Description
Festive cranberry orange sweet rolls bring winter holiday magic straight to your breakfast table. Warm, tangy pastries drizzled with citrus glaze offer comfort and joy for weekend morning gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Filling:
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) pure vanilla extract
Dough Ingredients:
- 4 cups (500 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) warm milk (105°F-115°F or 40°C-46°C)
- 6 tablespoons (90 milliliters) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon (80 grams) granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons (7 grams) active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup (60 grams) plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) orange blossom water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Zest of 1 orange
Glaze:
- 1 cup (120 grams) confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) orange blossom water
- 2–3 tablespoons (30–45 milliliters) milk
Instructions
- Simmer cranberries with sugar until they burst and transform into a soft, jammy consistency, creating a vibrant filling. Blend with butter and vanilla until achieving a silky, smooth texture. Allow the mixture to cool completely.
- Activate yeast by combining it with warm milk and a touch of sugar. Let the mixture rest for approximately 5 minutes until it becomes frothy and aromatic.
- Create dough by incorporating wet ingredients and half the flour. Introduce the activated yeast mixture, then gradually fold in remaining flour. Knead thoroughly until the dough develops a smooth, elastic quality.
- Transfer dough to a greased container, cover, and permit rising in a warm environment until volume doubles, typically requiring around 1 hour.
- Gently roll dough into a rectangular shape. Spread cooled cranberry filling evenly across surface. Fold dough into thirds, then slice into 12 precise strips. Twist and knot each strip to form elegant rolls.
- Allow rolls to rise again, approximately 30 minutes, until they increase in volume. Meanwhile, prepare oven by preheating to 350°F.
- Bake rolls for 15-20 minutes, monitoring until they achieve a golden, appetizing appearance. While still hot, drizzle with fragrant orange blossom glaze for a delightful finish.
Notes
- Ensure cranberries are fully cooled before spreading to prevent dough from becoming soggy and maintain precise rolling texture.
- Use precisely warm milk (110-115°F) to activate yeast without killing it, creating perfect rising environment.
- Develop gluten by kneading dough until smooth and elastic, which helps rolls maintain soft, tender texture.
- Substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free blend and add xanthan gum for similar structural integrity and rise.
- Prep Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg