Elaines Orange Rolls Bitty Buns Recipes

Steps:

• For the dough: In a small bowl, combine the yeast, hot water and 1 teaspoon of the sugar, whisking to mix. Set aside for 10 minutes, allowing the yeast to dissolve and fully activate. It should bubble around the edges and almost double in size. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, oil, orange zest and juice and remaining 1/4 cup sugar and set aside.
• Using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture and orange juice mixture and beat until the dough forms a ball, 2 to 3 minutes. Switch out the paddle for the dough hook and knead the dough until fairly smooth, 4 to 5 minutes. If the dough is too sticky, add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time.
• Lightly coat a large bowl with vegetable oil and add the dough. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise until it doubles in size, about 1 hour at room temperature.
• Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• For the filling: On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a large rectangle about 1/4 inch thick and slightly bigger than the baking dish. Spread the butter over the dough, leaving a 1/4-inch border on all sides. Sprinkle the dough with the brown sugar, then the cinnamon. Starting with one longer edge, roll the dough into a cylinder and pinch the ends together to seal completely. Cut into 12 rolls and place in the prepared baking dish. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and allow the rolls to rise until they double in size, about 30 minutes at room temperature.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Remove the plastic wrap from the rolls and bake, uncovered, until light brown, 25 to 30 minutes.
• For the glaze: Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the confectioners' sugar and orange juice until smooth. While the rolls are still warm, drizzle them with the glaze and serve.

Steps:

• For the yeast mixture: Combine the milk and 1/2 cup water in a medium saucepan and warm over low heat until about 100 degrees F (do not heat above 110 degrees F). Remove the pan from the heat and sprinkle the yeast, sugar and flour over the surface of the liquid. Set aside without stirring until foamy and rising up the sides of the pan, about 30 minutes.
• For the buns: Whisk the butter, vanilla and egg yolk into the yeast mixture. Whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and stir in the yeast mixture with a wooden spoon to make a thick, shaggy and slightly sticky dough. Stir in the raisins. Turn the dough out onto a generously floured work surface and knead until soft and elastic, about 8 minutes. Shape into a ball.
• Grease the inside of a large bowl with butter. Put the dough in the bowl, turning to coat lightly with the butter. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until doubled in size, about 1 hour 30 minutes. (If you have a marker, trace a circle the size of the dough on the plastic and note the time to help you keep track.)
• Lightly butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
• To form the rolls: Pat and roll the dough with a rolling pin into a 14-by-10-inch rectangle. Cut off a 2-inch-wide strip of dough across the short side and set aside. (If the remaining dough has sprung back a bit, pat it back out to a 12-by-10-inch rectangle.) Cut the large dough rectangle in half lengthwise, then cut each smaller rectangle into six 5-by-2-inch pieces, for a total of 12 pieces. Gather each piece and roll into a tight oval-shaped ball, closing any seams as best you can. Arrange in the prepared baking dish in 3 rows of 4, with any remaining seams tucked under.
• Cut the reserved strip of dough into 24 pieces for the ears. Roll each piece into a 3-inch log, fold in half and pinch the ends together to form an ear. Pinch 2 ears together so they look slightly like a heart. Repeat with the remaining logs to make 12 sets of ears. Hold each set of ears from the front where the ears come to a point and pinch them onto the front third of a dough round to secure. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature until doubled in size, about 45 minutes. (A small indent will remain in the dough if you poke it with your finger.)
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Beat the remaining whole egg with 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl. Remove the plastic wrap and brush the tops of the dough balls and ears with the egg wash.
• Bake the rolls until very golden brown and puffy, 22 to 25 minutes. Let cool for 20 minutes, then insert 2 mini chocolate chips beneath each set of ears for the bunnies' eyes.
• For the glaze: Stir together the confectioners' sugar, milk, vanilla and lemon zest in a bowl until smooth. Transfer half of the glaze to a small piping bag or resealable plastic bag and make a small cut in the corner. Add the pink food coloring to the remaining glaze and stir to combine. Transfer the pink glaze to a small piping bag. Pipe the pink icing inside of the ears. Pipe a big dollop of white glaze where the bunnies' tails would be. Cover the white icing with the shredded coconut.

