Cranberry Sweet Rolls are made with a sweet yeast dough, a cranberry orange filling and frosted.
Cranberry Sweet Rolls
I made a good basic roll recipe and then filled it with a cranberry orange filling, such a pleasant change from the normal cinnamon rolls I usually make. The cranberries are just a little tart but I like that about them and with the frosting on top of the rolls, they are just wonderful and not overly sweet.
I also figured since we going into the busy holiday season that I would double the dough recipe and freeze half of it. The recipe below is for 1 pan of rolls, double the dough part if you want to freeze some. I thought as long as I am making bread I might as well take advantage and have some dough ready and waiting. When I need rolls the next time, I just have to remember to get the dough out of the freezer and let it thaw. All I need to do then is roll it out, add whatever filling I want, let them raise and finally bake.
The filling is so good and a little on the tart side so you might want to add another tablespoon or two of sugar but I would wait to see after you cook it down before adding it. Also in the dough recipe if you notice I said to add the salt with the flour. Somewhere a long time ago I read the salt can kill the yeast so I do my best to make sure I don’t add it with the liquids. I kind of hate doing it that way because if I forget it my bread doesn’t taste good, one thing bread needs is salt or it will taste flat.
- Dough
- 1 package yeast
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2/3 cup milk
- 4 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 egg
- 2 1/4 - 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Filling
- 2 cups cranberries
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 orange - zested and juiced
- 1/4 cup water
- Frosting
- 2 cups confectioner's sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 - 4 tablespoons water or milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- Add the yeast, sugar and milk to your mixing bowl. Let is set for a few minutes to let the yeast get going. Mix up the egg and add it with the melted butter. Stir it until mixed.
- Then add the flour and salt. Mix until it comes together. Use your dough hook and mix for about 5 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and satiny looking. Cover and let dough raise until doubled. Punch it down and let it raise a second time, this one usually takes about 30 minutes depending on how warm your kitchen is.
- To make the filling, chop the cranberries in a food processor. (You can chop them with a knife but it is not fun as the berries roll.) Add the berries with sugar to a saucepan. Zest the orange and then juice it. Add the zest, juice and water. Bring to a boil and let simmer for about 20 minutes or until the liquid is reduced and mixture is thickened. Cool.
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface into a 12 x 16 rectangle. Spread the cranberries over the top of the dough. Roll the dough up into a cylinder.
- Grease a 12 inch pan. Cut the dough into 1 inch rolls. Place in the pan. Cover and let raise until doubled.
- Mix together the frosting ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes. Let set for 5 minutes and turn rolls out of pan onto a wire rack. Flip rolls over and frost while still warm.
Maybe you’d like to try our recipe for?
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Hi, I love these and am featuring these tonight at our Marvelous Monday party! Hope to see you back tonight!
Thanks for the feature, I will be sure to grab a button to you!
Thanks for linking up at the Merriest Blog Hop! I love this recipe and am featuring you this Friday. Happy Holidays! :)
These look delicious! I love all your little tips too. I’ve heard the same thing about salt killing yeast but don’t make enough stuff with yeast to worry about it too much.
Something to try more of! Thanks so much for linking up at Saturday Dishes. We, the gals at Coffee With Us 3, hope you continue to do so. Pinning.
This is gorgeous! I just pinned it and G+’s it…. I am hoping that you’ll stop by my Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop (which goes live Tuesday eves 7pm EST) and share this? Share more, too.
Blessings,
Sinea
Those are beautiful, I bet they tasted just as wonderful! If I had a geenie in a bottle.. I’d wish for some of these right out of the oven and ready for me when I wake up in the morning! Ha! #agirlcandream
Yvonne, you made me laugh at loud! I wish it was that easy!!!
During this busy time of year, that is a great idea you have there to make a double batch of dough and freeze it. Thanks for sharing that advice! Cranberries are so amazing – I’m a fan of the tartness, so I’m sure this bread would be a big win for me. It’s so pretty too!
It helps to have some dough ready to go, these make great gifts too especially if someone is not a baker.
Oh my gosh, these look seriously amazing!!!! And how great for Thanksgiving. Gorgeous!
Thanks Rachael!
These look amazing!
Thanks Michele!
Am I adding 2 1/4 and 2 1/2 cups of flour for the dough? I don’t understand what the dash between them means, if its to add or separate and add all.
You are going to add up to 2 1/2 cups of flour. I always go with less and see how the dough feels. If it needs more then I add the other 1/4 cup. I always let my dough sit for 5 minutes before adding the extra flour.
Should the milk be warmed up or cold?
It can be either. Warm gets everything going faster. I’ve done it both ways so it really is up to you.