I never thought I’d be making Air Fryer Orange Rolls, but they turned out even better than I expected. Soft and fluffy with a buttery cinnamon orange filling swirled all the way through and a sweet orange glaze poured over the top while they’re still warm from the air fryer. Completely irresistible and honestly one of the best things I’ve ever made.
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I make these for lazy weekend mornings, Christmas breakfast, Easter brunch, and any time I need something warm, comforting, and always the first thing gone off the table. The air fryer gets them done faster than the oven, which is a huge win when you’ve got a hungry table waiting. If you somehow have leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.
How to Make Air Fryer Orange Rolls with Step-By-Step Instructions
Scroll down for the full recipe card containing a full printable recipe and measurements in both US customary and metric units.
These make the perfect breakfast, whether it’s a lazy Saturday morning or a busy school morning when you want something special without much fuss.
Activate the Yeast
In a small bowl, whisk together the warm water, yeast, and 1 tablespoon of the sugar. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes until it gets foamy on top. If it doesn’t foam, your yeast may be old, so it’s worth starting fresh before mixing it into the dough.
Mix the Dough
In your stand mixer bowl, combine the melted butter, milk, remaining sugar, eggs, and orange zest. I love using a stand mixer here because the dough hook does all the heavy lifting.
Stir in the yeast mixture, then add the flour and salt and mix with a spatula or dough hook until a dough forms.
Let the Dough Rise
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead it briefly until smooth. Transfer it to a greased bowl, cover it, and let it rise in a warm place for 2 hours or until doubled in size. A set of mixing bowls with lids makes this step easy since you can cover the bowl without needing plastic wrap.
DO MORE WITH YOUR
AIR FRYER
This eBook is a collection of 86 recipes I make again and again in my own kitchen. If you love good food and easy instructions, this book was made for you.
Immediate eBook download. No physical book available.
Includes ad-free recipes like:
∙ Cheesy Egg Bites
∙ Broccoli Cheddar Soup
∙ Asparagus Casserole
∙ Crack Chicken Casserole
∙ Coffee Cake
...and much more!
Make the Filling and Roll Out the Dough
Roll the dough out into a large rectangle about ¼ inch thick. In a separate bowl, mix together the softened butter, sugar, cinnamon, and orange zest until combined.
Spread the filling evenly over the dough, leaving a ½-inch border around the edges.
Shape the Rolls
Roll the dough tightly into a log, then slice it into 1½-inch rolls using a sharp serrated bread knife for clean, even cuts. Place the rolls swirl-side up in a greased dish or on parchment paper, then cover and let them rise for another 30 minutes.
Air Fry the Rolls
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (180°C). I use this basket-style air fryer because it heats evenly and fits a good number of rolls per batch.
Place the rolls in the basket and work in batches if needed so they have room to puff up. Air-fry for 15 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Let them cool slightly before adding the glaze.
Make the Orange Glaze
In a bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla extract until completely smooth. A balloon whisk works well here for quickly achieving a lump-free glaze. If you prefer a tangier finish, you can swap the orange icing for cream cheese frosting.
Glaze and Serve
Drizzle the orange icing generously over the warm rolls and serve immediately. Kids especially love eating these warm straight from the pan, and honestly, so do adults.
The frosting soaks into the rolls as it sets, so don’t hold back on pouring it on. They also make a great snack later in the day if you have any left, though that’s rarely a guarantee.
If you’re bringing these to a brunch or holiday gathering, let the rolls cool completely before covering the pan tightly with a stretchable silicone lid. They hold up well at room temperature for a couple of hours, so there’s no need to stress about keeping them warm during the drive. If you want to serve them warm on arrival, a few seconds in the microwave once you get there does the trick.
