Homemade Crescent Rolls with Orange and Honey

The ingredient list:

*Please note that the exact measurements along with a "shop the recipe" feature from Instacart and Walmart is available inside the printable recipe card.

• all-purpose flour
• active dry yeast
• salt
• honey
• eggs
• butter
• orange zest
• orange juice

Kitchen tools and equipment needed:

• stand mixer (optional, but so helpful) OR large bowl with a wooden spoon
• medium and small bowls
• citrus zester
• measuring cups and spoons
• plastic wrap
• grapeseed oil (or other neutral-flavored oil)
• rolling pin
• pizza wheel (for cutting dough)
• parchment paper
• baking sheets
• fork
• pastry brush

Why this recipe works:

These warm, yeasty homemade crescent rolls have mild orange flavor, light sweetness from the honey, and incredible richness that only real butter can give.

Quite simply, these Orange Honey Crescent Rolls are some of the best rolls I've ever tasted, and I'm confident you'll feel the same when you taste them for yourself!

How long will it take to make this recipe from start to finish?

Because this is an enriched dough (enriched with butter and eggs) the proofing/rise time will take longer than if it were a standard dough with only flour, yeast, water, and salt.

There are two rise times (hands-off time) in this recipe, both for 2 hours each.

That time combined, with the mixing, rolling, shaping, and baking brings this recipe to approximately 5 hours total from start to finish.

Please plan accordingly.

How this recipe came to be:

Back in 2014, I used to belong to a bread baking group called Twelve Loaves.

Every month (hence the Twelve, in Twelve Loaves) we were set a challenge with a different bread theme.

Within the theme, we were encouraged to be as creative as we wanted with our recipes.

In April of 2014 the theme was "Oranges," and this Honey Orange Crescent Rolls recipe is what I came up with.

Here's what I wrote back in 2014 about this challenge:

When I'd heard that the flavor theme for April's #TwelveLoaves challenge was orange, I was a bit worried.

You see, I'm more of a savory lover than a sweets lover so it took me a while to wrap my head around a recipe idea.

But after I'd decided to try my hand at making my very first homemade crescent rolls, the idea for these Orange Honey Crescent Rolls had me so very excited that I simply could not wait to get baking!!!

In truth, I was a little intimidated at the idea of making my own homemade crescent rolls, but no longer!

These honey orange crescent rolls are super simple to make and will give you such a tremendous feeling of pride and satisfaction once they're done and ready to eat!

And isn't that what cooking and baking are all about?

How many crescent rolls does this recipe make?

As written, this recipe makes 24 sweet orange crescent rolls.

If you need to divide the recipe in half for making 12, simply divide the ingredients in half, and carry on with the recipe as written.

Can these rolls be baked ahead and frozen?

Yes!

Allow them to cool completely and then wrap them well in air-tight freezer bags and freeze them for up to 2 months.

How to make Homemade Honey Orange Crescent Rolls:

• Assemble the ingredients.
• In a small bowl, completely dissolve the yeast in warm water.
• Add the honey to the yeast and water and allow the yeast to sit get foamy for at least 10 minutes. *Note - if the yeast does not get foamy, the yeast is no longer active, and it's time to discard.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, beat two eggs, and set aside.
• In another small bowl, zest two oranges to make approximately 2 tablespoons orange zest, and set aside.

• In a large bowl (stand mixer is shown) beat together the softened butter and orange zest.
• Add the beaten eggs, and the yeast mixture, along with two cups of all-purpose flour.
• Use the dough attachment (or wooden spoon) to bring the ingredients together into a wet dough.
• Add the remaining flour and salt, and knead for 6-8 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic, but still a little sticky.
• Lightly flour a work surface and hand knead the dough for 1-2 minutes.
• Add the dough to a lightly oiled bowl and cover the top of the dough with a light touch of oil.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise until doubled (in a warm, draft-free place), for approximately 2 hours.

• Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down and divide in half.
• Working with one half at a time, roll (or press) each into an approximate 15" circle, making sure the dough is of even thickness.
• Use a pizza wheel to cut the dough into 12 equal triangles.
• Roll each crescent roll, starting from the widest end and form them into a crescent shape.
• Place each roll onto a parchment lined baking sheet and continue the same process with the second half of the dough.
• Allow the rolls to rise again in a warm, draft-free place for an additional 2 hours.
• Once the rolls have risen for a second time, preheat the oven to 375-degrees.
• In a small bowl, beat 1 egg along with 1 tablespoon of fresh orange juice.
• Brush each crescent roll with the egg/orange mixture and bake for 20 minutes, rotating the baking sheets halfway through the baking process.
• Remove and cool on a wire rack.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.
• Enjoy!

What to serve alongside these delicious rolls:

You'll be amazed at how delicious Brown Bag Roast Turkey is! The skin is crispy, and the meat juicy! It’s utter perfection!! This method for roasting a Thanksgiving turkey has it IN THE BAG so don't miss out your chance to serve the best roast turkey you've ever had!

Copycat Sunflower Crunch Kale and Cabbage Salad is a colorful and crunchy cold salad everyone will go bonkers for. It's a healthy feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds.

You can have this impressive Bacon Bourbon Green Bean Almondine side dish on the table in under 30-minutes. It's fancy enough to serve for the holidays and yet it's easy enough to make any night of the week.

Thank you so much for visiting me today in my Kudos Kitchen. I hope you found something you'll love and that you will come back and visit me often. Please know that there is always room for you around my kitchen table!

Should you have any questions or comments regarding anything you've seen on my site, please don't hesitate to reach out to contact me. It is always my distinct pleasure to get back with you just as soon as I possibly can!

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Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!