Orange rolls are an old classic recipe and perfect for any holiday dinner! These orange rolls are dripping with orange flavor and have just a touch of sweetness.
This orange roll recipe is one of my grandmother’s classic holiday recipes! It’s a family favorite I have altered over the years, similar to my easy dinner roll recipe. I love how these turn out, they are a flavorful and bright addition to any holiday dinner!
The first thing you’ll do is scald the milk and butter in the microwave. Be sure to do this step first so the milk mixture has time to cool down before adding it to the other ingredients. If it’s too hot, it can kill the yeast and start to cook the egg.
Next, combine all the dry ingredients together and give them a good whisk. This ensures everything will be evenly distributed.
Then it’s as simple as combining the wet and dry ingredients! Don’t forget to add the egg…just speaking from experience here. Ha! It can be easy to overlook when you’re making these in a hurry.
The finished dough will look like this, sticky and wet. Let it rise in the same bowl that you made it in, this makes it easy and then you won’t have to handle it too much.
Once the dough has risen, sprinkle a generous amount of flour on your board and rolling pin. This will keep the dough from sticking even though it is a super sticky and wet dough!
The next steps are similar to making cinnamon rolls. Part of the orange flavor comes from the orange zest in the butter mixture. The nutmeg adds a little extra kick of flavor, just use pre-grated if you don’t have fresh.
The next kick of orange flavor comes from orange marmalade. I just purchase this, but homemade would be AMAZING! This homemade orange marmalade recipe looked amazing.
Easy peasy and delicious! These will definitely be a hit at your next family party or holiday dinner!! I’ll be making these for our Easter dinner this weekend, along with my oven roasted asparagus with lemon and garlic! So delicious.
Looking for more Yeast Breads?
- How to Bake Bread From Scratch
- Easy Homemade Bread Recipe
- Homemade Focaccia Bread Recipe
- How to Make Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
- Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites
- Easy Dinner Roll Recipe
- 60 Minute Homemade Herb Bread
- Herby Garlic Cheese Bread
Classic Orange Rolls
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 3/4 cup honey
- 1/2 cup butter one stick
- 9 cups flour all-purpose, amount will vary – see note
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon yeast
- 2 cups water
- 1 egg
For the Filling
- 1 cup butter 2 sticks, room temperature
- 3 tablespoons orange zest
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 18 ounces orange marmalade 1 jar
- 1/2 cup sugar divided
Instructions
- In a large glass measuring cup (see note), heat milk, 1 stick of butter, and the honey in the microwave until melted and just starting to boil about 3 minutes. Set aside to cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 8 cups of the flour, salt, and yeast.
- Add the cooled milk mixture, water (see note), and the egg to the dry ingredients.
- Stir well, until almost totally combined.
- Add the last cup or two of flour (see note) – the dough should be slightly sticky and difficult to stir.
- In the same bowl, proof the dough until doubled, about an hour.
- While dough is proofing, combine butter, orange zest, and nutmeg until it is a smooth an homogenous mixture.
- After the dough has doubled in size, turn it out onto a well-floured surface and divide it into 2 equal pieces.
- Roll out one piece or dough, and spread with half of the orange butter mixture, half of the orange marmalade, and 1/4 cup of sugar.
- Gently roll up the dough, like you would for cinnamon rolls. Slice into 20 rolls and place them on a sheet tray to rise.
- Repeat the previous 2 steps with the second piece of dough.
- Proof until the rolls are doubled again, about 45-60 minutes.
- Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until golden brown on the top.
- If you want to bake these in advance (like for a holiday) and then heat them up the day you need them, bake them a few minutes shy of being done and then finish them off the day you want to serve them.
H Frenzel says
Could I half this recipe?
Alli says
Yes! The servings can be adjusted on the recipe card with the slider bar. If you drag it down to 20, all the ingredients will be automatically halved for you.
Rebecca B. says
These look so yummy! I love that the orange flavor is actually IN the rolls rather than just in the icing like store-bought varieties.
Alli says
I love that too! I actually prefer these to the iced versions.
Alli says
Love these rolls!