Air Fryer Orange Rolls
Add Preferred SourceIngredients
For the Dough:
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- ¼ cup warm water
- ½ cup granulated sugar divided
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon salt
For the Filling:
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
For the Orange Glaze:
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup milk
- 3 tablespoons orange juice
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
Make the Dough:
- In a small bowl, whisk together warm water, yeast, and 1 tablespoon sugar. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.1 tablespoon active dry yeast, ¼ cup warm water, ½ cup granulated sugar
- In a stand mixer bowl, combine melted butter, milk, remaining sugar, eggs, and orange zest. Stir in the yeast mixture. Add flour and salt. Mix with a spatula or dough hook until a dough forms.½ cup milk, ½ cup unsalted butter, 2 large eggs, 1 tablespoon orange zest, 4 cups all-purpose flour, ¾ teaspoon salt
- Knead briefly on a floured surface, then place in a greased bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 2 hours, or until doubled.
Roll and Fill:
- Roll the dough into a large rectangle, about ¼ inch thick. Mix together softened butter, sugar, cinnamon, and orange zest.½ cup unsalted butter, ½ cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon, 1 tablespoon orange zest
- Spread the filling over the dough, leaving a ½-inch border.
Shape the Rolls:
- Roll the dough into a log and slice into 1½-inch rolls.
- Place rolls swirl-side up in a greased dish or on parchment. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
Air Fry:
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F (180°C). Place rolls in the basket (work in batches if needed).
- Air fry for 15 minutes, or until lightly golden and cooked through. Let cool slightly before glazing.
Make the Glaze:
- In a bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, orange juice, zest, and vanilla until smooth.3 cups powdered sugar, ¼ cup milk, 3 tablespoons orange juice, 2 teaspoons orange zest, ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- Drizzle over warm rolls and serve.
Notes
- Check your yeast first: Make sure the yeast mixture foams up within 5 to 10 minutes before adding it to the rest of the dough. If it doesn’t foam, the yeast is likely inactive, and the rolls won’t rise properly.
- Don’t skip the second rise: Letting the shaped rolls rest for 30 minutes before air frying gives them time to puff up so the final texture is soft and light rather than dense.
- Use softened butter for the filling: Cold butter won’t spread evenly over the dough, so pull it out ahead of time and let it come to room temperature before mixing the filling.
- Keep your cuts even: Slice the log into 1½-inch rolls with a sharp serrated knife to ensure they air-fry at the same rate. Uneven cuts can result in some rolls being undercooked while others become too brown.
- Work in batches: Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. Giving the rolls space allows hot air to circulate around them, so they cook evenly and achieve a lightly golden finish.
- Freeze before bagging: If you’re freezing unbaked rolls, freeze them on a parchment-lined sheet until solid, then transfer them to a container so they don’t stick together, and you can pull out just as many as you need.
Nutrition
DO MORE WITH YOUR
AIR FRYER
This eBook is a collection of 86 recipes I make again and again in my own kitchen. If you love good food and easy instructions, this book was made for you.
Immediate eBook download. No physical book available.
Includes ad-free recipes like:
∙ Cheesy Egg Bites
∙ Broccoli Cheddar Soup
∙ Asparagus Casserole
∙ Crack Chicken Casserole
∙ Coffee Cake
...and much more!
How to Store Leftovers
Once the rolls have cooled completely, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. If you want to keep them longer, transfer them to the fridge where they’ll stay fresh for up to 4 days. Warm individual rolls in the microwave for about 20 seconds before serving so they’re soft and pillowy again.
To freeze, place unbaked shaped rolls on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until solid, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. I keep this freezer-safe glass container specifically for freezing baked goods because it seals tightly and stacks neatly in the freezer.
Thaw overnight in the fridge, then let them come to room temperature before air-frying as directed.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Orange Rolls
They’re sweet enough to anchor a whole brunch spread on their own, but they pair really well with a savory balance. I love serving them alongside scrambled eggs, a veggie-loaded frittata, or crispy roasted breakfast potatoes to balance out all that citrusy sweetness.
For drinks, fresh-squeezed orange juice is the obvious match and doubles down on that citrus flavor in the best way. A hot cup of coffee or a vanilla latte also pairs beautifully, especially when you’re serving these on a slow weekend morning or a holiday brunch table.
More Easy Recipes for You to Try at Home
If you love using your air fryer, I’ve got more recipes worth trying.
