Easy Overnight Orange Rolls (Printable)

Tender orange rolls with fresh zest and a zesty glaze, ideal for a morning treat.

# 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

# Directions:

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, 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 the dough becomes 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 evenly 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 using a sharp knife or dental floss.
09 - Arrange the 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 noticeably puffy.
11 - Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
12 - Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, until the rolls are golden brown.
13 - While baking, prepare the glaze by whisking together powdered sugar, fresh orange juice, and zest until smooth.
14 - Drizzle the glaze over warm rolls immediately before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The dough rises overnight, which means you do the actual work when you have time and bake fresh rolls in the morning with minimal effort.
  • Fresh orange zest in both the dough and filling gives you this bright, sophisticated flavor that somehow feels both comforting and special.
  • They freeze beautifully before baking, so you can have warm, homemade rolls ready whenever you need them without planning ahead.
02 -
  • The overnight chill is not just for convenience—it's where the real flavor development happens, so don't skip it or rush through it by leaving rolls at room temperature overnight instead.
  • Fresh orange juice in the glaze makes an enormous difference compared to bottled; bottled juice can taste metallic and bitter where fresh is bright and clean.
03 -
  • Don't skip the step of bringing your eggs and milk to room temperature—cold ingredients take longer to incorporate and can lower the temperature of your dough, affecting how the yeast wakes up.
  • If your kitchen is cold, place your bowl of rising dough inside your oven with just the light on, or create a warm spot by running hot water in the sink and placing the bowl nearby to benefit from the steam and warmth.
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