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.
Reasons You’ll Love These Orange Yeast Rolls:
- Bright, Citrus Flavor – The Cara Cara oranges add a sweet, slightly tangy taste that’s perfect for a refreshing twist on classic cinnamon rolls.
- Soft & Fluffy Dough – The rolls are light, pillowy, and infused with orange zest, making each bite irresistible.
- Luscious Orange Glaze – A homemade glaze with fresh orange juice and zest gives these rolls a beautifully balanced sweetness.
- Perfect for Any Occasion – Whether it’s a weekend brunch, holiday treat, or just a cozy morning indulgence, these rolls are always a hit!
What you will need for these Cara Cara Orange Yeast Rolls:
Glaze the orange rolls
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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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
You had us a Cara Cara oranges! They are a favourite and we love how you incorporated them into this recipe!