Whole Wheat Orange Cranberry Sticky Buns

Is there anything more wonderful than waking up to the aroma of sweet rolls baking in the oven? My sweet friend Jamie, Life’s a Feast, asked us to bake bread for her birthday. So for her virtual Birthday/Bread Baking Day #26, I woke up early and baked her Whole Wheat Orange Cranberry Sticky buns.

I’ve been seeing lots of scrumptious cinnamon rolls on the web lately, but since one of my sons isn’t crazy about cinnamon I decided to make orange rolls instead. I Googled orange rolls and came across a fun blog I hadn’t visited before, Frugal Dr. Mom. She had an Orange Sticky Bun recipe that I knew my troops would love.

I substituted my favorite dinner roll recipe for the buns. I used whole wheat pastry flour, bread flour and vital wheat gluten, but it works just as well with all purpose flour if you'd rather. I also used a simple orange glaze instead of the sour cream and butter glaze that Dr. Mom used and sprinkled on sweetened dried cranberries. These rolls were scrumptious – sweet and light and fluffy. My boys and I managed to quickly devour an entire pan full in one sitting!

Jamie and I were born in the same year and this is a milestone birthday for us. Be sure and stop by her blog on February 5 and wish her Happy Birthday and check out all of the scrumptious birthday treats the blogosphere baked up for her. Happy Birthday Jamie!

Whole Wheat Orange Cranberry Sticky Buns

Filling
3/4 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons grated orange rind

1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries (Craisins)

Buns
2 c. bread flour
1 c. whole wheat pastry flour

2 t. vital wheat gluten

1 pkg. active dry yeast

1 c. milk (120º to 130º)

1/4 c. sugar

1/4 c. butter

1 t. salt

1 egg

Glaze
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

Filling: In a small bowl, mix ¾ cup of sugar with orange rind; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, mix 1 cup bread flour and 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour, wheat gluten, and yeast. Heat and stir milk, sugar, butter, and salt until butter is melted and milk is between 120º to 130º. Add to flour mixture, add egg. Beat at low speed for 1/2 minute. Beat 3 minutes at high speed.

Mix in the remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough. (Add more or less if necessary.) Knead until smooth (6 to 8 min.). Shape into a ball. Place in greased bowl, turn. Cover, let rise until double (45 to 60 Min.).

Preheat oven to 350°. Punch dough down and turn out onto floured surface. Divide into 2 equal parts. Roll each part into a 12" circle. Brush circles with remaining butter. Sprinkle with orange-sugar mixture. Sprinkle with cranberries. Cut each circle into 8 pie-shape wedges. (I like to use a pizza cutter for this.)

Cover the filling with a piece of wax paper and gently press the filling into the dough. Starting at wide end, roll up wedges. Place point side down in greased 9x13" pan. Cover and let rise in warm place until almost double in size, about 1 hour.

Bake, uncovered, 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Remove from oven; cool 15 minutes. Combine powdered sugar and orange juice. Drizzle over rolls.