These Cranberry Orange Cinnamon Rolls are bound to be your new favorite homemade cinnamon roll recipe! Packed with dried cranberries, orange zest, and cinnamon, these fluffy cinnamon rolls are a delight to make and eat.
In a large mixer bowl, use your fingertips to rub the orange zest into the granulated sugar until the sugar is moistened and fragrant. Add 2 cups flour, Fleischmann’s® RapidRise® Instant Yeast and salt and stir until blended.
Place water and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH in 15 second increments until very warm but not hot to the touch (120° to 130°F - the butter won't melt completely). Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture, along with the egg.
Beat 2 minutes at medium speed with an electric mixer, scraping down the bowl occasionally. Add 1 cup flour; beat 2 minutes at high speed, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in just enough remaining flour so that the dough will form into a ball.
Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic and the dough springs back when lightly pressed with 2 fingers, about 6 to 8 minutes. Cover with a towel; let rest for 10 minutes.
Make the filling:
For the filling, combine brown sugar, orange zest, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Stir together until well combined. Set aside.
Roll dough into a 15 x 10-inch rectangle using a rolling pin. Spread 3 tablespoons of softened butter over the dough, stopping at least 1/2-inch from the edges on the long sides. Sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mixture, then top evenly with the dried cranberries. Beginning at the long end of the rectangle, roll up tightly. Pinch seams to seal.
Cut the roll into 12 equal pieces. Place the pieces, cut sides down, in a greased 13x9-inch baking pan. Cover with a clean tea towel; let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until rolls are golden brown. Cool on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes.
Combine all frosting ingredients (start with 2 tablespoons orange juice and add more if needed) in a large bowl and beat until creamy. Spread over the rolls while they are still warm.
Notes
This recipe can be made by hand if you do not have an electric mixer.TIP: Use unflavored dental floss instead of a knife to cut rolls. To do this, cut a piece of floss about 12 inches long. Slide the floss under the roll; bring the ends of the floss up and cross over to cut each slice.