Description
These Cranberry Orange Sweet Rolls feature soft citrus-kissed dough, tangy homemade cranberry filling, and a delicate orange blossom glaze—perfect for cozy mornings, brunch, or holiday treats.
Ingredients
Scale
Filling:
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- Water to cover
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Dough:
- 1 cup warm milk (105°F – 115°F), divided
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar, plus 1 tablespoon
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon orange blossom water
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
Glaze:
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon orange blossom water
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Make cranberry filling: Boil cranberries, sugar, and water until cranberries burst and mixture thickens. Blend with butter and vanilla; cool completely.
- Prepare dough: Activate yeast in warm milk with 1 tbsp sugar. Mix melted butter, yogurt, egg, vanilla, orange blossom water, zest, salt, remaining sugar, and milk. Add half flour, yeast mixture, then remaining flour. Knead until smooth.
- First rise: Oil bowl, cover dough, and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
- Shape rolls: Roll dough to 21×13 inches. Spread cranberry filling, fold into thirds, cut into 12 strips, twist, and knot each strip. Place on parchment-lined sheets.
- Second rise: Cover and let rise 30 minutes until puffy.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake rolls 15–20 minutes until golden brown.
- Glaze: Mix confectioners’ sugar, orange blossom water, and milk; drizzle over warm rolls. Let set before serving.
Notes
- Allow dough to cool before adding eggs to prevent scrambling.
- Chill cranberry filling completely before spreading.
- Use fresh orange zest for best aroma and flavor.
- Slice rolls with a sharp knife for clean cuts.
- Store in airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 190mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 30mg