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Orange Cinnamon Rolls

2 reviews
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time

Prep: 25 min. + rising Bake: 15 min.

Makes

about 2 dozen

Updated: Sep. 14, 2023
I've been making this recipe from my grandmother for years. It's a favorite on Sunday mornings. The orange zest and the pecans give the rolls great flavor. —Donna Taylor, Southbridge, Massachusetts
Orange Cinnamon Rolls
Orange Cinnamon Rolls Recipe photo by Taste of Home
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Ingredients

  • 1 loaf (1 pound) frozen bread dough, thawed
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ICING:
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1 tablespoon butter, melted
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons orange juice

Directions

  1. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a 14-in. square. Spread butter over dough. In a small bowl, combine the pecans, sugars, orange zest and cinnamon. Sprinkle over dough.
  2. Roll up jelly-roll style; pinch seams to seal. Cut into 1/2-in. slices. Place cut side down in 2 greased 9-in. round baking pans. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 40 minutes.
  3. Bake at 350° for 14-16 minutes or until golden brown. Combine the confectioners' sugar, butter, vanilla and enough orange juice to achieve desired consistency; drizzle over warm rolls.

Orange Cinnamon Rolls Tips

Can you use homemade dough instead of store-bought for this recipe?

You sure can! Frozen bread dough is a great time-saver for these orange cinnamon rolls, but you can go the extra mile and make your own. The from-scratch dough from our best-ever cinnamon rolls recipe is a great place to start.

Where is a good place to let orange cinnamon rolls rise?

Yeast dough likes warm, humid spaces—above 75°F is ideal. If it's not summer and you don't feel like cranking up the heat, you can still get the perfect proof. An easy way to get bread dough to rise is to create your own proofing chamber. To do this, pop your dough into the oven (make sure the oven is off) with a pan of simmering water. The heat and vapor from the water creates the perfect proofing environment.

Can you make orange cinnamon rolls ahead of time?

You can bake these rolls a day ahead and leave them unfrosted. To serve, pop them in a 325°F oven for 5-10 minutes—just enough to warm them up. Then top with frosting and serve! To freeze these rolls, prep and shape them as directed but do not allow them to rise. Tightly cover them and freeze in a single layer in an airtight container for up to a month. To bake, thaw in the fridge overnight, bring to room temperature and allow to rise. Then bake according to the recipe and enjoy!

—Lisa Kaminski, Taste of Home Editor

Nutrition Facts

1 roll: 110 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 5mg cholesterol, 106mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein.