Capture the festive spirit of the holidays with these Homemade Cranberry Orange Cinnamon Rolls, swirled with tart berries and zesty orange. A quick rise yields soft, pillowy dough, and these warmly spiced treats spread cheer at any special occasion breakfast or brunch. Topped with a sweet orange glaze, they’re a merry make-ahead favorite for sharing with family or impressing guests.
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Ingredients for Cranberry Orange Cinnamon Rolls
For the dough
- Active dry yeast – This is the magic starter that makes the dough rise.
- Granulated sugar – A little sweetness to balance the dough and activate the yeast.
- Warm whole milk – Keep it around 110°F for the yeast to thrive.
- Eggs – Room temperature is key for even mixing.
- Unsalted butter – Melted and slightly cooled for a rich, tender dough.
- Fine sea salt – Just enough to enhance all the flavors.
- All-purpose flour – The foundation of your dough, plus a little extra for dusting.
For the filling
- Dried cranberries – They add a tart, chewy pop of flavor.
- Orange zest – Freshly zested for that vibrant citrus aroma.
- Ground cinnamon – The star of the show for that classic cinnamon roll warmth.
- Light brown sugar – Packed for a deep, caramel-like sweetness.
For the glaze
- Cream cheese – Softened for a smooth, creamy texture.
- Confectioners’ sugar – The base of the sweet, dreamy glaze.
- Orange juice – Freshly squeezed for a bright, tangy kick.
- Pure vanilla extract – A splash to round out the flavors beautifully.
Cook Time for Holiday Breakfast Cinnamon Rolls
Now, I know we’re all busy, especially during the holidays. But trust me, these festive orange cranberry rolls are worth every minute. I love that most of the time is hands-off while the dough does its thing. I often use that time to prep for other holiday meals, like pulling together some of my favorite Christmas breakfast ideas. Here’s the timeline you can expect for these soft dough cinnamon rolls.
| Step | Time |
|---|---|
| Prep (Mixing & Kneading) | 20 minutes |
| First Rise | 1 to 1.5 hours |
| Assembly & Second Rise | 45 minutes |
| Baking | 25-30 minutes |
| Cooling & Glazing | 10 minutes |
| Total Time | About 3 hours |
How to Make Cranberry Orange Cinnamon Rolls
Making these chewy cranberry orange rolls from scratch is a labor of love, but I promise it’s simpler than it looks. Let’s walk through each step together to create those perfect, fluffy cinnamon buns with cream cheese icing.
Step 1: Activate the Yeast
In the bowl of your stand mixer, combine that cup of warm whole milk, the yeast, and a tablespoon of the sugar. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until it becomes foamy. This little pause is where the magic begins!
Step 2: Make the Dough
Attach the dough hook and mix in the remaining sugar, melted butter, eggs, and salt on low. Gradually add the flour until a soft, shaggy dough forms. Then, let the mixer knead it for 5–7 minutes until it’s smooth and elastic.
Step 3: First Rise
Transfer your beautiful dough to a greased bowl, cover it with a towel, and let it rise in a warm spot. In about an hour and a half, it will have doubled, ready to be transformed.
Step 4: Roll and Fill
On a floured surface, roll the dough into a 16×12-inch rectangle. Sprinkle your brown sugar, cinnamon, cranberry, and orange zest filling evenly over the top, then roll it up tightly from the long side.
Step 5: Cut and Second Rise
Use a sharp knife or some unflavored dental floss to slice the log into 12 rounds. Arrange them in a greased baking dish, cover, and let them get puffy for another 30–45 minutes. Preheat your oven to 350°F now.
Step 6: Bake to Perfection
Bake your holiday spiced buns with vanilla glaze for 25–30 minutes until they’re golden brown and sound hollow when tapped. Your kitchen will smell absolutely heavenly.
Step 7: Glaze and Serve
While they bake, whip up that creamy glaze. Let the baked sweet rolls with cranberry and orange zest cool for just 10 minutes before slathering on the glaze. Serve them warm for the ultimate experience.
Pro Tips & Tasty Tweaks
Over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks to make these Cranberry Orange Cinnamon Rolls even more special. Here are some of my favorite ways to adapt them, whether you’re in a pinch or just feeling creative.
- Flavor Swap: Not a cranberry fan? Chopped dried apricots or cherries work beautifully with the orange for a different kind of holiday breakfast cinnamon roll.
