• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Perks of Being Us

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Bread
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Desserts
    • Dinners
    • Recipe Roundups
    • Side Dishes
    • Salads
    • Soups
  • Cocktails
    • Bourbon
    • Vodka
    • Gin
    • Tequila
    • Rum
  • Newsletter

January 9, 2022 Bread

The Best Orange Yeast Rolls: Made with Cara Cara Oranges

Cara Cara orange yeast rolls are about as good of a breakfast as you can make! The fluffy buns are filled with the tangy taste of Cara Cara oranges! The buttery, almost caramel like glaze adds an incredible layer of flavor. Make these for your next special breakfast or brunch.

Jump to Recipe
cara cara rolls baked, glased and served on blue plates

Reasons You’ll Love These Orange Yeast Rolls:

  1. Bright, Citrus Flavor – The Cara Cara oranges add a sweet, slightly tangy taste that’s perfect for a refreshing twist on classic cinnamon rolls.
  2. Soft & Fluffy Dough – The rolls are light, pillowy, and infused with orange zest, making each bite irresistible.
  3. Luscious Orange Glaze – A homemade glaze with fresh orange juice and zest gives these rolls a beautifully balanced sweetness.
  4. Perfect for Any Occasion – Whether it’s a weekend brunch, holiday treat, or just a cozy morning indulgence, these rolls are always a hit!
Cara Cara Orange rolls being served on a blue plate.

What you will need for these Cara Cara Orange Yeast Rolls:

Flour provides structure and texture to the dough through gluten formation.

Sugar adds sweetness, aids in browning, and supports yeast fermentation.

Yeast acts as a leavening agent, causing the dough to rise and creating an airy texture.

Salt enhances flavor, regulates yeast activity, and strengthens gluten structure.

Cara Cara oranges provide unique citrusy sweetness and tanginess, adding flavor and aroma to the rolls.

Heavy cream adds richness, tenderness, and moisture to the rolls.

Eggs act as a binder, providing structure, moisture, richness, and flavor.

Butter enriches the dough, adding tenderness, moisture, richness, and flavor. Additionally, butter is used for greasing.

How to make these rolls:

  • In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, yeast and salt.
     
  • In a separate bowl, whisk eggs and yolks. Whisk in orange juice, heavy cream and butter.
     
  • Make a well in the flour mixture and pour in egg mixture. Using a stiff spatula, mix dough until no dry bits remain.
  • Let dough rest covered with a warm moist towel for 15 minutes. Dump dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until a smooth ball is formed. Place dough into a large lightly oiled bowl. Lightly oil the top of the dough to prevent cracking while the dough rises. Cover with a warm towel and let rise until doubled about 1 hour.
Blue plate with cara cara orange sweet rolls on it

Prepare the filling for the orange rolls

  • Zest the oranges and combine with the sugar in a small bowl. Use a whisk to ensure that the mixture is fully combined. Allow to sit, as the sugar absorbs some of the orange oil for flavor.
  • Dump dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide in two. Working with one half, roll the dough flat into an 8×16 inch rectangle. Smear 4 tablespoons of the soft butter onto the flattened dough.
  • Prepare 2 9-inch cake pans. Line bottoms with parchment paper, grease sides and bottoms with your hands and the leftover butter from the filling.
  • Sprinkle half of the sugar mixture over the butter. Roll the dough tightly, working from the long end. Tuck ends in and pinch seams tightly.
  • Slice rolls into 8 2-inch pieces and place in a prepared cake pan. Place one in the center and spread the remaining 7 around the outside with the seams facing out. Spray a piece of cling wrap with oil and cover the pan. Repeat with remaining dough, sugar mixture, butter and other pan. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.  
  • Remove plastic from rolls, pour heavy cream over each plan evenly.
  • Bake at 325 degrees for 40–45 minutes or until the middle registers 190 on an instant read thermometer. If tops are getting too dark, cover with aluminum foil. Let rolls cool in the pan for 15 minutes.  

Prepare the glaze

  • When rolls have begun baking, put ingredients for the glaze in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently, until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat to medium low and keep slow steady bubbles in the middle of the pan. Continue to reduce for 30 minutes, until glaze is thick and smooth in texture. 

