These adorable gluten-free orange bunny rolls are the perfect festive treat for Easter or any spring celebration! Soft, fluffy, and bursting with sweet citrus flavor, each roll is shaped like a bunny and topped with a light orange glaze. Theyโre fun to make and delicious to eat. I also include a dairy-free option so everyone can enjoy them!
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This recipe was a part of my Gluten Free Orange Rolls recipe. These were more like cinnamon rolls, and the cute bunny version was often missed. These fluffy gluten-free bunny rolls now have a separate recipe post, which is good because the directions to make these sweet orange bunnies are very different from a cinnamon roll!
These homemade bunny-shaped rolls with orange flavor are:
- Fun & Festive โ These adorable bunny-shaped rolls are perfect for Easter, spring gatherings, or a whimsical treat any time of year. They have a sweet glaze, giving them a similar texture to a Krispy Kreme Donut.
- Bright & Citrusy Flavor โ The sweet orange juice and zest flavors really shine through in every bite!
- Gluten-Free & Allergy-Friendly โ Made with gluten-free ingredients, plus a dairy-free option so everyone can enjoy them.
- Kid-Friendly & Fun to Make โ Shaping the dough into bunnies is a creative baking project for kids and adults alike!
If you love to bake, I have a lot of incredible gluten free bread and roll recipes for you to try!
Allergen Information:
These homemade orange bunny rolls are gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free, and oat-free. You can make them dairy-free using plant-based milk and butter.
Flour Blends Tested:
- Authentic Foods Steve’s Gluten Free Bread Blend – This is by far the the best gluten-free flour blend for any shaped bread or rolls. It is magic in a bag, and you can do intricate details like braids, etc.
- Namaste Gluten Free Flour Blend– A couple of readers used this blend and said it worked well. You must add additional water because Steve’s blend has a higher liquid need than this blend.
- Old formulation of Cup4Cup – I used this blend with the dried milk powder. It worked well, but more flour is needed for the same reason as I mentioned above.
Ingredient Notes:
For the full list of ingredients and amounts, please go to the recipe card below.
- Gluten Free Flour Blend – I tested this blend with the flour blends listed above. If you try a different blend, it is important to verify you are using a flour blend that works with yeast. Often you have to look on the manufacturer’s website. Here is more information about what flour blends work in which recipes.
- Binder – If your blend doesn’t contain a binder, add 1 teaspoon of xanthan gum. Note: Steve’s Bread Blend has a different binder, so there is no need to add more.
- Sugar – Use cane sugar. You can swap coconut sugar, but your bunnies will be brown in color.
- Eggs – Use size large eggs.
- Butter – I recommend unsalted butter. I have also tested Smart Balance non-dairy butter.
- Orange Juice and Zest – Fresh is best!
- Yeast – I used active dry yeast. Rapid yeast should work, but I haven’t tested it in this specific recipe. Note: Red Star Platinum is NOT gluten free!
- Milk or Non-Dairy Milk – I tested both almond and oat milk in this recipe. Regular milk is also okay.
- Powdered Sugar – If your powdered sugar has lumps, sift the powdered sugar into the glaze ingredients.
Tips For Success
1. Rise your dough in a warm environment. This is really important to get the best rise. I rise the rolls in my oven as described below.
2. I recommend baking on the normal bake setting and not the convection oven setting. The rolls will bake more evenly with a regular bake.
Step-By-Step Photos and Directions:
Step 1: Measure the Flour. Use a digital scale to measure or weigh your gluten free flour. Pour the flour into a large mixing bowl. Add the sugar and salt. Whisk to blend them. Although I like to mix my dough in a stand mixer, I recommend mixing the dry ingredients in a bowl. This will help ensure your dry ingredients are mixed thoroughly.
Step 2: Activate the Yeast. Proof the active dry yeast in warm milk or plant-based milk. Do not use hot water. The milk should be no hotter than 110ยบ F. Let it sit for 5-7 minutes until it is frothy. If it is cold in your house, the yeast can take longer to activate.
Step 3: Prepare the Wet Ingredients in the stand mixer. Add the yeast mixture, eggs, orange juice, and melted butter to a stand mixer. Use a paddle attachment. Turn the mixer on low and blend the wet ingredients until they are well mixed.
Step 4: Add the dry ingredients from the mixing bowl and and orange zest to the stand mixer bowl.
Step 5: Mix the Dough. Turn the mixer low and gradually increase the speed until your dough forms. Let the dough mix for 3-4 minutes.
Step 6: Prepare the Dough. Remove the dough and put it onto a silicone mat. You do not need to dust the mat with flour using Steve’s blend. If you use Cup4Cup, you may need to dust the mat with flour.