- Diet Tweak: For a slightly lighter version, you can try a whole wheat pastry flour blend in the dough, much like the one I use in my healthy muffin recipes. The texture will be a bit heartier but still delicious.
- Texture Fix: If your kitchen is chilly and the dough is taking forever to rise, I place the bowl on top of my preheating oven. The gentle warmth gives it a perfect boost.
- Storage Tip: These festive orange cranberry rolls are best the day they’re made, but they freeze wonderfully before glazing. Thaw overnight and warm them up in the oven before adding the cream cheese frosting, just like I do with my soft dinner rolls.
Cranberry Orange Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast
- ½ cup granulated sugar, divided
- 1 cup warm whole milk 110°F
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
- 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour plus more for dusting
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- zest of 1 large orange
- 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 3 tbsp orange juice
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Equipment
- Stand Mixer
- baking dish
- oven
- electric mixer
Method
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the warm milk, yeast, and 1 tablespoon of the granulated sugar. Let the mixture sit for about 5-10 minutes until it becomes foamy, which indicates the yeast is active.
- Using the dough hook attachment, mix in the remaining granulated sugar, melted butter, eggs, and salt on low speed. Gradually add the 4 ½ cups of flour until a soft, shaggy dough forms. Increase the speed to medium and knead for 5-7 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1 ½ hours, or until it has doubled in size.
- While the dough rises, make the filling by stirring together the brown sugar, cinnamon, dried cranberries, and orange zest in a small bowl. On a lightly floured surface, roll the risen dough out into a 16×12-inch rectangle. Sprinkle the filling mixture evenly over the dough, leaving a ½-inch border on all sides. Tightly roll the dough into a log, starting from the long side, and pinch the seam to seal.
- Use a sharp serrated knife or unflavored dental floss to cut the log into 12 equal rounds. Arrange the rolls in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, cover with the towel, and let them rise again for 30-45 minutes until puffy. While they rise, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake the rolls for 25-30 minutes, or until they are golden brown on top and sound hollow when lightly tapped. Meanwhile, prepare the glaze by beating the softened cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, orange juice, and vanilla extract with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Let the baked cinnamon rolls cool in the pan for 10 minutes before spreading the cream cheese glaze over the top. Serve warm.
Nutrition
Private Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Nutrition and Health Benefits
I believe that understanding what goes into our food helps us enjoy it even more. While these delightful Cranberry Orange Cinnamon Rolls are certainly a treat, they also contain some surprisingly wholesome elements that can be part of a balanced diet when enjoyed in moderation.
Cranberries, for instance, are packed with antioxidants and vitamins that support overall wellness, while the orange zest provides a burst of vitamin C. I often find that starting with quality ingredients is key to making satisfying baked goods that still offer nutritional value, much like in many of my healthy baking recipes.
For those curious about the specific nutritional profile of our festive orange cranberry rolls, I’ve put together this breakdown based on standard serving sizes. Remember that actual values may vary slightly depending on your specific ingredients and portion sizes.
| Nutrient | Per Roll (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 320 |
| Carbohydrates | 52g |
| Protein | 6g |
| Fat | 10g |
| Fiber | 2g |
The cinnamon in these holiday spiced buns with vanilla glaze isn’t just for flavor—it’s been used for centuries in traditional wellness practices and may help support healthy metabolism. If you’re interested in learning more about ingredient selection and balancing flavors in baking, I often refer to King Arthur Baking’s Cranberry Orange Roll Recipe for their professional insights on ingredient ratios.
For those mornings when I want something a bit lighter but still satisfying, I sometimes pair one of these fluffy cinnamon buns with cream cheese icing with a protein-rich side like eggs or a smoothie, similar to the approach I take with my cottage cheese banana bread which adds extra protein to a classic treat.
A Lighter Version of Holiday Breakfast Cinnamon Rolls
Sometimes we want all the comfort of these chewy cranberry orange rolls from scratch but with a slightly lighter touch. Over the years, I’ve developed some simple swaps that maintain that wonderful flavor while making these treats a bit more waistline-friendly.
One of my favorite tweaks is replacing half the all-purpose flour with whole wheat pastry flour—it adds fiber and nutrients while keeping the texture tender. You can also reduce the brown sugar in the filling by a quarter cup and boost the cinnamon and orange zest for more flavor without the extra sweetness.
