Cranberry Orange Rolls

A month long Christmas spirit comes with loads of activities, putting up and decorating Christmas tree with festive color ornaments, shopping, warping presents, playing secret Santa game, listening-singing carols, watching Christmas movies, reading stories, strolling through the neighborhood to see Christmas lights. It's truly Christmas spirit everywhere we go. It never mattered whether we belong to this faith or not. Our Christmas spirit is very high, the biggest festival in our family! It's the season to be jolly to share, care and receive. 

Now it's almost Christmas Eve. The count down has begun. Santa will be on his way to fulfill nice kids' wishes. My kids are now too big to get toys from Santa as they know Santa exclusively brings toys only for little kids. But we want Santa to visit our home to taste different goodies. 

I love being a Cooking Clause in Christmas month. This year we will leave out Cranberry Orange Rolls for Santa! It's a delicious alternative to Cinnamon Rolls filled with cranberry jam and topped with a citrusy orange glaze, a festive treat to start off holidays. These rolls are truly Christmas indulgence paired with a cup of coffee or tea. They make amazing dessert with orange ice cream. 

I am so ready for Christmas! I made big batches of cranberry jam to share with friends. I saved some for using sweet and savory foods. I make different types of sweet rolls all year round. It is cranberry season and it smells festive using these berries in different meals. It's easy to make with the right balance of sweet and tart taste. Lets get baking.

Cranberry Jam

Ingredients~
*For the dough-
2 cups all purpose flour plus extra for dusting
1 tsp active dry yeast
1/4 cup sugar
6 tbsp salted melted butter  
1 tsp orange zest
3/4 cup warm water

*For the filling-
1 cup homemade or store bought cranberry jam
1 tbsp melted butter

*For the orange glaze-
1 cup orange juice
1/2 - 3/4 cup powdered sugar

Method~ 
In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and 1/4 teaspoon sugar in warm water. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy. To that yeast mixture stir melted butter and sugar with a wooden spoon. Then  add in flour 1/2 cup at a time. Mix the dough until it forms a firm ball. Then out on a floured board, sprinkle with more flour as needed and begin to knead until smooth for about 2-3 minutes. Put the dough in a oiled bowl covering with a damp cloth for one hour or until doubled in  size.

Punch the dough down. Roll the dough in a floured surface into a 16 x 11 inch rectangle. Brush with melted butter then spread cranberry jam over the dough. Beginning at the long end, roll up tightly as jelly roll. Pinch seam and ends to seal. Cut with a serrated knife into 14 slices. Place them onto a large oiled baking pan. I have used a large and a medium cast iron pan. Cover with a damp cloth and  let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 1 to 1-1/2 hours. 

Preheat oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan and cool on a  wire rack. 

Meanwhile, boil orange juice in a small sauce pan until it is reduced by half. Add in powdered sugar and stir well. Spread orange glaze over rolls. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. It is best to enjoy slightly warm with coffee or tea. Cover and store on the counter top for up to 2-3 days. Happy baking!

Wishing you all peace, joy and good health. Stay safe and blessed.Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas from our family to yours! Happy Baking!