๐ Sandi says: You only get one good rise with gluten free dough. It is important to shape your dough into bunnies quickly and then let it rise. If you rise the dough and then shape it, your bunnies will not puff up.
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Step 7: Divide the dough into 10 pieces (with a little left in reserve for the tails) with a dough scraper. Cut the dough into evenly sized pieces. Note: You can make more or fewer depending on how big you want your bunnies to be. Roll each piece into a long rope.
Step 8: Make the bunny’s body shape. Bring one side over the other side, making a circle with a twist at the top as shown in the photo.
Step 9: Twist the dough again and pinch the ears to a pointy shape.
Step 10: Roll a small piece of dough into a ball. Press it gently down in the circle area of the dough bunny. This will be the bunny tail. Place the rolls onto a parchment paper lined
Step 11: Preheat the oven to 175ยบ F and then turn the oven off. This will create the perfect warm environment to rise your rolls. Place a sheet of loose plastic wrap over the dough and place the baking sheet with the dough bunnies into the oven. Let the rolls rise for 45 minutes or until they double in size.
This photo shows you the before and after the rise so you can see the size increase. See below if you are making these gluten-free orange rolls rolled up like cinnamon rolls.
Step 12: Bake the bunny rolls. Preheat the oven to 350ยบ F and set the oven rack to the middle of the oven. Bake the rolls for 22-25 minutes. You will know they are fully baked when they are slightly golden in color. Note: If you make larger or smaller bunnies, you will need to adjust your baking time.
Step 13: Prepare the glaze. Part of what makes these bunny rolls taste like a Krispy Kreme Donut is the glaze that coats the orange bunny rolls. It seals in the roll’s fluffiness and adds more orange flavor. Add the glaze ingredients to a medium-sized mixing bowl. Use a whisk to whip it until it is smooth.
Step 14: Dip the bunnies in the glaze. Use a spoon to make sure all areas are coated. Hold the bunny over the glaze for a few seconds so the excess glaze can drip off. Carefully place each roll on a piece of parchment paper.
This is what the baked bunnies will look like after you add the glaze. Enjoy them when they are cooled to room temperature.
If you love using Steve’s Gluten-Free Bread Flour Blend, here are 22 more recipes using Steve’s Bread Blend.
Frequently Asked Questions:
I don’t recommend making the dough ahead of time because you only get one good rise from gluten free. When you shape the dough after the rise, the bunnies will not rise as much.
If your rolls didn’t rise, check the expiration date of your yeast. Also, make sure the dough isn’t too dry. This will prevent the rolls from rising much. Lastly, did you warm your rolls in a warm spot? If it is cold, they will not rise as much.
If your dough is sticky, add more flour. Every gluten free flour blend has a different starch-to-grain ratio. You probably need more flour if you use a blend I haven’t tested.
Storage and Freezing Tips:
Store any leftover bunnies in an airtight container. Gluten-free tends to spoil quicker, so if you don’t plan to finish the rolls within two days, I recommend freezing them.
Place the rolls in a freezer-safe zipper bag and squeeze out the excess air to freeze the rolls. Set them on the counter or pop one in the microwave oven for 25-30 seconds to thaw the rolls.
Gluten-Free Related Reading
Gluten-free baking is like a science experiment. There are so many things you need to understand the different components of baking without gluten. My Gluten-Free Resources Section is here to help teach you the tools you need to know to become a confident gluten free baker.
My Best Gluten-Free Baking Tips For Better Baking!
Why Binders Are Important In Gluten-Free Baking
The Best Gluten Free Flour Blends – And how to use them!
More Gluten Free Bread Recipes:
- Gluten Free Nutella Cinnamon Rolls
- Flaky Gluten Free Cruffins
- Gluten Free Monkey Bread – Use the orange dough from this bunny recipe to make a fun citrus monkey bread!
- Gluten Free Chocolate Babka
Love This Recipe?
If you made and enjoyed this recipe, I would be incredibly grateful if you could leave a comment below. Please include which flour blend you used. This will help others know this recipe is delicious. Thank you!
Gluten Free Orange Bunny Rolls
Equipment
Ingredients
Yeast Mixture
- 2 ยฝ teaspoons active dry yeast
- ยพ cup milk or non-dairy milk (warmed between 100-110ยบ F)
- 1 teaspoon cane sugar
Rolls
- 2 ยฝ cups gluten free flour blend (377.09 grams) * SEE NOTES
- โ cup cane sugar
- โ teaspoon salt
- ยผ cup warm waterย (Use for Steve's Flour Blend ONLY!)