Glaze the orange rolls

  • After rolls have cooled in the pan, slide a sharp knife around the edge of the rolls to loosen them. Put a plate covered with parchment paper upside down on top of the pan. Invert the pan and gently tap the bottom to release the rolls. Remove parchment from bottom of rolls and invert onto a clean plate. Repeat with second pan. Using a pastry brush, coat the tops and sides of the rolls with the glaze. Serve warm. 
un-raised cara cara rolls in a round pan
cara cara rolls raised in a round pan

What is a Cara Cara Orange?

It is a juicy orange with a deep color (cuteness factor)⁠. It is intensely sweet⁠, seedless⁠ and lower in acid. A Cara Cara orange has 1 1/2 days of vitamin C⁠ and 30% of of a day’s vitamin A (vs 2 % reg navel orange!). Cara Cara oranges are at peak season between December and April.

cara car orange cut in half

How to Store Orange Yeast Rolls:

  • Room Temperature: Keep rolls in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
  • Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
  • Freezer: Wrap individual rolls in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.

How to Reheat:

  • Oven: Warm at 300°F (150°C) for 10 minutes to maintain softness.
  • Microwave: Heat individual rolls for 20-30 seconds for a quick warm-up.
  • Air Fryer: Reheat at 320°F (160°C) for 3-5 minutes for a slightly crispy edge.

Tips for Success:

  • Use Fresh Orange Zest & Juice – It makes all the difference in flavor compared to bottled juice.
  • Let the Dough Rise Properly – Give it enough time to double in size for the best texture.
  • Don’t Overbake – Take them out when golden brown to keep them soft and fluffy.
  • Make-Ahead Option – Prep the dough the night before and refrigerate overnight for easy morning baking.
horizontal image of an orange roll on a dark blue plate with a half of a cara cara orange and the whole plate of rolls
a plate of orange rolls and 2 oranges

Cara Cara Orange Rolls

These rolls have an incredible flavor of orange! Perfect for weekend brunch!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
Prep Time: 2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes
Total Time: 3 hours hours 20 minutes minutes
Course: baked goods
Cuisine: American
Keyword: breakfast, brunch, cara cara oranges, orange rolls, rolls, sweet rolls
Servings: 16 rolls
Calories: 592kcal
Author: Bruce and Dina Miller

Equipment

  • bowl
  • round pan

Ingredients

Ingredients for dough:

  • 6 Cups flour
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 4 ½ teaspoon yeast
  • 2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs plus 2 egg yolks
  • 1 cup fresh squeezed orange juice room temperature
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 12 tbls. butter very soft almost melted and cut into 24 pieces

Ingredients for Cara Cara Orange Roll Filling

  • 2 ½ tbls orange zest
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • 8 tbls butter very soft

Ingredients for Cara Cara Orange Roll Glaze

  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup fresh squeezed orange juice
  • 8 tbls butter
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, yeast and salt.
    6 Cups flour, ½ cup sugar, 4 ½ teaspoon yeast, 2 teaspoon salt
  • In a separate bowl, whisk eggs and yolks. Whisk in orange juice, heavy cream and butter.
    2 eggs plus 2 egg yolks, 1 cup fresh squeezed orange juice, ½ cup heavy cream, 12 tbls. butter very soft
  • Make a well in the flour mixture and pour in egg mixture. Using a stiff spatula, mix dough until no dry bits remain.
  • Let dough rest covered with a warm moist towel for 15 minutes. Dump dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until a smooth ball is formed. Place dough into a large lightly oiled bowl. Lightly oil the top of the dough to prevent cracking while the dough rises. Cover with a warm towel and let rise until doubled about 1 hour. 

