Orange Cardamom Morning Buns (Printable)
Fluffy buns swirled with orange-cardamom filling and a zesty citrus glaze, ideal for aromatic mornings.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dough
01 - 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast (1 standard packet)
04 - 1/2 cup warm whole milk
05 - 1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
06 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
07 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
08 - 1 tsp salt
09 - Zest of 1 large orange
→ Filling
10 - 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
11 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
12 - 2 tsp ground cardamom
13 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
14 - Zest of 1 large orange
→ Glaze
15 - 1 cup powdered sugar
16 - 2–3 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
17 - 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
# Directions:
01 - In a stand mixer bowl, combine the warm milk, orange juice, and active dry yeast. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes until it becomes foamy and bubbly, indicating the yeast is active.
02 - Add the granulated sugar, eggs, melted butter, orange zest, and salt to the yeast mixture. Mix on medium speed until all the wet ingredients are well combined.
03 - Gradually add the all-purpose flour while mixing on medium-low speed. Continue mixing until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms. Add a small amount of additional flour if the dough is too wet to handle.
04 - Knead the dough using the dough hook on medium speed for 5 to 8 minutes, until the dough becomes smooth, elastic, and pulls away cleanly from the sides of the bowl.
05 - Lightly oil a large bowl and place the dough inside. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and set in a warm, draft-free spot. Allow the dough to rise until doubled in size, approximately 1 to 1.5 hours.
06 - While the dough rises, combine the packed brown sugar, softened butter, ground cardamom, cinnamon, and orange zest in a small bowl. Mix until the mixture is creamy and spreadable.
07 - Turn the risen dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll it into a 16 x 12-inch rectangle, maintaining an even thickness throughout.
08 - Spread the cardamom-orange filling evenly across the surface of the rolled dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border on all sides to prevent spilling during rolling.
09 - Starting from the long side, roll the dough tightly into a log. Pinch the seam firmly to seal and gently tuck the ends under to neaten the shape.
10 - Using a sharp knife or unflavored dental floss, cut the log into 12 even pieces. Place each piece swirl-side up in a greased 9x13-inch baking dish, spacing them slightly apart.
11 - Cover the baking dish loosely with a towel or plastic wrap. Let the buns rise in a warm place until they appear puffy and have nearly doubled, about 30 to 40 minutes.
12 - Preheat the oven to 350°F while the buns finish their rise. 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 ground cardamom until smooth and drizzly. Drizzle the glaze generously over the slightly warm buns before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The orange and cardamom combination is the kind of pairing that makes people ask what is in these before they even finish chewing.
- They look like you spent all morning on them, but the dough comes together in a stand mixer with almost no fuss.
- That glaze soaking into warm swirls is honestly better than any bakery case pastry I have ever bought.
02 -
- If your kitchen is cold, turn your oven on for one minute, shut it off, and use that gently warm space for rising your dough.
- Dental floss really does cut cleaner than a knife, and I resisted trying it for years before finally admitting it works perfectly.
- Do not skip the second rise, because those thirty minutes of patience are what make the difference between dense rolls and cloudlike ones.
03 -
- Toasted chopped pecans folded into the filling add a nutty crunch that takes these from wonderful to unforgettable.
- If your glaze is too thin, add powdered sugar one tablespoon at a time until it coats the back of a spoon slowly and beautifully.