Description
These soft lemon rolls are fluffy homemade sweet rolls filled with a bright lemon sugar filling and topped with creamy frosting. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup warm milk
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 1 large egg
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup softened butter (for filling)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (for filling)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter (for frosting)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (for frosting)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Combine warm milk, sugar, and yeast in a bowl. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.
- Add melted butter, egg, salt, and flour to the mixture and mix until a soft dough forms.
- Knead the dough for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let it rise for about 1 hour until doubled in size.
- Roll the dough into a large rectangle on a lightly floured surface.
- Spread softened butter over the dough and sprinkle sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice evenly.
- Roll the dough tightly into a log and cut into 9–12 rolls.
- Place the rolls in a greased baking dish and allow them to rise for another 30 minutes.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 20–25 minutes until golden brown.
- Mix cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla to make the frosting, then spread over warm rolls before serving.
Notes
- Use fresh lemon zest and juice for the best citrus flavor.
- Make sure the milk is warm, not hot, to properly activate the yeast.
- Allow enough time for both rises to achieve soft and fluffy rolls.
- Spread the frosting while the rolls are warm so it melts slightly into the layers.
- You can add blueberries or raspberries to the filling for a fruity variation.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
Keywords: lemon rolls, homemade lemon rolls, lemon sweet rolls, lemon cinnamon rolls, lemon rolls with cream cheese frosting, citrus breakfast rolls