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Lemon Sweet Rolls

  • Author: slsrecipes
  • Prep Time: 1 hr 40 min (includes dough rising)
  • Cook Time: 25 min
  • Total Time: 2 hr 5 min
  • Yield: 10–12 rolls
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

Soft, fluffy sweet rolls bursting with bright lemon flavor and covered in tangy lemon cream cheese frosting.


Ingredients

  • 2 ¾ cups (344 g) all‑purpose flour
  • ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) whole milk
  • 3 Tbsp (43 g) unsalted butter
  •  tsp instant yeast
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ cup (56 g) unsalted butter, softened (filling)
  • ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar (filling)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract (filling)
  • 1 Tbsp lemon zest (filling)
  • 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup (90 g) confectioners’ sugar
  • 2 Tbsp lemon juice


Instructions

  1. Whisk together flour, sugar, salt, and lemon zest.
  2. Warm milk and butter to ~110 °F, whisk in yeast until dissolved. Pour into dry ingredients, add egg, mix to soft dough.
  3. Cover and let rise 60–90 min until about doubled.
  4. Roll dough into rectangle, spread softened butter, sprinkle sugar, vanilla, and lemon zest filling.
  5. Tightly roll dough and slice into 10–12 rolls; place in greased pan. Cover and let rise another 60–90 min.
  6. Bake at 350 °F for ~25 min until golden.
  7. Meanwhile, beat cream cheese, butter, confectioners’ sugar, and lemon juice until smooth.
  8. Spread frosting over warm rolls and serve.

Notes

  • Use brick cream cheese, not tub style.
  • Warm milk should be ~110 °F to avoid killing yeast.
  • Let rolls cool slightly before frosting so it melts into crevices.
  • Can make ahead and freeze unbaked rolls, then bake fresh.