These citrus filled Orange Cinnamon Rolls are like a bite of sunshine. The orange cream cheese frosting makes the perfect topping for these scratch made delicacies.

Easy Orange Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

The allure of freshly baked cinnamon rolls spans generations, doesn’t it? Just the warm smell of cinnamon wafting through the air is heartwarming. Walking into a mall and smelling those Cinnabon cinnamon rolls instantly makes you want to buy one to eat. Great marketing tool, don’t you think? There’s no reason you can’t enjoy homemade cinnamon rolls at home, and these citrus filled orange cinnamon rolls are next level deliciousness. How to make Orange Cinnamon Rolls: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)

Milk – Place milk into small saucepan over medium-high heat. Test the temperature of the milk with an instant-read thermometer once the milk has begun to steam and show small bubbles. If it exceeds the temperature, allow it to cool slightly before adding the yeast.
Bloom Yeast – Place scalded milk, yeast and sugar in a small bowl. Mix lightly then let sit for 8-10 minutes until it bubbles and blooms. If it doesn’t bloom, throw it out and start over.
Dry Ingredients – In a separate bowl, use a whisk to sift together flour, 1/4 cup sugar and salt.
Wet Ingredients – In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook or a large mixing bowl, add yeast mixture, orange juice, butter and egg. Mix just until combined.
Combine – With the mixer on low speed gradually add sifted dry ingredients.
Knead the Dough – Once all is added, and dough has pulled away from sides of bowl, increase speed and knead for 5-7 minutes until elastic. If dough is sticky, add a little more flour just until it pulls away from the side of the bowl.
Let Rise – Butter a large bowl place dough into bowl, cover with a damp cloth and let rise for 1 hour.
Roll Dough – After 1 hour, punch down dough, and roll into an 18 x 12 inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface.
Filling – Whip together softened butter with granulated sugar, orange zest and cinnamon until combined. Spread from end to end of dough.
Roll Dough – Begin rolling from the widest edge jelly roll style ending seam side down.
Slice – Using a knife divide dough into 12 even portions. Place side by side in a buttered 13×9 inch baking pan.
Second Rise – Cover with a damp cloth and let rise for 45-60 minutes or until doubled.
Bake – Preheat oven to 350°F. Uncover rolls, then bake per the recipe until puffed and lightly golden. Let sit on counter while you make frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting – Using an electric mixer, whip together neufchatel, butter, powdered sugar, orange juice and zest until combined.
Frost rolls while warm then serve.

How to Make the BEST Orange Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

There is no need to be intimidated when a recipe calls for yeast. Yeast is leavening and requires proofing with warm liquid such as water or milk. That’s the main difference between it and baking powder.

Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Orange Cinnamon Rolls: All purpose flour, rapid rise yeast, granulated sugar, scalded milk, salt, butter, egg, orange juice.
To make the cream cheese frosting you’ll need: Softened plain Neufchatel cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, orange zest and orange juice.
Kitchen tools you’ll need: A stand mixer or a hand mixer (you can also knead by hand) large bowl, medium bowl, measuring cups and spoons, whisk, citrus juicer and zester and 13 x 9 inch baking pan.
I highly recommend that you check the date on the yeast packaging before you begin. Yeast that’s out of date won’t perform properly and the dough won’t rise.
When proofing the yeast, if it doesn’t bloom and foam, throw it out and start again.
What is scalded milk? Scalded milk is milk that’s been heated just before the point of boiling. If the milk is too hot, it will kill the yeast. So, check the temperature with an instant read thermometer. Think warm, not boiling hot.
When sifting is referenced in this recipe, a whisk will work perfectly for combining dry ingredients together. It’s easy and works like a charm.
You can make the cinnamon rolls and cover, then allow them to chill in the fridge overnight. They will continue to rise slowly in the fridge and they’ll be ready to bake in the morning. When doing so, give them 30 minutes on the counter to warm before baking.
Store baked and frosted Orange Cinnamon Rolls chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

More Cinnamon Rolls Recipe to Make

Cinnamon rolls come in many flavors and it’s fun to shake things up once in a while. A few other recipes you may enjoy:

Praline Pecan Cinnamon Rolls are rich and decadent.
Easy Banana Toffee Cinnamon Rolls are made in a snap with crescent rolls.
7 Up Biscuit Cinnamon Rolls are a delicious option when there’s no time for kneading bread dough that needs to rise.
This recipe for Twisted Cinnamon Rolls takes several steps to make but the end result is enchanting.
This Cinnamon Roll Bread is the perfect side kick for a cup of coffee or hot tea.
Lemon Rolls from Love from the Oven.

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