Go Back

Cranberry Citrus Cream Cheese Sweet Rolls

Delightful pastry rolls filled with a rich cream cheese and tart cranberry filling, perfect for breakfast or dessert.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 12 pieces
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Dough Ingredients
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup warm milk (about 110°F)
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 packet instant yeast (about 2 ¼ tsp)
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
Filling Ingredients
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup cranberry sauce (homemade or store-bought without gelatin)
  • 1 tbsp fresh orange zest
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar (for filling)
Glaze Ingredients
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp milk (more as needed)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Method
 

Prepare the Dough
  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm milk, sugar, and instant yeast. Allow it to sit for about 5-10 minutes until foamy.
Add Dry Ingredients
  1. Mix in the flour and salt. Stir in the melted butter and knead until a soft dough forms (about 5 minutes). If using a stand mixer, paddle for 5 minutes on medium speed.
Rise the Dough
  1. Cover the bowl with a clean cloth and let the dough rise in a warm place until it doubles in size, about 1 hour.
Prepare the Filling
  1. While the dough rises, mix the softened cream cheese, cranberry sauce, orange zest, and ¼ cup granulated sugar in a separate bowl. Set aside.
Roll Out the Dough
  1. Once the dough has risen, punch it down and roll it out on a floured surface to a rectangle about ¼ inch thick.
Spread the Filling
  1. Evenly spread the cream cheese filling over the rolled-out dough.
Roll and Slice
  1. Roll the dough tightly into a log. Slice it into 12 equal pieces and place them in a greased baking dish.
Second Rise
  1. Cover the rolls with a cloth and let them rise for another 30-45 minutes until puffy.
Bake
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the rolls for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
Glaze
  1. Mix the powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons of milk, and vanilla extract. Adjust the consistency for drizzling. Drizzle over warm rolls before serving.

Notes

For best results, ensure proper rising time and keep ingredients at room temperature. If using whole wheat flour, note it may alter the texture slightly. Leftover rolls can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.