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Soft, fluffy sweet rolls filled with a cinnamon-orange filling and topped with a sweet orange glaze. These orange sweet rolls take just over two hours to make and no proofing of the dough is required because everything happens in the slow cooker as the rolls bake. All you have to do is mix the dough and fill it with the filling. The rolls will rise during the slow bake in the slow cooker. The process couldn’t be easier!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Red Star®
As much as I love my cranberry orange sweet rolls, sometimes you just want a sweet roll without all the fuss. Right?
These orange sweet rolls solve all your woes when it comes to working with yeast dough. They are made in the slow cooker so they don’t require rise time.
Can you believe it? It’s become my favorite way to make things like slow cooker monkey bread.
Using the slow cooker method decreases the prep time so you can enjoy sweet rolls sooner. The rising and baking happen in the slow cooker in just two hours.
The dough for these sweet rolls comes together quickly and easily. Mix it up in a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment and you won’t need to knead it.
Use quality yeast like Red Star Platinum Instant Yeast for best results with this recipe.
Once the dough comes together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and let it rest for about 10 minutes. This will allow the gluten to relax, making it easier to roll out.
Line a large slow cooker with parchment paper and spray the paper lightly with nonstick spray. This will prevent the rolls from sticking and it makes clean up a breeze.
Roll the dough out into a rectangle, brush it with melted butter, and sprinkle tons of cinnamon orange sugar over it. Roll the dough up to form a tight log and slice it into 10 to 12 pieces.
If your slow cooker is smaller, you may want fewer but longer slices.
Arrange the cut pieces in the bottom of the slow cooker and cook on high for two hours. The sides will turn a gorgeous golden brown.
The icing is a simple mix of confectioners’ sugar, orange zest, orange juice, and heavy cream. Drizzle it over the top while the rolls are still warm and enjoy.
Minimal work and big, bold flavor make these slow cooker orange sweet rolls a very special treat for breakfast.
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Slow Cooker Orange Sweet Rolls
These are the best orange sweet rolls – soft, light, fluffy, with a hint of cinnamon orange flavor. Topped with a bold orange glaze, they’re completely irresistible. The dough is simple and doesn’t require time for rising because it all happens in the slow cooker. This is the easiest and most delicious sweet roll recipe ever!
Ingredients
For the rolls
- 1 cup milk
- ¼ cup granulated sugar, plus 1 teaspoon, divided
- 2 and ¼ teaspoons Red Star Platinum Instant Yeast, (1 packet)
- 2 and ¾ to 3 and ¼ cups bread flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cups unsalted butter, melted and cooled, divided
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the filling
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- ½ tablespoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the glaze
- 1 and ⅓ cups confectioners' sugar
- ½ teaspoon orange zest
- 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
- 3-4 tablespoons heavy cream
Instructions
- Line a slow cooker with parchment paper and spray the paper lightly with nonstick cooking spray.
Make the dough
- Heat milk and 1 teaspoon of the sugar in a small saucepan until it reaches 105°F. Remove from heat and stir in the yeast. Set aside for 5 minutes, until yeast has dissolved and the mixture begins to foam.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, stir together 2 cups of the flour, salt, and remaining sugar. Add the yeast mixture, ¼ cup of the butter, egg, and vanilla. Mix on low speed until combined. With the mixer on low speed, add the remaining flour, ¼ cup at a time, until a soft dough forms. You may not need all the flour. The dough will be ready when it no longer sticks to the sides of the mixing bowl. It should feel soft but not sticky. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and let rest for 10 minutes.
Make the filling
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, orange zest, and cinnamon.
- Roll the dough out into an 8x13 inch rectangle. Gently brush the remaining butter over the dough and sprinkle the filling evenly over the butter. Starting with the long side, tightly roll the dough into a log and pinch the seam to seal.
- Place the roll, seam-side down, on a cutting board. Cut the dough into 10 to 12 equal pieces and arrange them inside the prepared slow cooker. Place a double layer of paper towel under the lid to prevent condensation from dripping onto the rolls.
- Turn the slow cooker on high and cook for 2 hours or until the rolls are cooked through. Remove the rolls by lifting them out with the parchment paper.
Make the glaze
- In a small bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, orange zest, orange juice, and heavy cream. Drizzle the glaze over the rolls while they are still warm and serve right away.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10Amount Per Serving: Calories: 377
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the values shown are just an estimate.
when you put the double papertowel between the cooker& lid do you hang the papertowel over the edge of cooker so lid will close tight, thanks for your time
Yes, let the paper towel hang over and sit the lid in place. The lid will also prevent the paper towel from slipping.
Hi Jen, i’m glad to know you use slow cooker , too. i love it so much. it’s my loyal assistant in kitchen, i can cook everything with its help. this recipe looks good and very healthy, it can be a suggestion for my family’s picnic 🙂
thanks for sharing
I hope you try it!
My mind is blown. I have never baked any bread in the slow cooker! And they look perfect! I am so going to try these!
I do want a sweet roll without the fuss — this is brilliant and I love the orange flavor here!
Oh my goodness! I haven’t had a sweet roll in forever. These look absolutely beautiful!
Never baked anything in the slow cooker but will definitely try these! They look amazing!
They are much easier in the slow cooker.
I don’t own a slow cooker, but I never knew you could “bake” in one! This is definitely the first time I’ve heard of it.
The citrus just makes these sweet rolls that much better!
What a great idea to make these in the slow cooker!! They look so yummy!
Oh my goodness, are these rolls even real life, Jen?? I can’t even believe you made these in the crockpot! They look SO dreamy and perfect. I want one NOW!
Hahaha! Thanks, Sarah. Who knew this was even possible?!