This Orange Bubble Bread is bursting with citrus flavor, and it's bound to become your new favorite brunch addition. Baked to golden perfection and drizzled with a zesty orange glaze, this sweet yeasted bread is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert. It can be eaten as pull-apart bread or you can slice it into pieces. This recipe requires lots of orange zest! Purchase 3 large navel oranges to cover all of your zest and juice requirements for this bread. If available, choose unwaxed organic oranges. Use a microplane grater or the smallest holes on a box grater to get the finest shreds of orange zest for this recipe.
Place the milk, water, and butter in a small saucepan and heat until melted. Let cool to 110°-115°F. Pour the mixture into the large bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the granulated sugar and stir with a spoon to combine. Stir in the yeast. Let stand until bloomed and foamy, 5-7 minutes.
Yeast dough
To the bloomed yeast mixture, add the egg, sugar, and salt. Mix until combined. Mix in the orange zest. Add half of the flour and stir with the paddle attachment to form shaggy dough. Add about 1/2 cup flour more to the bowl and switch to the dough hook. Knead until the dough is consistent and elastic. If dough is lax and very sticky, add more flour a little at a time. You may not need to use all of the flour. Knead for 5 minutes. The dough should be soft and elastic, and just a little sticky.
Place the dough into a greased bowl and turn over to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes.
Deflate dough and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Cut into 24 even pieces. (To do this, I shape the dough into a round disk, and then cut into four pieces. Cut each quarter in half, and then each half into 3 pieces for 24 portions. See video for technique.) Roll each dough piece under a cupped hand into balls; cover dough with plastic wrap so the balls don’t dry out.
Orange sugar coating
In a medium bowl, combine the granulated sugar and orange zest. Mix well using your fingertips to rub the zest into the sugar. The sugar should turn orange from the orange oil in the zest.
Grease an 8 or 9-inch nonstick tube pan or bundt pan with cooking spray.
Place the bowl of melted butter in close proximity to the bowl of orange sugar. Dip each dough ball first into the melted butter, then into the orange sugar. Roll until the ball is coated and transfer to a greased tube pan. Repeat the process, arranging the balls in an even layer in the bottom of the pan, and then arranging a ring of dough balls on top of the first layer. Cover and let rise in a warm place free from drafts, about 45 minutes, or until doubled in size.
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Bake the bread for 40-50 minutes, or until golden brown. You can check done-ness with an instant read thermometer, which registers an internal temperature of 190°F when cooked through. Keep in mind that baking times will vary according to the size pan you use. Using an 8-inch pan will take closer to 50 minutes, whereas a 9-inch bundt pan will bake slightly quicker.
Cool in the pan 5 minutes. Turn the bread out of the pan and then stand it back upright. Cool 15 minutes.
Orange glaze
Combine the powdered sugar, orange juice, and orange zest in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Pour the glaze over the warm bread. Brush excess glaze over the outside of the bread using a pastry brush.
Serve the bread warm. See notes for re-heating instructions.
Notes
What to expect: This bread has an orange zest-speckled interior that is soft and lightly sweet. The exterior has a caramelized orange sugar coating. The entire loaf is glazed with a zesty orange glaze made with orange juice and orange zest. It’s a bright-tasting loaf that makes a wonderful breakfast or brunch. Serve it warm for best flavor and texture.Baking Pan: If you use an angel food cake pan with a removable bottom as I did, place the pan on a parchment-covered baking sheet and bake the bread on the baking sheet. This will catch any oil or sugar that may seep out (this was minimal). A better choice is a standard-size 9-inch nonstick bundt pan. The bread can also be baked in one even layer in a 10-inch round cake pan, however the baking time will be much reduced (30-35 minutes).Reheating InstructionsMicrowave Method: Place individual slices of Orange Bubble Bread on a microwave-safe plate and cover them loosely with a damp paper towel. Microwave on high for 20-30 seconds, or until warmed through. Be careful not to overheat, as this can make the bread tough or dry.Oven Method: For larger portions or the entire loaf, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Wrap the bread loosely in aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out and place it on a baking sheet. Heat in the oven for 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through. This method ensures even heating and helps to retain moisture.