- 2 large eggs
- ยผ cup unsalted butter
- ยฝ cup orange juice
- 2 tablespoons orange zest
Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons orange juice
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
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Instructions
Activate the Yeast
- Proof the 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast in warm 3/4 cup milk or non-dairy milk and 1 teaspoon cane sugar. Do not use hot water. The milk should beย no hotter than 110ยบ F.ย Let it sit for 5-7 minutesย until it is frothy. If it is cold in your house, the yeast can take longer to activate.
Rolls
- Measure the Flour.ย Use aย digital scaleย to measure or weigh your 2 1/2 cups gluten free flour blend (377.09 grams). Pour the flour into a large mixing bowl. Add the 1/3 cup cane sugar and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Whisk to blend them. Although I like to mix my dough in a stand mixer,ย I recommend mixing the dry ingredients in a bowl. This will help ensure your dry ingredients are mixed thoroughly.
- Prepare the Wet Ingredientsย in the stand mixer. Add the yeast mixture, 2 large eggs, 1/2 cup orange juice, 2 tablespoons orange zestand melted 1/4 cup unsalted butter to a stand mixer. Use aย paddle attachment. Turn theย mixer on lowย and blend the wet ingredients until they are well mixed.
- Add the dry ingredientsย to the stand mix bowl. Twist to attach the bowl to the base.
- Mix the Dough. Turn the mixer low and gradually increase the speed until your dough forms. Let the doughย mix for 3-4 minutes.
- Prepare the Dough. Remove the dough and put it onto aย silicone mat. You do not need to dust the mat with flour using Steve's blend. If you use Cup4Cup, you may need to dust the mat with flour.
- Divide the dough into 10 pieces (with a little dough left in reserve for the tails)ย with a dough scraper. Cut the dough into evenly sized pieces. Note: You can make more or fewer depending on how big you want your bunnies to be. Roll each piece into a long rope.
- Make the bunny's body shape. Bring one side over the other side, making a circle with a twist at the top, as shown in the photo.
- Twist the dough againย and pinch the ears to a pointy shape.
- Roll a small piece of dough into a ball. Press it gently down in the circle area of the dough bunny. This will be the bunny tail. Place the rolls onto a parchment paper-linedย cookie sheet. Repeat this until you use all of the dough you had in reserve.
- Preheat the oven to 175ยบ F and then turn the oven off. This will create the perfect warm environment to rise your rolls. Place a sheet of loose plastic wrap over the dough and place the baking sheet with the dough bunnies into the oven. Let the rolls rise for 45 minutes or until they double in size.
- Bake the bunny rolls.ย Preheat the oven to 350ยบ F and set the oven rack to the middle of the oven. Bake the rolls for 22-25 minutes. You will know they are fully baked when they are slightlyย golden in color. Note: If you make larger or smaller bunnies, you will need to adjust your baking time.
- Remove the bunny rolls from the oven and place onto a cooling rack.
Glaze
- Prepare the glaze. Part of what makes these bunny rolls taste like a Krispy Kreme Donut is the glaze that coats the orange bunny rolls. It seals in the roll's fluffiness and adds more orange flavor. Add the glaze ingredients to a medium-sized mixing bowl. Use a whisk to whip it until it is smooth.
- Dip the bunnies in the glaze. Use a spoon to make sure all areas are coated. Hold the bunny over the glaze for a few seconds so the excess glaze can drip off. Carefully place each roll on a piece of parchment paper.
- Enjoy them when they are cooled to room temperature.
Notes
- It is critical to use a flour blend that works in yeast recipes. Often, you have to go to the manufacturer’s website to find this information. If you use a 1:1 blend that doesn’t work in yeast recipes, this recipe will turn out dense.
- If your flour blend doesn’t contain a binder, add 1 teaspoon of xanthan gum.
- Store any leftover bunnies in an airtight container. Gluten-free tends to spoil quicker so if you don’t plan to finish the rolls within two days, I recommend freezing the rolls. To freeze the rolls, place them in a freezer-safe zipper bag and squeeze out the excess air. To thaw the rolls, set them on the counter or pop one into the microwave oven for 25-30 seconds.
-
- I tested Authentic Foods Steveโs GF Bread Blend
- Cup4Cup. Note that Cup4Cup recently changed its flour blend formulation, which doesnโt behave as well as the old one. I havenโt had a chance to retest this recipe with the new flour blend formulation.
- One reader said Namaste Gluten Free Flour worked well in this orange rolls recipe, but she did have to add more flour.
- Two readers have written to me to say that Walmart Great Value Gluten Free Flour Blend workedย in this recipe.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, my rule of thumb is to add more flour if your dough or batter is wet and add more liquid if the dough or batter is too dry!
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
Our family devoured these fluffy bunny rolls in two days. My kids tell me this is one of my best, next to my cinnamon rolls.