Dough:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting your work surface
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup 2% milk
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 ½ tsp instant or quick-rise yeast
- Grated zest of one orange
- 1 egg
Filling:
- ¼ cup of unsalted butter
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 4 firm pears, peeled* and diced
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp cardamon
- ¼ tsp ginger
Cream Cheese Glaze
- 6oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp milk
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Prepare the dough:
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Set aside.
In a small saucepan, combine the milk and butter and heat to 110°F (this should feel warm to the touch
and the butter should be melted). Whisk in the yeast until it dissolves. Then add the orange zest.
Add the milk mixture to the dry ingredients along with the egg. Mix using a wooden spoon or an electric mixture fitted with the dough hook attachment. Mix until a soft dough forms.
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes or until a smooth dough forms. If the dough is too sticky, add more flour as needed, one tablespoon at a time.
Transfer to a lightly greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or a clean tea towel in a warm place and let rise for 2 hours or until doubled in size.
While the dough is rising, prepare the filling.
In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the brown sugar and stir until it is dissolved.
Add the pears and spices and stir. Cook for ~5 minutes until the pears start to soften slightly. Allow to cool.
Once the dough has risen, transfer it to a floured work surface and roll it into a 14 x 8-inch rectangle. Top it with the filling, evenly distributing it over the dough. Leave a small border of dough without filling. Roll into a 14-inch log. Cut into 12 equal pieces. Arrange them in a 9×13 well-greased baking pan.
Allow the rolls to rise for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350°F while the dough is rising. Bake the rolls for 25-30 minutes or until they are lightly golden brown. Cover with aluminum foil if the top of the rolls is browning too fast.
In a medium bowl, add the cream cheese and butter and mix with a spatula or mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until creamy and combined. Add the vanilla and milk. Slowly add the powdered sugar and mix until a smooth glaze forms.
Remove the rolls from the oven. Let cool for 5 minutes. Spread the glaze evenly over the rolls. Allow to cool for another 10 minutes and enjoy warm.
*We peeled the pears in this recipe so the filling has a smooth and softer texture. The peel of pears is where most of the fibre comes from. If you prefer, you can leave it on but the texture will be different.
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