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Cranberry Rolls with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

  • Sarah
  • 2 days ago
  • 3 min read

Bright, festive, and bursting with flavor, these cranberry cinnamon rolls are a perfect holiday treat (or any special morning!). Tart cranberries, sweetened with sugar or honey and flavored with orange and cinnamon, swirl through soft, fluffy rolls, finished with an orange cream cheese frosting.


Whether you’re baking for family, friends, or just yourself, these rolls are a little slice of homemade magic.





Golden brown dinner rolls with herbs in a glass dish and a black skillet. Rolls are shiny and fresh on a light woven cloth background.

Why I Love This Recipe


I love this recipe because it’s the perfect balance of sweet, tart, and cozy all in one bite. The tart cranberries pair beautifully with the warm cinnamon and soft, pillowy dough, while the orange cream cheese frosting adds a bright, festive finish.


It’s also versatile and forgiving, you can make it ahead of time, refrigerate overnight, or even freeze the rolls for later. The dough is soft but manageable, the filling is easy to tweak to your taste, and the aroma while baking fills the kitchen with a feeling of comfort and celebration.

Whether it’s for a holiday morning, a special brunch, or just a treat to share with family, these rolls feel homemade, special, and a little magical every time.


Hand holding a frosted cinnamon roll above a tray of more rolls. Background has a bowl of oranges and cranberries, and a holiday theme.

Cranberry Rolls with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting



Ingredients


Dough

  • 1¾ cups warm milk (100–110°F / 38–43°C)

  • ¼ cup honey or sugar

  • 1 tbsp active dry yeast

  • ¼ cup butter, melted

  • 1 egg

  • 2½ tsp salt

  • 4–5 cups bread flour

Filling

  • 2 cups cranberries (fresh or frozen)

  • ½ cup sugar or honey

  • ½ cup orange juice

  • 2 tsp cinnamon

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

  • Pinch of salt

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature

  • 2½ cups powdered sugar

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

  • Zest of 1 orange (optional for extra flavor)

  • 1–2 tbsp orange juice (to desired consistency)


How to Make Cinnamon Rolls

  1. Activate the yeast In a stand mixer bowl, combine warm milk, honey (or sugar), and yeast. Let sit for 5 minutes, until foamy.

  2. Make the dough Add melted butter, egg, salt, and 2 cups of flour. Mix until combined. Add 2 more cups of flour, one cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. The dough should be soft and slightly sticky. If needed, add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time.

  3. Knead & first rise Knead for 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled.

  4. Prepare the filling In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine cranberries, sugar (or honey), orange juice, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt. Cook 10-12 minutes, until cranberries start to soften and completely break down. Let cool before spreading.

  5. Shape the rolls Punch down dough and roll into a 16×12-inch rectangle. Spread filling evenly, leaving a ½-inch border. Lightly brush the border with water, then roll tightly into a log.

  6. Second rise Slice into 8 large or 12 smaller rolls and place cut-side up in a greased 13×9-inch pan. Cover and let rise 1½–2 hours, until puffy.

  7. Bake Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20–25 minutes, until golden and baked through. Cool 10 minutes before frosting.

  8. Frost & serve Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, orange zest, and orange juice until light and fluffy. Spread over warm rolls and enjoy!

Dough covered in red cranberry filling on a counter, with a green rolling pin, egg rack, and wooden tree decor in the background.

Serving & Storage

These rolls are best enjoyed warm, but leftovers can be stored covered at room temperature for a day or refrigerated for up to 4 days. Reheat gently before serving.


Notes & Tips

  • Fresh or frozen cranberries both work; thaw and drain frozen cranberries before cooking.

  • Adjust sugar/honey to taste if you prefer sweeter or tarter filling.

  • For extra flavor, add a pinch of nutmeg or allspice to the filling.

  • Rolls can be frozen before or after baking for up to 2 months.



Unbaked cranberry rolls in a glass dish on a rustic counter, next to a bowl of creamy frosting. Festive tablecloth with tree pattern.

Overnight & Make-Ahead Tips

  • Dough Overnight: Cover kneaded dough and refrigerate overnight. Let come to room temperature and complete the first rise before shaping.

  • Shaped Rolls Overnight: Shape rolls, place in pan, cover, and refrigerate overnight. Bake directly from the fridge, adding a few extra minutes.

  • Frosting Ahead: Make frosting in advance and store in fridge; spread over warm rolls just before serving.


This way, you can enjoy freshly baked, gooey cinnamon rolls with minimal morning prep.


Printable Tags

How to:

  1. Download the PDF from the link.

  2. Open in a program like Adobe Acrobat or Preview.

  3. Print at 100% scale on card stock (do not “fit to page”).

  4. Let ink dry a few seconds, then cut, add sure ribbon and tie onto jars.

  5. Pro Tip: Print a test page on plain paper first to check alignment.




Nine recipe tags for "Christmas Morning Cranberry Orange Rolls" with baking instructions. Tags feature holly graphics and decorative text.

The Recipe:


Did you try making these Cranberry Cinnamon Rolls with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting? We’d love to see your creations! Tag us on Instagram at Thesproutinghomestead or leave a comment below to let us know how they turned out. Happy snacking!

 
 
 
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