It’s not like I’m doing it on purpose. It just seems that when the calendar turns to December, I am drawn into a vortex of daily baking. I might make something for the family, or for a get-togethers with friends, or for gift giving…it’s always something.
Out here at the ranch, there are no local bakeries, no cute corner bistros, not even any diners where I can pick up something sweet for Christmas morning. So if I want cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning… I have to make them.
This is my favorite way to make morning cinnamon rolls, as the dough rises in the refrigerator over night. In the morning, you simply pop them into the oven, and voila! Instant amazing! And the aromas of freshly baked cinnamon rolls makes you the favorite.
I’ve made these rolls many different ways, and with different fillings. I adore fruit fillings such as blueberries, or cranberries, but you can keep it easy with just nuts and cinnamon. Raisins are always a good call, but cinnamon rolls with raisins soaked in rum or amaretto? Uh, yes please!
If you are not a seasoned baker, or never make bread, making cinnamon rolls might be a good recipe for developing new skills. Because you are letting the dough rise in the fridge, you skip the double rising that most bread recipes require. Cinnamon rolls with one rising time are very convenient, and can be put together after work, when the kitchen is quiet. Maybe leave the recipe for Santa, so he can whip them up when he stops by!
Right now, our kitchen smells absolutely heavenly…my son has now been drawn into the same baking vortex, and the aroma of cinnamon and butter are filling the air. The coffee is brewing, and the rest of the family is rumbling around, making their way to the kitchen to see what is available to sample. Is there anything more Christmasy than baking with the family?
Cherry Pecan Cinnamon Rolls with Orange Glaze
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 16 rolls 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: US
Ingredients
Rolls:
6 – 6 1/2 cups bread flour (750–812 gr)
1/3 cup sugar (62 gr)
2 pkg yeast (14 gr)
1 1/2 tsp. salt (6gr)
3/4 cup warm water (105°F-115°F/40C°-46°C)
3/4 cup warm milk (105°F-115°F/40C°-46°C)
2 eggs
1 cup dried cherries (120gr)
1/2 cup chopped pecans (50gr)
1 tbsp. cinnamon (7 gr)
Glaze:
1 stick butter (115 gr)
1 tsp. vanilla extract (15 ml)
2–3 tbsp. fresh orange juice (30-45ml)
2 cups powdered sugar (250 gr)
Pinch salt
1 tsp. fresh orange zest (optional) (4 gr)
Instructions
In a mixer, combine 2 cups of flour, sugar, yeast and salt. Add the warm water and milk and begin to mix. When combined, add the eggs. Continue to mix, adding the remaining flour in one cup increments to make a firm, elastic dough.* Allow mixer to knead dough (using the dough hook attachment) for about 3 minutes.
Prepare a 9” x 13” (33cm x 23cm) baking pan by greasing the inside with butter. Set aside.
On a floured surface, roll out the dough into a long rectangle, about ¼” (.6cm) thick. Sprinkle the cinnamon and then the dried cherries over the surface of the rectangle. Starting on one of the long sides of the rectangle, roll the rectangle into a cylinder. Seal the edge. Cut into 16 slices and place in your prepared pan. Cover with plastic, and store in the refrigerator overnight. (Rolls will have completely risen in 2-24 hours.)
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Remove rolls from refrigerator and remove the plastic wrap before baking. Place pan in preheated oven. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown. Remove the rolls from the oven and allow to cool.
To make the glaze, combine the ingredients in a bowl. Stir in enough of orange juice so that the glaze can be easily spread on the warm cinnamon rolls.
Notes
Substitute any dried fruit that you like, such as cranberries, blueberries, apricots or apples!
* you may not need all of the flour as moisture levels in flour can vary. Hold back the last cup of flour and add a little at a time. Once you have a firm elastic dough, you have added enough flour!
Also, for extra cherry flavor in the glaze you can substitute sour cherry juice for the orange juice. You can also elect to make a thinner glaze by omitting the butter, vanilla and salt. (See video)
A lot of us in my baking group were REALLY confused by the 2 cups of flour versus 6 cups and the loose instruction to “add enough to form a firm elastic dough”. Lots of questions about if we’re to use the total amount or, what the actual amount should be. Any chance you could address this question? I was actually trying to locate Texas Provincial Kitchen in my bookshelves for the original overnight recipe I used for years but can’t find my copy just now. Thanks! Jay (July 2020)
Hi Jay! That is a good question I will make that the subject of my next video. Different factors affect flour so the humidity levels change sometimes making it heavier or lighter. Neither weight nor volume work well for measurement, so slight adjustments have to be made. Tactile sense and experience make all the difference. I will check the recipe to clarify, but stay tuned for the video!
MG