This recipe is a family tradition on Easter. These Glazed Orange Sweet Rolls are light and fluffy and they are shaped into Bunnies. Hence the name “Bunny Buns”. They are so much fun to make with the kids. You need to try them this Easter.
This recipe is a bread flavored with orange juice and orange zest, then glazed with a powdered sugar glaze. SO YUMMY! My 5 year old son said, “These are like donuts but WAY more soft!”
Make the dough and roll it out into a rectangle. Use a pizza cutter to cut long thin strips. Twist the dough as seen below leaving the ends open for the “Bunny Ears.” Then cut one of the strips into thirds and roll into a ball for the “Tail.” I’ve made a video tutorial for you to follow because sometimes instructions aren’t very clear!
Enjoy!
BUNNY BUNS
1. Wash hands with soap and water.
2. Sprinkle yeast in the warm water and set aside.
3. In another bowl, blend milk, sugar, shortening, and salt. Cool until lukewarm, then add eggs, water with yeast, orange juice, and orange peel.
4. Stir in flour a few cups at a time to make a soft dough. Let stand for 10 minutes.
5. Knead dough 5–10 minutes on a lightly floured surface until dough is smooth and elastic. Place it in a lightly greased bowl, turning once to grease surface. Cover bowl with a clean towel and put it in a warm place. Let dough rise for 2 hours, or until double in size. Punch dough down and let stand for 10 minutes.
6. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a rectangle 1/2 inch thick. Cut dough into strips 1/2 inch wide and 14 inches long. Roll between hands into rounded snake shapes. Cut one strip into pieces 1/2 inch long, and roll into balls.
7. Place one long piece of dough on a greased cookie sheet. Place one end of the strip over the other to make a loop; bring the end that is underneath up and cross it over the other end. Place a ball of dough on top of the bottom loop.
8. Cover bunnies and let rise in a warm place for 45–60 minutes, until nearly double in size. Bake at 375ºF (190ºC) for 12–15 minutes.
9. For the glaze, stir powdered sugar, water, and butter together. Frost bunnies with the glaze while they are still warm.
Ingredients
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 1 cup milk, warmed not quite to boiling
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 2 tablespoons grated orange peel
- 5 1/2 cups flour, sifted
- Glaze: 2 cups powdered sugar, 1/4 cup hot water, 1 teaspoon butter
Instructions
- Wash hands with soap and water.
- Sprinkle yeast in the warm water and set aside.
- In another bowl, blend milk, sugar, shortening, and salt. Cool until lukewarm, then add eggs, water with yeast, orange juice, and orange peel.
- Stir in flour a few cups at a time to make a soft dough. Let stand for 10 minutes.
- Knead dough 5–10 minutes on a lightly floured surface until dough is smooth and elastic. Place it in a lightly greased bowl, turning once to grease surface. Cover bowl with a clean towel and put it in a warm place. Let dough rise for 2 hours, or until double in size. Punch dough down and let stand for 10 minutes.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a rectangle 1/2 inch thick. Cut dough into strips 1/2 inch wide and 14 inches long. Roll between hands into rounded snake shapes. Cut one strip into pieces 1/2 inch long, and roll into balls.
- Place one long piece of dough on a greased cookie sheet. Place one end of the strip over the other to make a loop; bring the end that is underneath up and cross it over the other end. Place a ball of dough on top of the bottom loop.
- Cover bunnies and let rise in a warm place for 45–60 minutes, until nearly double in size. Bake at 375ºF (190ºC) for 12–15 minutes.
- For the glaze, stir powdered sugar, water, and butter together. Frost bunnies with the glaze while they are still warm.
You can choose to leave the glaze white or sprinkle a little colored sugar on the glaze while it’s still wet. This glaze will harden as it dries.
Sooo yummy!! Thanks for sharing. We made these today but couldn’t figure out how many the recipe makes – so we made 12 giant delish rolls. I think next time (tomorrow!) we’ll cut the strips in half and make 24. How many do you make?