Easy Overnight Orange Rolls (Printable)

Tender rolls brightened with fresh orange zest and a sweet glaze, ideal for breakfast or brunch.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 1/4 teaspoons instant dry yeast
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 3/4 cup whole milk, lukewarm
06 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
07 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
08 - Zest of 2 large oranges

→ Filling

09 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
11 - Zest of 1 large orange

→ Glaze

12 - 1 cup powdered sugar
13 - 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
14 - 1 teaspoon orange zest

# How To Make:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, yeast, and salt until evenly distributed.
02 - In a separate bowl, combine lukewarm milk, melted butter, room temperature eggs, and orange zest.
03 - Add the wet ingredient mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until a sticky dough forms.
04 - Knead by hand or with a stand mixer using the dough hook for 7 to 8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
05 - Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 1 to 2 hours until doubled in size.
06 - Punch down the dough and roll it out on a lightly floured surface to a 10 by 16 inch rectangle.
07 - Spread softened butter over the dough, then sprinkle with sugar and orange zest.
08 - Roll up the dough tightly from the longer edge and cut into 12 even rolls.
09 - Arrange rolls in a greased 9 by 13 inch baking dish. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
10 - In the morning, let the rolls sit at room temperature for 45 to 60 minutes until puffy.
11 - Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
12 - Bake for 22 to 25 minutes until golden brown.
13 - While baking, prepare the glaze by whisking together powdered sugar, orange juice, and zest until smooth.
14 - Drizzle glaze over warm rolls before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The overnight rise means zero stress in the morning—just bake and enjoy fresh rolls with coffee.
  • Fresh orange zest makes these taste nothing like those sad store-bought cinnamon rolls, and people will ask for the recipe.
02 -
  • Don't skip the overnight refrigeration—this isn't just a time-saver, it's actually when the flavors marry and the orange zest becomes more pronounced, plus a slow rise creates better texture.
  • Room temperature ingredients are non-negotiable; cold dough is stubborn dough, and you'll end up with dense rolls that don't rise properly no matter how long you wait.
03 -
  • Use dental floss to cut rolls instead of a knife—it glides through without compressing the dough and gives you cleaner, more even pieces.
  • If your kitchen is cold, create a warm spot by turning on the oven light and placing the covered dough inside for the first rise.
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