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Cranberry Orange Sweet Rolls

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Fluffy, festive sweet rolls filled with tart cranberries and bright orange zest, finished with a silky orange glaze. Perfect for holiday brunches or cozy mornings, these rolls are easy to make and guaranteed to bring smiles to your table.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup whole milk, warmed
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • Zest of 2 oranges (for dough)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, coarsely chopped
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • Zest of 1 orange (for filling)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2–3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, granulated sugar, instant yeast, and salt. Mix well.
  2. Whisk together warm milk, melted butter, egg, orange zest, and vanilla extract.
  3. Pour wet ingredients into dry, mixing until a shaggy dough forms. Knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
  4. Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size (about 60-75 minutes).
  5. While dough rises, chop cranberries and mix with brown sugar, softened butter, orange zest, and cinnamon to make the filling.
  6. Punch down risen dough and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 14×10-inch rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick.
  7. Spread filling evenly over the dough.
  8. Starting on the long edge, roll the dough up tightly and pinch the seam to seal.
  9. Cut into 12 equal pieces and place cut-side up in a greased 9×13-inch pan.
  10. Cover pan loosely and let rolls rise until puffy and touching (30-40 minutes).
  11. Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake rolls for 22-25 minutes, until golden and cooked through.
  12. While rolls cool for 10 minutes, whisk together powdered sugar, orange juice, and vanilla extract until smooth.
  13. Drizzle glaze generously over warm rolls. Serve immediately.

Notes

For best results, use fresh orange zest and cranberries. If using dried cranberries, soak in orange juice for 10 minutes before chopping. For dairy-free or gluten-free adaptations, see the Variations section. Let dough rise fully for fluffiest rolls. Drizzle glaze while rolls are warm for extra gooey texture. Rolls freeze well and can be reheated for later enjoyment.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry orange sweet rolls, holiday brunch, sweet rolls, orange glaze, festive breakfast, easy sweet rolls, cranberry rolls, brunch recipe

Find it online: https://jodierecipes.com/cranberry-orange-sweet-rolls-easy-fluffy-holiday-brunch-recipe/