Soft and Fluffy Orange Cinnamon Roll to Make Your Mornings Extra Special

There is nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls wafting through the oven to begin your day right. And with the added flavor of orange, the soft and fluffy cinnamon rolls are sure to become your favorite breakfast item. In this recipe, you will learn how to make a delicious and tender orange cinnamon roll perfect for the most important meal of the day.

Ingredients:

For the yeast mix:

• 505 gm warm water
• 17 gm granulated sugar
• 12 gm active dry yeast

For the flour mix:

• 755 gm flour
• 12 gm salt
• 11 gm granulated sugar
• 122 ml unsalted butter
• 3 large eggs

For the orange cinnamon filling:

• 110 gm granulated sugar
• 2.5 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1.75 tsp orange zest

For the orange glaze:

• 205 gm powdered sugar
• 2.5 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1.5 tsp vanilla extract

Method:

1. You have to combine warm water, sugar, and active dry yeast together in a small bowl and stir it gently. You have to place it for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the yeast to dissolve and froth up.
2. In a large mixing bowl, you will whisk together flour, salt, and granulated sugar. Then, you can add the yeast mixture to the dry ingredients, and mix until a shaggy dough forms.
3. To the dough, you will have to add unsalted butter and eggs and mix until the dough forms a sticky ball.
4. You can knead the dough on a floured surface for 10 to 15 minutes. If you want it to get faster and with lesser muscle work, you can use a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment.
5. You have to place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 2 hours.
6. As the dough is being prepared, you have to work on the orange cinnamon filling by mixing granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, and orange zest in a small bowl.
7. Once the dough has risen, you are going to poke it down and roll it out into a large rectangle of 1 inch of thickness.
8. Then, you will brush the dough with melted unsalted butter and then spread the orange cinnamon filling evenly over the dough.
9. After that, you will roll the dough into a tight log, cut it into around 15 equal pieces, and place them in a greased baking dish.
10. You will need to cover the rolls with plastic wrap and let them rise for another 30 to 45 minutes.
11. Finally, you can bake them in a preheated oven at 180°C for 18 to 20 minutes or until the color turns golden brown.
12. While the rolls are baking, you can prepare the orange glaze by mixing together powdered sugar, freshly squeezed orange juice, and vanilla extract.
13. Once the rolls have been done baking, you have to let them cool down for 5 to 10 minutes before drizzling the orange glaze over them, and serving them warm.

Additional tips to make your orange cinnamon roll more unique

You can add a handful of chopped pecans or walnuts to the filling for an added nutty flavor and crunch in your orange cinnamon rolls. Additionally, you can combine some cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract for a cream cheese frosting along with the orange glaze, as well.

To assemble the individual orange cinnamon rolls, you have to divide the dough into 12 to 15 parts after the first rise. Then, you can shape each part into a ball and flatten each ball into a small rectangle. After that, you could brush them with melted butter and place the orange cinnamon filling on one edge before ultimately baking them.

Using cinnamon in your orange cinnamon rolls will add to the warm comforting flavor of the dish and also provide a boost of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Cinnamon itself is also going to temper the sweetness of the sugar and the tartness of the orange.

Working with yeast can sometimes get intimidating even for the most experienced of bakers. However, once you get a few tips and tricks under your belt, you will be ready to master its use. So, first of all, you need to use warm water when activating the yeast, since cold water slows down the activation process. Then, you have to ensure that the dough rises in a warm, draft-free area since cold temperatures and drafts may also slow down its rising.

This soft orange cinnamon roll is a great recipe to start your day full of energy with a super delicious and tender breakfast treat, giving you a new motivation to take on the world every morning.