Easy Overnight Orange Rolls (Printable)

Soft, fluffy rolls with fresh orange zest and a sweet glaze, perfect for morning enjoyment.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dough

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

# How To Make It:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, yeast, and salt until evenly distributed.
02 - In a separate bowl, combine lukewarm milk, melted butter, eggs, and orange zest.
03 - Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until a sticky dough forms.
04 - Knead by hand or with a stand mixer using the dough hook for 7 to 8 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.
05 - Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 1 to 2 hours until doubled in size.
06 - Punch down the dough and roll it out on a lightly floured surface to a 10 by 16 inch rectangle.
07 - Spread softened butter over the dough, then sprinkle with sugar and orange zest.
08 - Roll up the dough tightly from the longer edge and cut into 12 even rolls using a sharp knife or dental floss.
09 - Arrange rolls in a greased 9 by 13 inch baking dish. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
10 - In the morning, remove rolls from refrigeration and let them sit at room temperature for 45 to 60 minutes until puffy.
11 - Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
12 - Bake for 22 to 25 minutes until the rolls are golden brown.
13 - While rolls are baking, prepare the glaze by whisking together powdered sugar, orange juice, and zest until smooth.
14 - Remove rolls from oven and drizzle glaze over warm rolls before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You can make these almost entirely the night before, which means your morning involves zero stress and all the glory.
  • The orange zest is subtle enough to feel sophisticated but bright enough that even people who think they don't like citrus for breakfast will ask for seconds.
  • They're somehow tender and fluffy without requiring any complicated lamination or professional baking skills.
02 -
  • Orange zest oxidizes and loses brightness if you add it too far in advance, so zest your oranges right before you use them rather than prepping them hours ahead.
  • The overnight rise in the cold fridge actually improves the flavor and gives you rolls with better texture than if you rushed the second rise on the counter—cold fermentation is your secret advantage.
03 -
  • Use a microplane grater for zesting oranges—it captures the fragrant oils without the bitter white pith that box graters sometimes include.
  • Room temperature eggs and milk truly do mix more smoothly into your dough, which creates a more even crumb structure throughout your finished rolls.
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