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Store-bought cinnamon rolls are transformed into pillowy soft, delicate, orange-vanilla-infused treats in this bakery-worthy recipe (with only a fraction of the effort). Orange Cinnamon Rolls are perfect for slow Sundays, holiday mornings, or any time you want a comforting, warm pastry.
The result is a batch of rolls that feel bakery-level without the time commitment—soft and gooey in the center, golden at the edges, and filled with a cozy orange-cinnamon aroma that instantly elevates them beyond the can.
Why This Recipe Works
Starting with store-bought cinnamon rolls creates a tried-and-true, fluffy base, while simple upgrades make it taste completely homemade. Fresh orange zest and juice release fragrant citrus flavor that gets baked into the rolls, brightening the cinnamon and brown sugar without overpowering them.
Pouring heavy cream over the rolls before baking keeps the dough exceptionally soft and gooey, soaking into the spirals as they rise. The brown sugar and butter melt into the filling, amplifying its richness, while cinnamon reinforces the warm spice throughout.
Finally, the orange cream cheese glaze adds just enough tang to balance the sweetness, creating a cinnamon roll that feels indulgent, cozy, and thoughtfully elevated with minimal effort.
Behind This Orange Cinnamon Roll Recipe
In the weeks leading up to welcoming home our new son, I caught an episode of Nate & Jeremiah (the amazing duo’s home design show on HGTV), and they were reminiscing on bringing their newborn daughter, Poppy, home from the hospital. And how they remembered lots of relaxing and eating cinnamon rolls. From that moment forward, I couldn’t get this euphoric image out of my head. In fact, the idea of relaxing and eating cinnamon rolls after all the baby prep and deep cleaning we had been doing was pure heaven to me.
When thinking of which cinnamon rolls to make (knowing homemade yeast rolls weren’t realistic with a brand new baby), my mind instantly went back to a family memory. Every year on Christmas morning, while growing up, I would eagerly anticipate my mom baking a batch of Rhodes’ sweet orange rolls. She would place them in the oven before we woke up to rush to the tree and see our gifts. This created a vivid memory of our cozy, warm home, filled with the scent of orange and vanilla. Inspired by this nostalgic experience, I decided to recreate those cinnamon rolls for my post-pardom recovery, and this is the recipe I am sharing with you.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
Many of these ingredients are common kitchen staples, so this orange cinnamon rolls shopping list is short and sweet! Don’t forget to check the recipe card at the bottom of the page for the measurements.
Store-bought cinnamon rolls – Canned cinnamon rolls eliminate the need to make yeast dough, saving you time and lots of effort.
Heavy cream – Poured over the rolls before baking, it keeps them ultra-soft and gooey, soaking into the dough as it bakes for an extra-pillowy texture. This is a viral hack that transforms canned cinnamon rolls into Cinnabon-style rolls.
Brown sugar – Adds deep, caramel-like sweetness to the filling, keeping the rolls moist while complementing the warmth of the cinnamon.
Cinnamon – Brings classic warmth and spice, anchoring the sweetness and pairing perfectly with the bright citrus notes from the orange zest.
Oranges – Fresh zest and juice bring bright citrus flavor that lifts the richness of the rolls and balances the sweetness with a light, aromatic freshness.
Butter – Provides richness and flavor throughout, helping create soft, tender layers and a luscious, melt-in-your-mouth filling.
Cream cheese – Forms the base of a tangy, creamy frosting that balances the sweetness and adds a smooth, luxurious finish.
Vanilla extract – Enhances all the flavors, rounding out the sweetness and adding warmth and depth to both the rolls and the frosting.
Powdered sugar – Sweetens the frosting while creating a smooth, silky texture that spreads easily over warm rolls.
How to Make Orange Cinnamon Rolls
To make these orange cinnamon rolls, start by arranging two cans of cinnamon rolls in a buttered baking dish. A mixture of melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and fresh orange zest is smothered generously over the rolls to infuse warmth and richness. Heavy cream is poured over the rolls just before baking, soaking into the dough and creating an irresistibly soft, gooey texture as they bake – just like those famous mall cinnamon rolls.
While the rolls are in the oven, a simple orange cream cheese glaze is whisked together until smooth and silky. Once the cinnamon rolls are puffed and golden, they’re finished with a generous spread of glaze while still warm, allowing it to melt into the swirls for a bright, sweet, and perfectly balanced finish.
Looking for More Cozy Baked Goods?
Cinnamon Roll Bites
Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls
Peach Cobbler Cinnamon Rolls
Orange-Cranberry Muffins
Viral Honey Bun Cake
Crescent Roll Churro Cheesecake
I hope you enjoyed this recipe for my Orange Cinnamon Rolls! I look forward to your questions and feedback below.
Please be sure to tag me @BadBatchBaking using hashtag #badbatchbaking if you made this recipe, and I will feature you on my story! Plus, I LOVE to see your baking accomplishments.
Orange Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cans Pillsbury Grands cinnamon rolls with icing (5-count)
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 2 tbsp fresh orange zest about 1 orange
Brown Sugar Topping
- 6 tablespoons butter melted
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1.5 tbsp fresh orange zest
Orange Cream Cheese Frosting
- prepared frosting included in the cans above
- 2 oz cream cheese softened
- 3 tbsp butter softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2-3 tbsp fresh orange zest about 1 orange
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1 – 1.5 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9×13 baking dish.
- Open both cans of cinnamon rolls and place them spaced likey apart in the prepared baking dish. Set aside the icing for later use.
- In a small bowl, mix the melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and orange zest. Spoon this mixture over the cinnamon rolls, divinding it evenly among the rolls.
- Whisk the heavy cream with the 1/4 cup orange juice and 2 tbsp zest then pour around and over the cinnamon rolls. This step helps create ultra-soft, gooey rolls as they bake. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking until golden brown and cooked through, about 10 more minutes.
- While the rolls bake, beat the prepared icing, softened cream cheese, and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, orange juice and zest, mixing until silky and spreadable. Adjust with more orange juice for your desired consistency.
- Once the rolls are out of the oven, let them cool for 5 minutes. Spread the orange cream cheese frosting generously over the warm rolls, allowing it to melt into every swirl. Serve warm.
