Easy Overnight Orange Rolls (Printer-Friendly)

Fluffy, tender rolls infused with fresh orange zest and topped with a zesty glaze.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 1/4 tsp instant dry yeast
04 - 1/2 tsp 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 - 2-3 tbsp fresh orange juice
14 - 1 tsp orange zest

# Direction Steps:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, instant dry yeast, and salt until evenly combined.
02 - In a separate bowl, combine lukewarm milk, melted butter, room temperature eggs, and orange zest from 2 oranges.
03 - Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until a sticky dough forms.
04 - Knead by hand or with a stand mixer using the dough hook attachment for 7-8 minutes, until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.
05 - Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours until the volume has doubled.
06 - Punch down the risen dough and roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a 10-inch by 16-inch rectangle.
07 - Spread softened butter evenly over the dough, then sprinkle with granulated sugar and orange zest from 1 orange.
08 - Roll up the dough tightly starting from the longer 16-inch edge and cut into 12 equal-sized rolls using a sharp knife or dental floss.
09 - Place rolls in a greased 9-inch by 13-inch baking dish, spacing them evenly. Cover tightly with plastic wrap.
10 - Refrigerate the covered baking dish overnight for at least 8 hours.
11 - In the morning, remove rolls from refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for 45-60 minutes until puffy and soft.
12 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
13 - Bake for 22-25 minutes until the rolls are golden brown on top and cooked through.
14 - While rolls are baking, whisk together powdered sugar, 2-3 tablespoons fresh orange juice, and 1 teaspoon orange zest until smooth and pourable.
15 - Drizzle the prepared glaze over warm rolls immediately after removal from the oven and allow to set before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The overnight method means you can do all the prep work when you're in the mood to bake, then simply let the rolls rise while you sleep.
  • Fresh orange zest throughout the dough and filling creates a flavor that feels fancy but tastes completely natural and not overly sweet.
  • These rolls are tender enough to pull apart with your fingers but sturdy enough to hold up to that dreamy citrus glaze.
02 -
  • The overnight refrigeration is a game-changer—it's not a shortcut, it's actually better for flavor and texture, and it removes all the morning stress from the equation.
  • If your rolls haven't puffed up by morning, don't panic; just give them extra time at room temperature before baking, and they'll still turn out beautiful and tender.
03 -
  • Use dental floss to cut rolls instead of a knife—it creates clean, even slices without compressing the dough the way a knife blade can.
  • The glaze tastes best when it's drizzled onto warm rolls, so time your baking so the rolls come out just minutes before you're ready to serve.
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