For the cream cheese frosting rolls, try using reduced-fat cream cheese and cutting the confectioners’ sugar by one-third. The orange juice still provides plenty of bright flavor, so you won’t miss the extra sweetness. I’ve found these adjustments work wonderfully in many baked goods, including my snickerdoodle banana bread recipe where spices carry the flavor beautifully.
Another trick I use for these moist yeast dough with brown sugar filling is to brush the rolled-out dough with melted butter very sparingly—just enough to help the filling adhere rather than saturating the dough. This small change reduces fat content significantly without compromising texture.
If you’re looking for more inspiration for lighter breakfast options, don’t forget to check out my collection of Christmas breakfast ideas where I share plenty of balanced options that still feel festive and special.
Thoughtful Tips for Special Diets
I know many of you, like my dear friend Marie, are more conscious about sugar these days, whether for diabetic needs or simply wanting to enjoy treats more mindfully. Over coffee last week, she reminded me how important it is to have options that work for different dietary preferences, so I’ve been experimenting with some sugar-conscious variations.
For those watching their sugar intake, you can replace the granulated sugar in the dough with a natural sweetener like stevia or xylitol blends specifically made for baking. The brown sugar in the filling can be swapped with a sugar alternative that measures cup-for-cup like regular sugar—just check the package for heat stability.
When making the glaze for these baked sweet rolls with cranberry and orange zest, try using a combination of powdered erythritol and just a touch of orange zest and juice. The citrus provides such bright flavor that you might find you need less sweetener than expected. For the cranberries, be sure to choose unsweetened dried cranberries rather than the sugar-sweetened variety.
Portion size can also make a big difference in glycemic impact. Sometimes I make smaller rolls using a muffin tin rather than a baking dish, creating perfect two-bite treats that satisfy the craving without overdoing it. Remember, the joy is in the experience as much as the eating—the warm spices, the festive aroma, and the pleasure of sharing something made with love.
How to Serve Cranberry Orange Cinnamon Rolls
There’s a particular memory that always comes to mind when I pull a pan of these Cranberry Orange Cinnamon Rolls from the oven. It was Christmas morning years ago, when my niece Lily, then just five years old, woke before dawn and tiptoed into the kitchen where I was finishing the glaze. Her eyes widened at the sight of the warm, glistening rolls, and she whispered, “Auntie, did you make Christmas?” That moment—the shared wonder, the steaming mugs of cocoa, the way the orange glaze caught the morning light—captures everything I love about serving these special treats.
These festive orange cranberry rolls are wonderfully versatile when it comes to serving. For a cozy weekend breakfast, I love pairing them with a hot cup of coffee or tea—the bright citrus notes complement both beautifully. If you’re serving them for brunch, consider offering a savory side like scrambled eggs or breakfast sausages to balance the sweetness.
During the holidays, I often arrange these soft dough cinnamon rolls on a beautiful platter garnished with fresh cranberries and orange slices for a festive touch. They also make wonderful gifts when packaged in pretty boxes or tins—I’ve delivered many warm pans to neighbors over the years, much like when I share my pumpkin bread during autumn months.
For a special dessert option, try warming the rolls slightly and serving them with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. The contrast of temperatures and textures is absolutely divine. If you’re looking for beverage pairings beyond coffee, my lemon ginger tonic makes a refreshing companion that cuts through the richness beautifully.
However you choose to serve these holiday breakfast cinnamon rolls, remember that the real magic is in the sharing. Whether it’s Christmas morning with family, a brunch with friends, or a quiet moment with a good book, these rolls have a way of turning ordinary moments into sweet memories.
Mistakes to Avoid
I’ve learned through plenty of trial and error that even the most beautiful Cranberry Orange Cinnamon Rolls can go wrong with a few simple missteps. Let me share what to watch for so your festive orange cranberry rolls turn out perfectly every time.
First, don’t rush the yeast proofing. If your liquid is too hot, it will kill the yeast, leaving you with dense rolls instead of soft dough cinnamon rolls. I test the temperature on my wrist—it should feel warm but not hot, just like testing baby formula.
Second, avoid over-flouring your work surface. Too much flour worked into the dough makes these holiday spiced buns with vanilla glaze tough rather than tender. I lightly flour my counter and rolling pin, brushing away any excess before adding the filling.
