Soft Lemon Rolls with Glaze (Printable Version)

Soft, fluffy citrus rolls with sweet lemon filling and tangy glaze. Perfect morning treat or dessert.

# What You Need:

→ Dough

01 - 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
04 - 1/2 tsp salt
05 - 3/4 cup whole milk, warmed
06 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
07 - 2 large eggs, room temperature

→ Lemon Filling

08 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
09 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
10 - Zest from 2 lemons
11 - 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

→ Lemon Glaze

12 - 1 cup powdered sugar
13 - 2-3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
14 - Zest from 1 lemon for garnish

# Directions:

01 - Combine warm milk with yeast and a pinch of sugar in a large bowl. Let stand for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
02 - Add melted butter, eggs, remaining sugar, and salt to the yeast mixture. Mix well. Gradually incorporate flour until a soft dough forms.
03 - Knead on a lightly floured surface for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic, or use a stand mixer with dough hook for 5-6 minutes.
04 - Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1-1.5 hours until doubled in size.
05 - While dough rises, mix softened butter, sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice until smooth and spreadable.
06 - Punch down risen dough and roll out on a lightly floured surface into a 16x12 inch rectangle.
07 - Spread lemon filling evenly over the dough, leaving a 1/2 inch border around edges.
08 - Roll up tightly from the longer side and slice into 12 equal rolls.
09 - Arrange rolls in a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes until puffy.
10 - Preheat oven to 350°F.
11 - Bake for 23-27 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
12 - Whisk together powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth. Adjust consistency with additional juice if needed.
13 - Drizzle glaze over warm rolls and garnish with extra lemon zest if desired. Serve warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The combination of bright lemon and sweet sugar creates this perfect balance that wakes up your tastebuds
  • These rolls stay incredibly soft for days, unlike other sweet rolls that dry out quickly
02 -
  • I once rushed the first rise and ended up with dense, gummy rolls that nobody would eat
  • Cutting rolls with a regular knife squishes them down, so use unflavored dental floss for perfect spirals
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients prevent the butter from seizing and creating lumpy filling
  • Letting the zest and sugar sit together for ten minutes releases way more lemon flavor

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