Orange Cardamom Rolls

I've partnered with the Grain Foods Foundation to bring you this recipe for Orange Cardamom Rolls. Grains are a big part of our holiday traditions.  This is the time of year, my oven is on every day and baked goods and treats are being made for my family and guests.

Last year my family and I travelled to Sweden over the Thanksgiving break to meet my Grandpa's extended family. I already was a huge fun or Cardamom, but after tasting all the amazing breads and cookies that featured cardamom in Sweden, I'm always looking for ways to add this unique spice into my baking.  Orange and Cardamom are a perfect pair (I made Cardamom Orange Shortbread Cookies to prove it). My husband LOVES bread, especially sweet rolls. So I came up with this recipe using my mom's trusty dinner roll recipe as my starting part. 

These are light fluffy rolls with the bright flavor of oranges and warm spice of cardamom. I recently served these to some friends that weren't familiar with the spice, cardamom, they were instant fans. It's a nice departure from the classic, cinnamon, it's something a little exotic and special for the holidays. 

Orange Cardamom Rolls
7 1/2 cups of flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp. salt
4 packages dry instant yeast
Zest of 2 oranges (set one tsp. aside)
4 tsp. freshly ground cardamom

2 cups milk
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup butter (softened)
2/3 cup sugar

Orange Glaze
Juice of an orange (about 1/2 cup)
1 tsp. orange zest
2 cups of powdered sugar

In a large box, mix 3 cups of flour with the sugar, yeast, salt, zest and cardamom.  Place the milk, water and butter in a pan over low heat.  Heat until the butter is melted, and the liquid is just quick warm, do not boil.  Add the warm liquid to the flour and yeast mixture.  I use my kitchen aid with the dough hook attachment, but you can also just mix this with a wooden spoon.  Begin adding one cup of flour at a time, kneading it in either with the mixer or by hand.  Knead until the dough is smooth (about 5 minutes).

Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover and rise until it is double in size.  Punch down the dough and divide it into two equal portions.  Roll out the dough to a large rectangle about 12" by 18".  Mix the softened butter and sugar.  Spread half the butter and sugar mixture over the rolled out dough. Roll the dough up width ways and cut into 12 equal parts.  Repeat with the remaining dough.  Place rolls on buttered cookie sheets (12 per sheet).  Cover with a towel and let rise again till double in size.  Bake in a 425 F preheated oven for just 12 minutes.

Mix the orange juice, zest and powdered sugar to make the Orange Glaze. Drizzle the glaze over the warm rolls.

For more holiday baking and cooking inspiration, be sure to check out the Grain Foods Foundation website. It's a great resource. 

This post is sponsored by The Grain Foods Foundation. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible.