Mini Orange Rolls Crescent (Printable)

Pillowy mini rolls filled with zesty orange sugar and finished with a citrus glaze, baked in just 30 minutes.

# 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 from 1 large orange
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

# How-To:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease a mini muffin tin.
02 - Unroll crescent dough onto a clean work surface and pinch perforations together to seal, forming one continuous rectangle.
03 - In a small mixing bowl, combine softened butter, granulated sugar, orange zest, and vanilla extract until fully blended.
04 - Spread orange filling mixture evenly across the entire surface of the dough rectangle.
05 - Starting from the longer edge, roll the dough tightly into a log. Using a sharp knife, slice into 12 equal pieces.
06 - Place cut rolls with spiral side facing up on the prepared baking sheet or individual muffin tin cups.
07 - Bake for 13 to 15 minutes until golden brown in color.
08 - While rolls bake, whisk powdered sugar with orange juice, adding juice gradually until reaching a pourable consistency. Stir in orange zest if desired.
09 - Cool rolls for 5 minutes after removing from oven, then drizzle with orange glaze and serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Ready in under 30 minutes, which means you can have something that tastes bakery-fresh before anyone else is fully awake.
  • One can of dough does all the heavy lifting, so there's no failed rise or dense crumb to apologize for.
  • The orange filling is bright enough to make everything else in your breakfast feel like an afterthought.
02 -
  • Those perforations in the crescent dough want to open up when you roll—actually pressing them sealed makes the difference between rolls that stay together and ones that unravel while baking.
  • The glaze needs to go on while the rolls are still warm or it won't stick and melt into the crevices where it belongs.
03 -
  • If your orange is small or dry, zest it anyway—one tablespoon is enough, but fresh citrus zest is non-negotiable for that bright flavor.
  • Make the glaze thinner than you think it needs to be; warm rolls will absorb some of it, and you want a glossy coat, not a thick frosting.
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