Grandma’s Orange Rolls
On May 14, 2025
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
These homemade orange rolls, filled with a bright citrusy swirl and topped with cream cheese frosting, are one of my family’s most nostalgic recipes. Whether you’re serving them for a big family breakfast or alongside Sunday dinner, these rolls always bring people to the table, and keep them coming back for more.
Grandma’s Homemade Orange Rolls
This orange roll recipe started in my grandma’s kitchen, but this version was perfected by my sister Sarah (for feedingyourfam.com, which you should bookmark for all kinds of family recipes). Of course, my version gets the grill treatment. These orange rolls are soft, citrusy, and slathered in the dreamiest orange cream cheese frosting. I’ve adapted her classic recipe for the grill, which means golden-brown rolls with a touch of outdoor flavor. If you’re used to cinnamon rolls, these are a fresh twist with bright orange zest in every bite.
If you’re ready to learn to make one of the most delicious orange rolls recipes from scratch—right on your grill in under an hour—let’s get started.
One-Hour Dough for Orange Rolls
One of the best things about these orange rolls is that you don’t need to block off half your day to make them. From start to finish, you can have these rolls mixed, risen, baked, and ready to eat in under an hour.
The dough comes together with just a handful of pantry staples, making it the perfect last-minute addition to any meal. With a tender crumb and just the right amount of sweetness, this dough is the perfect foundation for the zesty orange filling. Here’s what you’ll need when you’re ready to start:
- 2 ¼ teaspoons instant dry yeast (equal to one package)
- 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup warm water
- 3 eggs (beaten)
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ cup butter (softened)
Now, if you’re in a serious time crunch, you could use premade frozen dinner rolls from the grocery store. Honestly though, it will probably take longer to thaw those than to whip up this simple dough from scratch. Plus, there’s something deeply satisfying about telling your guests, “Oh, these? I made them from scratch.” You just can’t brag about thawing dough.
Zesty Orange Filling
The filling for these rolls is deceptively simple but delivers big on orange flavor. Just these three ingredients create that perfect sweet-citrus balance that makes these rolls absolutely irresistible:
- ⅓ cup butter (melted)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 Tablespoons orange zest
The fragrant orange zest carries the oils essential for giving these rolls their signature aroma and flavor, while the melted butter and sugar create that gooey, caramelized texture we all crave in a good roll. It’s bright, it’s fresh, and it transforms ordinary rolls into something truly special.
Orange Cream Cheese Frosting
If the rolls themselves don’t already have you hooked, this cloud-like orange cream cheese frosting will do the trick. It’s fluffy, it’s creamy, and it melts just slightly when spread over warm rolls, creating that perfect glaze-like consistency that seeps into every nook and cranny.
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter (softened)
- 4 Tablespoons cream cheese (softened)
- 1 to 1 ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 Tablespoons milk
- 1 Tablespoon orange juice
- 1 Tablespoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of Kosher salt
I always like to make a little extra orange zest for sprinkling on top after frosting. It adds a beautiful pop of color and gives your guests a visual hint of the citrusy goodness they’re about to enjoy. And yes, you can absolutely double the batch if you’re a “heavy on the frosting” kind of person.
How to Make Orange Rolls on the Grill
Taking these orange rolls to the grill adds another dimension of flavor to this family favorite. The gentle heat of the grill creates a perfectly golden exterior while maintaining that soft, tender center.
- Make the dough. Mix your ingredients together until you have a soft, slightly tacky dough that pulls away from the sides of the bowl. I made my dough mixture in the bowl of a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment. If you don’t have one, you can also do this by hand in a large bowl. Give it a quick 10-minute rest after kneading. This is the perfect time to prepare your grill and gather your filling ingredients.
- Make the filling. While your dough rests, stir together your melted butter, sugar, and orange zest in a medium-size bowl. The warmth of the butter will help release the essential oils in the zest, making your backyard (or kitchen) smell absolutely heavenly.
- Cook the rolls. After rolling, filling, and slicing your dough, let the rolls rise for just 30-45 minutes before placing them on your preheated grill. Close the lid and let the heat do its thing for 12–15 minutes, keeping an eye on hot spots to prevent over-browning. Rotate your muffin tins or sheet pan halfway through if needed for even baking. Remember, you want your rolls a nice golden brown, not burnt.
- Make the frosting. While the rolls are baking, whip up your frosting in a small bowl. The key is getting that butter and cream cheese perfectly smooth before adding the other ingredients.
- Frost, zest, serve, and enjoy! Spread the prepared frosting over the warm rolls, sprinkle with a little extra orange zest, and watch them disappear before your eyes.
Can I make this in the oven?
You can follow the same instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post for the oven if you don’t have access to a grill. If you’re planning on baking your rolls this way, use the same time and temperature guidelines.
