll recipe, the unique twist shape ensures the entire roll tastes like a "middle bite" you are going to love these!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 1 hour hour
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 24
    Calories: 223kcal
    Author: Pretty Providence

    Ingredients

    Orange Roll Dough

    • 2 Cups Water Warm
    • ⅔ Cup Nonfat Dry Milk
    • 2 tablespoon Dry Yeast (Or Two Packages)
    • ¼ Cup Sugar
    • 2 teaspoon Salt
    • ⅓ Cup Butter
    • 1 Egg
    • 5 ½ Cups All Purpose Flour

    Orange Roll Filling

    • ½ Cup Butter Melted
    • Zest of 2 Oranges
    • ¼ Cup Sugar

    Orange Roll Icing

    • 1 ½ Cups Powdered Sugar
    • 2 tablespoon Fresh Orange Juice
    • 2-4 tablespoon Heavy Cream or Half and Half

    Instructions

    • In a mixer combine water and dry milk until dissolved. Add yeast, sugar, salt, butter, egg and 2 cups flour. Mix on low until ingredients are wet, then for 2 minutes on medium speed. Add 2 more cups flour and mix on low 'til ingredients are wet and 2 minutes on medium speed. Add remaining flour. Once combined, kneed with hands, or turn on kneading hook on mixer. Knead until dough starts pulling away from bowl, or for about 10 minutes.
    • Place dough in an oiled bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover w/plastic and let rise in a warm place until double in size.
    • Place dough on floured surface. Roll out to a rectangle. After you roll out your dough brush it with your melted butter and orange zest mixture, then sprinkle with sugar.
    • Fold your giant rectangle in half, and then using a pizza cutter or kitchen shears and cut into one inch strips. Gently twist your strips into a knot and place on a lightly greased baking sheet. They do not need to be perfect. If roll seems to loose just kind of bunch it together or tuck in loose ends.
    • Bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes.
    • When rolls come out of the oven brush immediately with butter and allow to cool for 10-15 minutes. Finally, drizzle your rolls with your orange icing mixture and devour a few while they are fresh!

    Notes

    Pro Tips: 

    • If you don't have heavy cream or half and half, you can substitute regular milk for the icing. The higher the fat content, the creamier the icing will be (so 2% will work better than skim milk). 
    • After zesting my oranges, I save them to squeeze out the 2 tablespoon of fresh orange juice needed for the icing. 
    • Rolls may be made the night before. Just stick them in the fridge after assembly, then let them warm to room temperature before baking. 
    • Orange Rolls can be stored for 5-7 days, but I guarantee they won't last that long. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 223kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 274mg | Potassium: 100mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 284IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @prettyprovidenceblog or tag #prettyprovidence!

    orange roll on a dark counter next to a white tea towel a fork and a glass of milk

    I hope you love them as much as we do! 

    xo, 

    This recipe was originally published on December 20th, 2012 and has been updated with new photos, and more detailed information. 

    Tweet
    Pin156
    Share
    Email
    156 Shares

    More BEST BREAKFAST RECIPES

    • Pumpkin Streusel Muffins
    • Pumpkin Pancakes stacked high on a white plate with syrup and whipped cream on top.
      Pumpkin Spice Pancakes
    • A slice of coffee cake on a small white dish with a fork in front of it.
      Easy Coffee Cake Recipe
    • Close up of two homemade biscuits in a stack with some crumbs surrounding.
      Quick Homemade Biscuits without Buttermilk

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Stephanie

      May 17, 2020 at 1:09 pm

      5 stars
      These were yummier then cinnamon rolls. Thank you for sharing

      Reply
    2. Toni

      May 16, 2020 at 7:35 pm

      5 stars
      You made this delicious recipe SO easy! The photos and all the clear instructions make it possible for anyone to make. Thank you!

      Reply
    3. Krissy Allori

      May 16, 2020 at 6:47 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a great detailed step by step. Thank you for taking the time to do this. It would normally intimidate me to make something like this but with this, I am sure I can do it.

      Reply
    4. Anna

      May 16, 2020 at 3:04 pm

      5 stars
      I don’t usually like fruit with my dessert foods but THIS works. So dang good. Thank you!