Prepare the filling for the rolls

  • Zest the oranges and combine with the sugar in a small bowl. Use a whisk to ensure that the mixture is fully combined. Allow to sit, as the sugar absorbs some of the orange oil for flavor.
    1 ½ cups sugar, 2 ½ tbls orange zest
  • Dump dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide in two. Working with one half, roll the dough flat into an 8x16 inch rectangle. Smear 4 tablespoons of the soft butter onto the flattened dough.
    8 tbls butter very soft
  • Prepare 2 9-inch cake pans. Line bottoms with parchment paper, grease sides and bottoms with your hands and the leftover butter from the filling.
  • Sprinkle half of the sugar mixture over the butter. Roll the dough tightly, working from the long end. Tuck ends in and pinch seams tightly.
  • Slice rolls into 8 2-inch pieces and place in a prepared cake pan. Place one in the center and spread the remaining 7 around the outside with the seams facing out. Spray a piece of cling wrap with oil and cover the pan. Repeat with remaining dough, sugar mixture, butter and other pan. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.  
  • Remove plastic from rolls, pour heavy cream over each plan evenly.
    1 cup heavy cream
  • Bake at 325 degrees for 40–45 minutes or until the middle registers 190 on an instant read thermometer. If tops are getting too dark, cover with aluminum foil. Let rolls cool in the pan for 15 minutes.  

Prepare the glaze

  • When rolls have begun baking, put ingredients for the glaze in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently, until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat to medium low and keep slow steady bubbles in the middle of the pan. Continue to reduce for 30 minutes, until glaze is thick and smooth in texture. 
    1 cup sugar, ½ cup fresh squeezed orange juice, 8 tbls butter, 1/8 teaspoon salt

Glaze the rolls

  • After rolls have cooled in the pan, slide a sharp knife around the edge of the rolls to loosen them. Put a plate covered with parchment paper upside down on top of the pan. Invert the pan and gently tap the bottom to release the rolls. Remove parchment from bottom of rolls and invert onto a clean plate. Repeat with second pan. Using a pastry brush, coat the tops and sides of the rolls with the glaze. Serve warm. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1roll | Calories: 592kcal | Carbohydrates: 77g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 103mg | Sodium: 479mg | Potassium: 137mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 1038IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

If you like this recipe, check out some of our other breakfast treats!

Orange Muffins With Poppyseeds Recipe:Better than a Bakery!

Blueberry Sweet Rolls with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

Cranberry Orange Muffins

orange poppyseed muffins
blueberry sweet rolls with one served on a plate with frosting and lemons and blueberries
12 cranberry orange muffins in a pan

 

Categories: Bread

Previous Post: « Kale Gnocchi with Chicken Sausage: Trader Joe’s Recipe!
Next Post: Slice & Bake Sugar Cookies »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Elaine & James says

    February 6, 2022 at 6:03 pm

    5 stars
    You had us a Cara Cara oranges! They are a favourite and we love how you incorporated them into this recipe!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Orange Muffins With Poppyseeds Recipe:Better than a Bakery! - The Perks of Being Us says:
    January 29, 2025 at 8:21 am

    […] The Best Orange Rolls: Made with Cara Cara Oranges […]

    Reply
  2. Easy Orange Scones with Glaze Recipe-Panera Copycat - The Perks of Being Us says:
    March 24, 2025 at 4:55 pm

    […] The first time we had a flaky orange scone was years ago in St. Louis at Panera Bread. The fresh orange flavor and the sweet glaze is what hooked us. If you are an orange fan you will also have to give our  Orange Muffins With Poppyseeds a try! And we promise you will love the orange flavor in our Orange Yeast Rolls: Made with Cara Cara Oranges! […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Discover More

About the Blog

We want to share our love of cooking and cocktail creating with you. We hope to inspire.

Get in Touch

If you have any questions regarding our blog or just want to get in touch, we would be more than happy to hear from you! threalperksofbeingus@gmail.com

Footer

thePerksofBeingUs

ABOUT US

  1. Privacy Policy
  2. Cookie Policy
  3. Contact Us

recipes

  • Appetizers
  • Bread
  • Breakfast & Brunch
  • Desserts
  • Dinners
  • Recipe Roundups

cocktails

  • Bourbon
  • Vodka
  • Gin
  • Tequila
  • Rum

Copyright © 2025 · theperksofbeingus

Manage Cookie Consent

We use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. We do this to improve browsing experience and to show (non-) personalized ads.

Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required