Orange Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing

Step 1

Whisk the yeast. milk, and 1 tbsp of the sugar together in a bowl. Let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes or until it gets foamy.

Step 2

Whisk the orange juice, eggs, and vanilla into the yeast mixture. Stir the flour, salt, and remaining sugar together in the bowl of your stand mixer, then add the wet ingredients and butter.

Step 3

Attach the dough hook, and mix on medium-low speed until a shaggy dough forms. Increase the speed medium-high and continue to knead for 5-10 minutes, until the dough is soft and elastic. It should be slightly sticky while still pulling away from the sides of the bowl.*

Step 4

Lift the dough ball from the bowl, lightly spray the bowl with cooking spray, place the ball back into the bowl, then spritz the top of the dough as well. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm, draft-free environment for 1-2 hours, or until doubled in size.

Step 5

Punch the dough down and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough out into a rectangle about 12" long and 16" wide.

Step 6

Make sure your butter is softened and easily spreadable. Spread it, edge-to-edge, over the rolled-out dough.

Step 7

Mix the sugar and orange zest together. Sprinkle it over the butter. Use a spatula to gently spread any lumps that may have formed from the moisture in the orange zest.

Step 8

Starting from the end closest to you, tightly roll the dough. I like to start in the middle and use my hands to slowly roll out to the sides. Repeat this method until you get to the end of the dough. Pinch the end completely to seal the roll.

Step 9

Use a sharp knife to mark the center of the roll. Mark the center of each half, then mark each quarter into thirds. This should give you 12 equally-spaced marks along the roll.

Step 10

Wrap a piece of dental floss around the roll on your first mark. Pull each end to slice all the way through. This will give you perfect rolls without squishing them. As you slice them, place each of the rolls in a generously buttered baking dish.

Step 11

Cover with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Preheat the oven to 350F and let the rolls rise for 20-30 minutes as the oven comes to temperature.

Step 12

Remove the towel or plastic wrap from the dish. Transfer to the oven and bake for 18-22 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown.

Step 13

Add all the icing ingredients to a bowl and beat until smooth and creamy. Spread the icing over the rolls once they are warm, not hot. Slice between each roll and serve.