Third, don’t overbake! These baked sweet rolls with cranberry and orange zest continue cooking from residual heat after coming out of the oven. Pull them when they’re golden brown, not dark brown, to maintain that wonderful moist yeast dough with brown sugar filling texture.
For more expert guidance on technique, I often refer to Smitten Kitchen’s Cranberry Orange Breakfast Buns which offers brilliant troubleshooting advice. And if you’re looking for more reliable baking methods, my soft dinner rolls recipe covers the fundamentals of working with yeast doughs.
Remember, even imperfect rolls taste wonderful—my first batch spread sideways like abstract art, but my family still devoured them with smiles. Cooking is about joy, not perfection.
How to Store Cranberry Orange Cinnamon Rolls
My grandmother used to say that good food deserves proper keeping, and she’d wrap her cinnamon rolls in crisp white tea towels before tucking them into the bread box. I think of her every time I store a batch of these Cranberry Orange Cinnamon Rolls, though my methods have modernized slightly.
For short-term storage, place cooled rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. If you’ve added cream cheese frosting rolls, I recommend refrigerating them after the first day to keep the frosting fresh.
For longer storage, these fluffy cinnamon buns with cream cheese icing freeze beautifully. Wrap individual rolls tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in freezer bags for up to three months. Thaw at room temperature or warm gently in the oven when craving strikes.
To reheat, place rolls on a baking sheet at 300°F for 10-12 minutes until warmed through. This revives that fresh-from-the-oven texture better than microwaving. If you’re enjoying these as part of your Christmas breakfast ideas, you can prepare them the day before and warm them while opening gifts.
For more tips on preserving baked goods, check out my guide for homemade breadcrumbs which includes smart storage solutions for leftover bread products. Nothing goes to waste in my kitchen!
Try This Cranberry Orange Cinnamon Rolls Yourself
I still remember the first time I brought these Cranberry Orange Cinnamon Rolls to our neighborhood potluck. My neighbor Mrs. Gable, who’d lived through the Great Depression and rarely showed excitement, took one bite and her eyes lit up like Christmas morning. “Child,” she said, “this tastes like joy itself.” That moment cemented this recipe in my heart forever.
Now I’m passing this joy to you. Whether you’re making these chewy cranberry orange rolls from scratch for a holiday morning or just because Tuesday deserves something special, I hope they bring as much happiness to your kitchen as they’ve brought to mine.
If you love these rolls, you might enjoy exploring other favorite recipes from my kitchen. Try my pumpkin cinnamon rolls for autumn mornings, or lemon rhubarb loaf for spring gatherings. For healthier options, my healthy muffin recipes and cottage cheese bread recipe offer delicious alternatives.
However you choose to enjoy them, these cranberry orange cinnamon rolls carry the warmth of shared meals and cherished moments. Bake them with love, share them generously, and create your own sweet memories around the table.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen cranberries instead of dried?
Absolutely! Thaw frozen cranberries completely and pat them dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. You might need to adjust the sugar slightly as frozen berries can be more tart. The result will be deliciously juicy rolls with a different but equally wonderful texture.
How do I make the orange flavor stronger?
For more intense orange flavor, add the zest of an additional orange to both the dough and filling. You can also brush the warm rolls with an orange syrup made by reducing orange juice with a tablespoon of sugar before adding the glaze.
Can I prepare these rolls the night before?
Yes! After shaping the rolls and placing them in the pan, cover tightly and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, let them rise at room temperature for about an hour before baking. This method actually develops more flavor, similar to my pumpkin chocolate chip bread which benefits from overnight resting.
Why are my cinnamon rolls dry?
Dry rolls usually mean overbaking or too much flour in the dough. Use a thermometer to ensure proper baking temperature and measure flour by weight for accuracy. Also, don’t skip the butter brush on the dough—it helps keep the interior moist during baking.
More Festive Breakfast Recipes You’ll Love
If these cranberry orange cinnamon rolls made your morning special, wait until you try these other holiday-worthy recipes that turn ordinary mornings into celebrations.
Pumpkin Bread – Spiced, moist, and perfect with your morning coffee or as an afternoon treat.
Chocolate Chip Bread – A sweet, comforting loaf that makes any day feel like a celebration.
Lemon Chia Fresca – A refreshing, energizing drink that pairs beautifully with sweet breakfast pastries.
Lemon Ginger Tonic – The perfect bright, spicy beverage to balance rich breakfast flavors.