Steps:

• Sprinkle 1 tablespoon white sugar and the yeast over the warm milk and warm water in a bowl. Let stand until the yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam, about 5 minutes. Mix in the egg, 1/2 cup orange juice, melted butter, vanilla pudding mix, and 1 tablespoon orange extract. Stir in 5 cups bread flour and salt. Add more bread flour if the dough is too sticky. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Place the dough in an oiled bowl and cover with a clean cloth. Allow the dough to rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Combine 1/2 cup softened butter with the orange zest and 1 teaspoon orange extract in a small bowl until smooth. Set aside. Grease a baking sheet, or cover with parchment paper.
• Turn the dough out on a floured surface and roll out into a 24x12-inch rectangle. Spread the butter mixture evenly over the dough, then sprinkle with 3/4 cup white sugar. Roll up the dough, beginning with the long side. Cut the dough into 18 1 1/2-inch rolls. Arrange the rolls cut-side up on prepared baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Remove the plastic wrap from the rolls and allow them to rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Allow rolls to cool slightly before frosting.
• While the rolls are baking, cream together the cream cheese and 1/2 cup softened butter until smooth. Stir in the confectioners' sugar and 2 teaspoons orange extract. Stir in milk, a little at a time, until frosting is smooth and spreadable. Spread the frosting over the slightly cooled rolls.

Steps:

• For the orange glaze: Grease a 9-inch round cake pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter, orange juice, honey and salt and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring gently to dissolve the sugar. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the glaze thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 7 minutes. Pour the glaze into the cake pan and set aside.
• For the orange roll filling: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, orange zest, cinnamon, salt and cloves. Pour over the butter and use a fork to stir the mixture until it resembles wet sand. Set the filling aside while you make the dough.
• For the orange roll dough: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and melted butter. Add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture and stir with a wooden spoon or spatula until a shaggy dough forms.
• Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead gently until smooth, 3 to 4 minutes. Roll the dough out into a 12-by-9-inch rectangle. Spread the reserved filling evenly over the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edges. Starting at one long end, gently roll the dough into a log and pinch the seam. Slice the log into 8 even pieces and place the rolls cut-side down onto the glaze in the cake pan.
• Bake until the rolls are golden and the filling is dark and bubbly, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool the rolls in the pan for 5 minutes, then turn them out onto a platter, spreading any leftover glaze from the pan over the top of the rolls. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the milk, shortening, eggs, sugar, orange juice, orange zest, salt and 3 cups flour; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch dough down; turn on a lightly floured surface. Divide into 13 pieces. Shape 12 pieces into 12-in. ropes. Fold each in half; twist top half of the open end twice to form ears. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Shape remaining dough into 12 balls. Place one on the loop end of each roll to form a tail; press into dough. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes., Bake at 375° for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire racks. In a small bowl, combine the glaze ingredients. Spread over rolls.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add the milk, shortening, sugar, salt, egg and 3 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , Knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine filling ingredients; set aside., Punch dough down; divide in half. Roll each half into a 15x10-in. rectangle. Spread half the filling on each rectangle. Roll up, jelly-roll style, starting with a long end. Cut each into 15 rolls. , Place, cut side down, in two greased 11x7-in. baking pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes. , Bake at 375° for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned. In a small bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, butter, extract and enough milk to achieve desired consistency; spread over warm rolls. Freeze option: Cover and freeze unrisen rolls. To use, thaw in refrigerator overnight. Let rise, covered, in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/2 hours. Bake and frost rolls as directed.

Steps:

• Stir butter and 1 teaspoon sugar into the hot milk until butter is melted. When mixture is lukewarm, stir in yeast and set aside for 5 minutes.
• When mixture is creamy, transfer to a large mixing bowl. Mix in 2 cups of bread flour. Add 1/2 cup sugar, eggs, orange juice, orange zest, and salt and beat until combined. Add remaining flour, mixing well after each addition, until it pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
• Knead for about 10 minutes. Transfer dough to a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. If time permits, you can punch dough down, cover it, and let it rise again.
• Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface. Cut dough into 3 balls, cover with plastic wrap, and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease two baking sheets or line with parchment paper.
• Shape each piece of dough into braided loaves or buns; place on baking sheets. Let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.
• Bake until rolls or loaves are golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes for individual buns, about 20 minutes for braids. Frost rolls, if desired (see Cook's Note) or sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.