Ways to Enjoy Homemade Orange Rolls
These versatile rolls fit on the table of nearly any occasion. They’ve become a breakfast staple in my house, perfect alongside some breakfast casserole and homemade smoked bacon for a weekend treat. They’re equally at home at Sunday dinner, where they complement everything from smoked ham to rotisserie chicken. They make an impressive addition to BBQ spreads and holiday tables alike.
Really, anywhere you’d enjoy a cinnamon roll, these orange rolls will be even better (I’m biased, but correct). They’re particularly yummy in spring and summer when those bright citrus flavors complement seasonal meals perfectly. And let’s be honest, they make a pretty spectacular midnight snack straight from the fridge, too.
Storage and Shelf Life
These orange rolls are at their absolute best when enjoyed fresh from the grill, when the dough is at its softest and the frosting is still slightly warm. If you do have leftovers (which is rare, so thank the grill gods), the frosting contains cream cheese, so you’ll want to store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
If you want to make them ahead without refrigerating, you can place unfrosted rolls in a container or a zip-top freezer bag at room temperature. Just add the frosting right before serving. Keep in mind, unfrosted rolls stored at room temperature won’t last as long as refrigerated ones. You’ll get 1-2 days, while refrigerated rolls will stay good for 3-4 days.
More Backyard Baked Goods Recipes
Once you’ve made these orange rolls on the grill, a whole world of backyard baking possibilities opens up. I’ve got dozens more recipes for desserts and baked goods designed specifically for the grill and smoker. They’re all available in the Recipe Library as well as the Hey Grill Hey App, but these will get you started on your outdoor baking:
Fast Homemade Orange Rolls Recipe
Follow the recipe card below to make Grandma’s Orange Rolls with a Hey Grill Hey twist! I’d love to hear how this recipe turned out for you! Leave a rating, and tag me on Instagram and Facebook. I love seeing your orange roll creations and how you’re keeping these family favorites alive in your own backyard.
For video tutorials of recipes like this, or just to find some meaty goods to serve them with, check out my YouTube channel. Hey Grill Hey has you covered no matter where you are on your Backyard BBQ Hero journey!
Grandma’s Orange Rolls
Ingredients
Dough
- 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast dry, equal to one packet
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 cup warm water
- 3 eggs beaten
- ½ cup butter softened
Orange Filling
- ⅓ cup butter melted
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 Tablespoons orange zest
Orange Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 4 Tablespoons cream cheese softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar up to 1 ½ cups
- 2 Tablespoons milk
- 1 Tablespoon orange juice
- 1 Tablespoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch Kosher salt
Instructions
For the dough
- Mix dry ingredients. Combine 4 cups of the flour, all of the sugar, salt and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a large mixing bowl if mixing by hand.4 ½ cups all-purpose flour, ½ cup sugar, 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast
- Add butter. Add in the softened butter and mix with the hook of the stand mixer or by hand until it is broken up into small pieces.½ cup butter
- Add wet ingredients. Beat the eggs together in a small bowl and add to the roll mixture, stir to combine. Add in the warm water. You want your water to be about 110 degrees F. Mix the water into the dough and continue mixing until a sticky dough is formed.3 eggs, 1 cup warm water
- Knead dough. If you need to add the rest of the flour, do that at this point. You want the dough to pull away from the sides of the mixing bowl and not be too sticky to handle. Continue to mix or knead for about 5 minutes.
- Rest dough. Remove the dough from the bowl to a clean, floured surface. Cover with a towel and allow to rest for 10 minutes.
- Divide dough. After 10 minutes, divide the dough into two pieces. Beginning with one piece, roll the dough out into a rectangle about ½ inch thick.
For the orange filling
- Make and add filling. Combine the ingredients for the filling and spread all over the rolled out rectangle. Roll up the dough from one long side, tightly rolling the dough to the other end. Slice the rolled up dough first in half, then slice the two halves in half again, working in halves until all the rolls are sliced.⅓ cup butter, ½ cup sugar, 2 Tablespoons orange zest
- Preheat the grill. Set up your favorite grill for two-zone grilling, with an overall temperature of around 500 degrees F.
- Rise dough. Place the sliced rolls, cut side down into greased muffin tins or a baking sheet. Cover with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap sprayed with cooking spray to prevent sticking and let rise for 30-45 minutes.
- Bake rolls. Place your filled rolls on the hot grill (or in your preheated oven), close the lid, and bake for 12- 15 minutes, until golden brown.
For the orange cream cheese frosting
- Make the frosting. Whip together the butter and cream cheese until smooth and fluffy. Slowly add in the powdered sugar (starting with just 1 cup) and then the rest of the ingredients. If needed, add additional powdered sugar or milk until the frosting reaches your desired consistency.4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, 4 Tablespoons cream cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 Tablespoons milk, 1 Tablespoon orange juice, 1 Tablespoon orange zest, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 pinch Kosher salt
- Frost, zest, and serve. Spread over warm orange rolls with more fresh orange zest, serve, and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Really look forward to trying this one! Any tips or suggestions on how this could be converted to a sourdough recipe instead of using dry yeast? Thanks!