Cranberry Orange Sweet Rolls Recipe

Name: Cranberry Orange Sweet Rolls
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 13.8 ounces refrigerated pizza dough ((recommend Pillsbury classic pizza dough)); 4 tablespoons butter (melted); 2 cups fresh cranberries; ½ cup light brown sugar; 2 oranges ((zest only)); ½ cup powdered sugar; 2 tablespoons milk

5 from 5 votes

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These Cranberry Orange Sweet Rolls are an exceptional pairing of fresh, tart cranberries with bright orange zest, brown sugar, and store-bought pizza dough to create a decadent treat! They’re the perfect fall and winter pastry for breakfast, afternoon snacks, or even dessert!

There are few things in life more satisfying and comforting than a warm, fresh cinnamon roll. If you like that classic breakfast treat, you’ll really enjoy this sweet roll with a seasonal spin.

Finished cranberry orange sweet rolls with sugar glaze on a white serving plate.

What makes these Cranberry Orange Sweet Rolls so different? They have the look of a cinnamon roll, but they’re made with fresh cranberries, orange zest, and brown sugar. Not to mention, there’s no mixing and rising the dough because they’re made with a refrigerated pizza crust!

Recipe Snapshot

Cuisine: American
Cooking Method: Oven
Total Time: 40 Minutes

Servings: 9
Primary Ingredient(s): Oranges, cranberries, refrigerated pizza dough, brown sugar, powdered milk
Skill Level: Easy

What You’ll Like About This Recipe

These cranberry orange rolls are a flavorful way to start your day.
The recipe is very simple to follow!
They’re a great way to use up fresh cranberries after the holidays.
You can make them ahead of time, store them in the fridge, and just pop them in the oven when you’re ready to bake.

Equipment You’ll Find Helpful

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Ingredient Notes

All of the ingredients you'll need to make this recipe. — Refrigerated pizza crust dough, butter, fresh cranberries, light brown sugar, oranges, powdered sugar, milk.

Refrigerated Pizza Dough — I recommend Pillsbury brand, regular (not thin) pizza crust.
Fresh Cranberries — Can also use frozen, thawed cranberries.
Oranges — My preference is navel oranges.
Powdered Sugar — Also called confectioner’s sugar or 10X sugar.

The complete ingredient list with detailed measurements is included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

How to Make Cranberry Orange Sweet Rolls

Prep Work

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Spray the baking pan or dish with cooking spray.
Zest the orange and set it aside.
Melt the butter.
Open the pizza dough and gently roll it out into a rectangle.
Brush half of the melted butter onto the pizza dough rectangle.

Chop the Cranberries

Chopped cranberries, brown sugar, and orange zest in a food processor. — **STEP 7.**

Add the cranberries, brown sugar, and orange zest to a food processor or blender. Pulse until the cranberries are coarsely chopped.

Spread Cranberry Mixture on Dough

Chopped cranberry mixture spread onto pizza dough. — **STEP 8.**

Spread the cranberry mixture evenly onto the pizza dough rectangle, covering all the way to the edge.

Roll Into a Log

Filled dough rolled into a log. — **STEP 9.**

Roll the dough into a log, starting on a long edge.

👉 PRO TIP: If the dough has warmed too much, it may be difficult to cut cleanly. Let the rolled dough rest for about 10 minutes in the refrigerator to make cutting the rolls much easier.

Cut Rolls

Cut the log into 9 even pieces using a sharp knife. Place the rolls into the prepared 9×9-inch baking pan. Brush rolls with the remaining butter.

Bake

Bake 25-30 minutes or until the rolls are golden brown. Allow to cool slightly before topping with glaze.

Make and Apply the Glaze

Finished glazed cranberry orange rolls, — **STEP 12.**

To make the glaze, whisk together powdered sugar and milk in a small bowl. Glaze rolls just before serving.

Metal spatula holding one cranberry orange sweet roll.

Storage and Make Ahead Information

This recipe can be made the day before and stored covered in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. Let the rolls come to room temperature before popping them in the oven.
Store at room temperature in a sealed container for 2 to 3 days or refrigerated for up to 5 days. To reheat, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and bake them for about 10 minutes, or until warm.
To freeze, store the completely cooled sweet rolls in an airtight container for two months. To reheat, allow the rolls to thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat the same as above.

Recipe Variations

Swap pizza dough for crescent roll dough for a flakier result.
Make cranberry cream cheese rolls by spreading a layer of softened cream cheese mixed with powdered sugar over the dough before adding the cranberry filling.
Instead of the powdered sugar glaze, drizzle of warmed orange marmalade.
For a nutty flavor, add chopped pecans to the filling and use a drizzle of maple syrup instead of the powdered sugar glaze.

Tips

Any brand of pizza dough will work for this recipe. However, the thin crusts are more difficult to roll, so choose a regular crust.
Start making the glaze while the sweet rolls are in the oven to save some time. For a thicker glaze, add an additional 1/4 cup powdered sugar (for a total of 3/4 cup powdered sugar).
Got Thanksgiving or Christmas leftovers? Try using whole cranberry sauce instead of the fresh cranberries. Skip the processor step when using cranberry sauce.
The glaze can be served on the side for those who like more or less sweetness.

More Sweet Recipes You’ll Like

Cream Cheese Filled Crescent Roll Pastries

Finished overnight pecan sticky rolls on a white serving plate.

Easy Overnight Pecan Sticky Buns

Two cinnamon rolls on a serving plate with a fork on the side.

Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing – Cinnabon Copycat

A serving of beignets topped with powdered sugar with a cafe au lait in the background.

New Orleans Beignets

Questions About Cranberry Orange Sweet Rolls

Can I use another kind of dough for this recipe?

You can use many kinds of yeast dough to make sweet rolls. White or wheat bread dough works great. Or, if you want a lighter, flakier roll, try using crescent roll dough.

Can I use dried cranberries instead of fresh ones?

They definitely won’t be quite the same, but you can try substituting dried cranberries by rehydrating them. To rehydrate them, pour boiling water over the dried cranberries until covered and let them sit for 20-30 minutes. You can also try using whole canned cranberries or frozen cranberries.

Can I make these homemade gluten-free?

You can use a gluten-free pizza dough. I recommend Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Pizza Crust Mix.

How do I know when they are done baking?

Sweet rolls are done when the internal temperature in the center is 190 degrees. To check without a thermometer, use a fork to gently pull up on the center roll. If it’s still sticky, they need more time. Check every few minutes until they’re baked through.

Questions? I’m happy to help!

If you have more questions about the recipe, or if you’ve made it and would like to leave a comment, scroll down to leave your thoughts, questions, and/or rating!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

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