Description
Soft and fluffy homemade lemon rolls filled with vibrant lemon sugar and topped with smooth vanilla cream cheese icing. These bright citrus sweet rolls are perfect for brunch, holidays, or a cozy weekend bake.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups all purpose flour
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for dough)
- 1 cup warm milk
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar (for filling)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon zest
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened (for filling)
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- In a bowl combine warm milk and yeast and let sit for 5 minutes until slightly foamy.
- Add 1/4 cup granulated sugar, melted butter, eggs, salt, and flour. Mix and knead until a smooth and elastic dough forms.
- Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Roll the dough into a large rectangle on a lightly floured surface.
- Spread 1/4 cup softened butter evenly over the dough.
- Mix 3/4 cup granulated sugar with lemon zest and sprinkle evenly over the buttered dough.
- Roll tightly into a log and cut into 12 equal rolls.
- Place rolls into a greased 9×13 inch baking dish and let rise for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and bake for 22 to 25 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and lemon juice until smooth.
- Spread icing over warm rolls before serving.
Notes
- Make sure milk is warm, not hot, to properly activate the yeast.
- Allow full rise time for soft and fluffy texture.
- Spread icing while rolls are warm so it melts slightly into the layers.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 260mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: lemon rolls, sweet lemon rolls, citrus breakfast rolls, lemon cream cheese icing, homemade sweet rolls