Description
These Lemon Rolls are soft, tender sweet rolls filled with a zesty lemon sugar mixture and topped with a tangy lemon glaze. Perfect for breakfast or dessert, they combine a buttery dough with bright citrus flavors for an irresistible treat that’s homemade and delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough:
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup warm milk
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
For the Filling:
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest (from about 2 lemons)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
For the Lemon Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, mix 2 1/2 cups of flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Add warm milk, melted butter, and egg. Mix until combined. Gradually add the remaining flour until a soft dough forms. Knead the dough on a floured surface for 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Make the Filling and Shape Rolls: In a small bowl, combine the sugar and lemon zest for the filling. Once the dough has risen, roll it out into a 10×15-inch rectangle. Spread the softened butter over the dough and sprinkle evenly with the lemon sugar mixture. Roll the dough up tightly from the long side and cut into 12 equal pieces. Place the rolls in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Cover and let rise again for 30 minutes.
- Bake the Rolls: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the rolls for 20–25 minutes or until golden brown.
- Prepare the Lemon Glaze: While the rolls bake, whisk together powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest to make the glaze.
- Glaze and Serve: Drizzle the glaze over warm rolls before serving to add a sweet and tangy finish.
Notes
- For a richer dough, substitute milk with half-and-half.
- Add a bit of cream cheese to the glaze for a tangy twist.
- These rolls can be prepared the night before and baked in the morning for fresh rolls any time.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes (plus 90 minutes rise time)
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Breakfast or Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
