Mini Orange Rolls Crescent (Printable)

Pillowy mini rolls filled with orange sugar and topped with a fresh citrus glaze, made quickly with crescent dough.

# What You Need:

→ Dough

01 - 1 can (8 oz) refrigerated crescent roll dough

→ Filling

02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
03 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1 tablespoon orange zest
05 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Glaze

06 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
07 - 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
08 - 1/2 teaspoon orange zest, optional

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease a mini muffin tin.
02 - Unroll crescent dough on a clean work surface and pinch perforations together to seal, forming one large rectangle.
03 - In a small bowl, combine softened butter, granulated sugar, orange zest, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
04 - Evenly spread orange filling mixture over the entire dough rectangle.
05 - Starting from the longer side, tightly roll the dough into a log. Using a sharp knife, slice into 12 equal pieces.
06 - Place rolls cut-side up on the prepared baking sheet or arrange in the mini muffin tin.
07 - Bake for 13 to 15 minutes until golden brown.
08 - While rolls bake, whisk together powdered sugar and orange juice, adding juice gradually to achieve a pourable consistency. Stir in orange zest if desired.
09 - Allow rolls to cool for 5 minutes, then drizzle with orange glaze and serve warm.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • Quick and Easy: From start to finish in just 25 minutes with minimal prep work
  • Bright Citrus Flavor: Fresh orange zest and juice create a refreshing alternative to traditional cinnamon rolls
  • Minimal Ingredients: Uses pantry staples and convenient crescent dough for a hassle-free bake
  • Perfect Portion Size: Mini rolls are ideal for serving a crowd or enjoying portion control
  • Versatile Treat: Works beautifully for breakfast, brunch, or even a light dessert
02 -
  • Use Fresh Zest: Always zest your orange before juicing it, and use a microplane for the finest, most aromatic zest without the bitter white pith
  • Don't Overbake: Watch closely during the last few minutes of baking — you want golden edges but still-soft centers
  • Seal Those Seams: Pinching the crescent dough perforations completely prevents the filling from leaking during baking
  • Room Temperature Butter: Softened butter spreads evenly and creates a better filling texture than cold or melted butter
  • Glaze While Warm: Apply the glaze when the rolls are still slightly warm so it soaks in a bit while creating a beautiful glossy finish
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