Christmas Orange Rolls that Will Brighten Your Holidays Recipe
These Christmas Orange Rolls are a delightful holiday treat that combines the warm, comforting flavors of fluffy yeast rolls with a bright, citrusy orange zest and juice infusion. Perfect for festive breakfasts or desserts, these rolls feature a soft, tender dough enriched with orange zest and juice, baked to golden perfection and topped with a sweet orange glaze that will brighten your holiday celebrations.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 packet active dry yeast (about 2 1/4 teaspoons)
- 1 cup warm milk
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1/2 cup orange juice
Glaze Ingredients
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup orange juice (for glaze)
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a small bowl, combine the warm milk and active dry yeast. Let it sit for 5 minutes until the yeast becomes frothy, indicating it is activated and ready to use.
- Prepare Wet Mixture: Melt the butter and mix it with the sugar, eggs, salt, and orange zest in a large mixing bowl. Stir until fully combined and smooth.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: Add the activated yeast mixture and orange juice to the butter mixture, stirring gently to incorporate all the wet ingredients evenly.
- Add Flour and Knead: Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the wet mixture. Knead the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes, either by hand or using a stand mixer with a dough hook.
- First Rise: Place the kneaded dough in a greased bowl, cover with a clean cloth or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until it doubles in size.
- Shape Rolls: Roll out the dough on a floured surface into a rectangle shape. Cut the dough into individual rolls of desired size, typically about 12 pieces.
- Second Rise: Place the cut rolls in a greased baking dish, cover, and allow them to rise for another 30 minutes until puffy.
- Bake Rolls: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the rolls for 25 minutes or until they turn golden brown and are cooked through.
- Prepare Glaze: While the rolls are baking, mix the powdered sugar with orange juice until smooth to make a light glaze.
- Glaze and Serve: Once the rolls are out of the oven and still warm, drizzle the orange glaze over them. Serve warm and enjoy the festive citrus flavor.
Notes
- For best results, ensure the milk is warm (around 110°F) but not hot, to properly activate the yeast.
- You can substitute fresh orange juice with store-bought, but fresh juice enhances the flavor.
- If you prefer a thicker glaze, reduce the amount of orange juice gradually.
- The rolls can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days; reheat slightly before serving.
- For an extra festive touch, sprinkle additional orange zest or dried cranberries inside the rolls before baking.
Keywords: Christmas rolls, orange rolls, holiday breakfast, yeast rolls, citrus glaze, festive baking
