Fluffy Homemade Orange Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients

• 3 cups organic all-purpose flour
• 2 cups organic Artisan bread flour
• 1/2 cup organic brown sugar + 1 Tbsp
• 1 packet Rapid Rise Yeast ((That's 2 1/4 tsps!))
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• Pinch of ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 2 large eggs, room temp.
• 1 Navel orange, freshly-squeezed
• 1 cup Almond milk + 2 Tbsps, at room temp. ((You can use whole milk or your fave plant-based milk, if preferred))
• 1/4 cup WARM water ((See Notes!))
• 6 Tbsps unsalted butter, melted ((Make sure that it's WARM, not hot!))
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup organic brown sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened at room temp.
• 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
• 3 cups organic powdered sugar, sifted
• 4 Tbsps unsalted butter, softened at room temp.
• 1/2 Navel orange, freshly-squeezed
• 1-2 Tbsps Almond milk ((You can use whole milk, heavy cream, or your fave plant-based milk, if preferred))

Instructions

1. 1

   --- FOR THE DOUGH: ---

2. 2

   Combine yeast and 1 tablespoon brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and slowly pour in warm water while stirring frequently. Allow 10 minutes for the mixture to sit and for the yeast to activate.

3. 3

   Add in the room temperature milk and warm butter to the yeast mixture and whisk until well combined. Add in the eggs (one at a time), orange juice, and vanilla, whisking to incorporate.

4. 4

   In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, bread flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sea salt and add them to the wet ingredients and mix on low-speed until well combined and everything begins to form into a dough-like consistency, about 2-3 minutes.

5. 5

   Change “Mixer head” to kneading accessory and knead dough for 5-10 minutes on high speed until dough ball becomes smooth and elastic and dough springs back when lightly pressed together with 2 fingers. NOTE: If dough is still too sticky, add 1 tablespoon of flour at a time until texture is achieved!

6. 6

   --- LET THE DOUGH RISE: ---

7. 7

   Lightly grease a large bowl with a small amount of olive oil and place the dough ball in the bowl, tossing it around until coated. Cover with plastic wrap (or a towel) and let sit for 1 hour, allowing the dough to rise and double in size.

8. 8

   In the meantime, you can work on the filling!

9. 9

   --- FOR THE FILLING: ---

10. 10

    Add the softened the butter (best if done at room temp. so that it's more "paste-like" in texture once smeared) in a bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl, combine the cinnamon and brown sugar, mixing them together. Set aside.

11. 11

    --- ROLLING OUT OF DOUGH + ASSEMBLY: ---

12. 12

    Once the dough has risen fully, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large 9x13 baking dish with parchment paper, allowing excess to hang from the sides.

13. 13

    Add a bit of flour to a surface and place the dough onto it, lightly adding a bit of flour to the top. Using a rolling-pin, roll out the dough into a rectangular shape (approximately 9″x14 and ½-inch thick), trimming the edges if needed. NOTE: Try not to make the dough too thin or else rolling it up will be hard to do!

14. 14

    Then, generously add ¾ of the softened butter atop dough (spreading it out evenly with a spoon or knife), followed by the brown sugar-cinnamon mixture, ensuring that the top is coated evenly. NOTE: I also use a 'pastry brush' to sweep sugar mixture evenly across the dough to ensure that every bite is sweet!

15. 15

    Tightly roll dough (long-ways) and using a pastry cutter, cut dough into 1.5" rolls, placing each roll (cut side down) into a large baking dish (lined with parchment paper!).

16. 16

    --- RISE FOR A SECOND TIME + BAKE: ---

17. 17

    Then place plastic wrap over the baking dish with rolls, smear the tops with remaining softened butter and let them rise again (for another 20 minutes).

18. 18

    Once the rolls have doubled in size (once again!) or have gotten significantly larger, bake them for approximately 35-40 minutes in the preheated oven.

19. 19

    While all the baking magic is happening, make the Glaze/Frosting.

20. 20

    --- TO MAKE THE ORANGE GLAZE/FROSTING: ---

21. 21

    In a large bowl, beat (using a hand-mixer) the softened butter until creamy and smooth. Add the powdered sugar, orange juice, and milk, beating everything together until the glaze becomes smooth and velvety. NOTE: Add additional milk (1 tablespoon at a time) if the glaze is too thick or powdered sugar (1 tablespoon at a time) if too thin.

22. 22

    Remove the rolls from oven and immediately spread half of the glaze/frosting atop WARM rolls. NOTE: This helps the rolls to become super "moist" as the glaze/frosting seeps in. Then add remaining glaze/frosting atop the first layer, before spreading it atop the rolls using a rubber spatula evenly until fully covered.

23. 23

    To serve, cut out each roll desired and enjoy.

24. 24

    Bon Appetit!