Orange Cinnamon Rolls: A Magical Twist for Your Fall Baking

Welcome to a cozy corner of the internet, a place where we are leaning fully into the coziness of Autumn and creating memories in the kitchen. As fall gracefully dances in, painting the world with hues of warmth and coziness, what better way to embrace it than by filling your home with the sweet aroma of fresh cinnamon rolls?

Ingredients You'll Need:

The Rolls

• 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast

• 1 cup warm milk

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• ⅓ cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 2 eggs at room temperature

• 4 cups all-purpose flour (and possibly an extra 1/4 -1/2 cup of flour if your dough is too sticky)

The Filling

• 1 cup brown sugar, packed

• 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon

• 1 tsp of cloves

• 1 tsp nutmeg

• Zest of 1 orange

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened

• 3/4 cup warmed heavy cream

  
  

  The Icing

• 1/4 cup of fresh squeezed orange juice

• Zest of 1 orange

• 2 & 1/2 cups powder sugar

• 8 ounces of softened cream cheese

  
  

Steps to Whisk Up the Magic:

• Activate the Yeast : In a bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm milk and let it sit until frothy (about 5-10 minutes).

• Prepare the Dough : In a separate bowl cream together the butter and sugar, mix in the egg until fluffy. Then mix in the salt and flour and pour yeast mixture over top and mix until combined, when you are down kneading the dough, the dough should look very smooth (this usually takes 7 minutes, if your dough is too sticky add in another 1/4 cup of flour) and then let it sit for 10 minutes. Then transfer the dough into lightly oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap and sit in a warm place for 40 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size. I like to put the oven light on and let my dough rise in the oven.

• The Filling: Combine the softened butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and zest of 1 orange.

• Rolling Out the Goodness : Roll out the dough into a rectangle, mine are usually 25 inches by 14 inches, but it doesn't have to be perfect! Then spread the orange-zested butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon on top.

• Create the Swirls : Roll it up tightly starting on the long side and slice the rolls into 10 even slices and place in a greased pan. Then take your warm heavy cream and pour over top the rolls.

• Let the Rolls Rise : Cover the rolls with a dish towel or cloth, and let them rise until they're puffy, this is usually about 30 minutes.

• Bake to Perfection : Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and bake the cinnamon rolls for 25 minutes. Let them bake for 15 minutes and then cover the top with aluminum foil for the last 10 minutes. (if your rolls are larger they may take a little longer so you can leave them in for another 5 minutes if the centers don't look quite done.)

• Frosting: Cream together the softened cream cheese and powder sugar, then mix in the zest of 1 orange with 1/4 cup of orange juice. After the rolls have cooled a bit you can top your cinnamon rolls with the cream cheese frosting.

• Storing: Make sure to store the cinnamon rolls in the refrigerator after serving!

As the leaves outside start to turn golden and the air gets crisper, there's something undeniably special about baking in this season. The aroma of cinnamon filling your home, the warmth of freshly baked goodies, and the joy of sharing them with loved ones – its all magic.