Orange Cardamom Morning Buns (Printable)
Tender, fluffy orange-cardamom buns with a citrus glaze, perfect for a bright, aromatic breakfast treat.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Dough
01 - 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - ⅓ cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 standard packet)
04 - ½ cup warm whole milk
05 - ⅓ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
06 - ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
07 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
08 - 1 teaspoon salt
09 - Zest of 1 large orange
→ Filling
10 - ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
11 - ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
12 - 2 teaspoons ground cardamom
13 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
14 - Zest of 1 large orange
→ Glaze
15 - 1 cup powdered sugar
16 - 2 to 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
17 - ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
# How To Make It:
01 - In a stand mixer bowl, combine warm milk, orange juice, and yeast. Let sit for 5 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy and bubbly.
02 - Add granulated sugar, eggs, melted butter, orange zest, and salt to the yeast mixture. Mix on medium speed until well combined.
03 - Gradually add the all-purpose flour, mixing until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms. Add a small amount of additional flour if the dough is too wet.
04 - Knead on medium speed using the dough hook for 5 to 8 minutes, until the dough is smooth, elastic, and pulls away cleanly from the bowl.
05 - Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough inside, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, approximately 1 to 1.5 hours.
06 - While the dough rises, combine brown sugar, softened butter, ground cardamom, cinnamon, and orange zest in a small bowl. Mix until creamy and spreadable.
07 - On a lightly floured surface, roll the risen dough into a 16 x 12-inch rectangle.
08 - Spread the filling evenly across the dough surface, leaving a ½-inch border on all sides to prevent overflow.
09 - Starting from the long side, roll the dough tightly into a log. Pinch the seam firmly to seal.
10 - Cut the log into 12 even pieces using a sharp knife or unflavored dental floss. Place each piece swirl-side up in a greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
11 - Cover the dish and let the buns rise until puffy and nearly touching, about 30 to 40 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F.
12 - Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the tops are golden brown and the centers are cooked through. Allow to cool in the dish for 10 minutes.
13 - Whisk together the powdered sugar, orange juice, and cardamom until smooth. Drizzle the glaze generously over the slightly warm buns before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The orange zest perfumes the entire dough so every single bite carries that bright citrus hum.
- Cardamom gives these buns a warm, slightly floral complexity that cinnamon rolls alone could never achieve.
02 -
- If your kitchen is cold, turn your oven on for one minute then shut it off and use the warm interior as a proofing spot for the dough.
- Dental floss actually cuts cleaner than a knife and keeps those beautiful swirls from getting squished at the bottom.
03 -
- For the most vibrant orange flavor, zest directly over the sugar and rub it in with your fingers to release every drop of essential oil.
- Let the glazed buns sit for about five minutes before serving so the glaze sets just enough to coat without running completely off.