ORANGE-SCENTED CINNAMON ROLLS

Orange-Scented Cinnamon Rolls image

Provided by skat5762

Time 4h20m

Yield 12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for greasing bowl and pan
1 egg
1/2 cup skim milk, plus more as needed
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons minced orange zest
raisins (optional)
chopped nuts (optional)

Steps:

Combine flour, yeast, salt and sugar in container of food processor fitted with steel blade and process 5 seconds.
Add 2 tablespoons butter and egg, and pulse a few times, until well combined.
With machine running, drizzle most of milk through feed tube.
Process just until a dough ball forms.
If necessary, add more milk, 1 teaspoon at a time.
Knead by hand on a lightly floured surface a minute or two longer, adding more flour or milk as necessary, until dough is smooth and elastic.
Butter a bowl and place dough in it, turning to coat.
Cover and let rise in warm, draft-free area, about 2 hours.
Roll out dough into a 1/2-inch thick rectangle.
Brush liberally with melted butter, then spread with a mixture of sugar, cinnamon and orange zest.
If desired, add raisins or chopped nuts.
Roll up jelly-roll style, then cut into 1- 1 1/2-inch thick slices.
Place rolls in a buttered round pan.
Place one or two rolls in middle, and work the others out around it, so that all are touching.
Cover and let rise until puffy, about 1 hour.
While rolls are rising, boil together 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup orange juice until thickened.
Just before baking, brush slices lightly with butter, then liberally with this mixture.
Bake in a preheated 400-degreee oven until nicely browned, 20- 30 minutes.