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Cranberry Swirl Sweet Rolls with Glaze

These delightful sweet rolls feature a soft homemade dough, a bright cranberry filling, and a sweet glaze, making them perfect for holiday brunch or a cozy weekend breakfast.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 55 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Dough Ingredients
  • 4.5 to 5.5 cups all-purpose flour, divided
  • 0.5 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 package (1/4 oz) active dry yeast
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup butter, softened e.g., Land O'Lakes
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1 large egg
Filling Ingredients
  • 1 cup cranberry sauce smooth or whole-berry style as desired
Glaze Ingredients
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons half-and-half or substitute with heavy cream

Method
 

Preparation
  1. In a large bowl, combine 2 1/2 cups of the flour, the sugar, yeast, and salt. Stir to distribute the yeast evenly.
  2. In a saucepan, warm the butter, milk, and water over medium-low heat until it reaches 120 to 130°F. Remove from heat.
  3. Add the warm liquid and the egg to the flour mixture and beat until smooth. Stir in enough of the remaining flour to form a manageable dough.
  4. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 60 to 90 minutes, until doubled in size.
Rolling and Filling
  1. Punch down the dough, then roll it into an 18 x 14-inch rectangle.
  2. Spread the cranberry sauce over the dough, leaving 1/2 inch from the edges.
  3. Roll up tightly from the short side and seal the seam. Cut into 12 rolls, each about 1 1/2 inches wide. Place in a greased baking pan and let rise for about 30 minutes.
Baking
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and bake the rolls for 30 to 35 minutes, until golden brown.
  2. While cooling slightly, mix powdered sugar, melted butter, and half-and-half to prepare the glaze. Drizzle over warm rolls before serving.

Notes

These rolls are suitable for potlucks and can be served with scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, yogurt, or crispy bacon. They can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 2 months.