      Reply
    5. Dorothy Crutchfield

      January 01, 2013 at 4:03 am

      These rolls look so yummy! Thanks for sharing the recipe. I'm visiting from craft-o-maniac.
      Happy New Year,

      Dorothy

      Reply
    6. Miss Kitty

      December 31, 2012 at 4:18 pm

      Hi Jessica! This recipe looks so yummy...I saw it over at "Under the Table and Dreaming" blog party. Hey, when you cut the rolls out to make the individual rolls, about how big of a strip would that be? Thanks.

      Reply
    7. Jessica

      December 31, 2012 at 8:23 pm

      Of course! I do mine about an inch and a half wide. The important part is that you do them all the same size so they will bake evenly, good luck!!

      Reply
    8. Six Sisters

      December 29, 2012 at 5:07 am

      Thanks for linking up your yummy orange rolls to our Strut Your Stuff Saturday. We are so glad you came! -The Six Sisters

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, we're Sarah and Jessica, and we're so glad you're here! We created this site to share recipes, crafts, DIY projects and free printables.

    More about us →

    Most Popular Posts

    • Breakfast casserole with sausage, eggs, cheese and bell peppers on a white plate
      Sausage and Egg Casserole (Without Bread)
    • DIY desk made from two storage cube bookshelves and IKEA desk top with marble look
      DIY IKEA Desk Hack
    • Iron-on t-shirt with Cricut collage of supplies needed, iron-on cut and weeded, and then the final shirt that says "#tired" in gold iron-on letters
      How to Make a Shirt with Cricut
    • The Office birthday party table with decorations, food, balloons and "it is your birthday" sign
      The Office Theme Birthday Party - "It Is Your Birthday."
    • Teepee style blanket fort made with bedsheets and clothesline hung from a light fixture.
      How To Build The Best Blanket Fort
    • German Pancakes just out of the oven, dusted with powdered sugar in a glass baking dish.
      Dutch Baby Pancake Recipe
    See more Most Popular Posts →

    Father's Day

    • Yogurt Toppings on a table for brunch bar, granola, coconut, strawberries, blueberries, oranges, pineapple, kiwi.
      Yogurt Toppings Bar
    • Breakfast charcuterie board with crepe toppings, fruit, spreads, bacon and powdered sugar
      Crepe Toppings Breakfast Charcuterie Board
    • World's Best Pop tie shaped gift tags, one tag taped on a bottle of root beer
      Soda Pop Shirt and Tie - Father's Day Printable & Gift Idea
    • Collage of DIY Father's Day Gifts
      Easy DIY Father's Day Gifts
    • DIY Breakfast In Bed Tray and Kit
    • DIY vinyl tumblers for grandparents
      DIY Grandma and Grandpa Tumblers
    See more Father's Day →

    Summer Recipes

    • two glasses of watermelon slush with lime slices and sugar on the rims
      Watermelon Slushie
    • creamy apple dip in a white bowl with granny smith apple slices surrounding it.
      Creamy Apple Dip
    • 4th of July snacks on a charcuterie board with red, white and blue foods - crackers, meat, cheeses and fruit.
      4th of July Snacks Charcuterie Board
    • Collage of three photos: creamsicle fluff salad, fruit salad with whipped topping, and seven-layer bean dip.
      30+ Easy Potluck Dishes
    • Watermelon feta salad with cucumber and mint in a white bowl.
      Watermelon Feta Salad
    • Marinated grilled chicken thighs on a white platter.
      Best Chicken Thigh Marinade
    See more Summer Recipes →

    Kids Activities

    • An image of a Harry Potter word search next to a wand and a griffindor cloak.
      Harry Potter Word Search
    • A printable summer reading chart with a young girls hand filling in the bubbles.
      Summer Reading Chart Printable
    • Taylor Swift bracelet ideas lots of bead bracelets with taylor swift song names on them on a wrist.
      Taylor Swift Friendship Bracelets
    • Tie-dye sugar cookie with neon pink, purple, turquoise and orange swirled together
      Tie Dye Cookies
    • Olympic-Themed Party Ideas, Crafts and Recipes
    • Blind taste test printable worksheet with chocolate chips and a pen
      Blind Taste Test
    See more Kids Activities →

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Media Kit
    • FAQ

    As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

     

    Copyright © 2023 Pretty Providence LLC