Lemon Sticky Rolls
If you have been a follower for a while, you know how I swoon over citrus treats. I have a known lime addiction, but really any citrusy sweet has my name written all over it.
I was thinking about Spring & Easter & decided that this would make the perfect Easter breakfast! The soft bread, with the tang of the citrus & the cool creamy glaze make these a perfect breakfast roll.
Like most cinnamon rolls they are a little time consuming, but so worth the wait! You may also prepare & shape them the day before, cover them in saran wrap & save them in the fridge overnight. Just allow them to raise for an hour at room temperature before baking them. You are going to love these!
Save This recipe
Enter your email below to get a link to this recipe emailed straight to you to save later! Plus be signed up for all new recipes.
Lemon Sticky Rolls
Ingredients
Dough:
- ¾ cup (177 ml) milk
- 2 ½ tsp yeast, (or 1 envelope)
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened plus 3 Tbsp unsalted butter for roll assembly
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 ½ cups (540 g) all-purpose flour, (stir, spoon & level)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ Tbsp lemon zest
- 2 large eggs
Sticky Filling:
- 3 Tbsp butter, softened
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ½ Tbsp lemon zest
- ¼ cup (59 ml) lemon juice
Lemon Cream Cheese Glaze:
- 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese, (I use Neufchatel)
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
- ½ Tbsp lemon zest
- 2-4 Tbsp lemon juice, (I only used 2 Tbsp for a thicker glaze)
Instructions
- Warm milk in the microwave for about 35-45 seconds until warm but not hot on your wrist. Add yeast, stir, & let the mixture rest until foamy; about 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in the bowl of a stand mixer add the butter, sugar, vanilla, 1 cup of the flour, salt, nutmeg, & lemon zest. Use the paddle attachment & mix until crumbly. Add the yeast/milk mixture & eggs. Mix until combined. Add enough of the remaining flour to make a soft yet sticky dough. (I used only 4 cups of flour total.)
- Switch to the dough hook & knead for 5 minutes, or until the dough is elastic & pliable. Lightly grease the top of the dough with vegetable/canola oil, & turn the dough over so it’s coated in oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a towel & let rise until nearly doubled; about 1 hour.
- While dough is rising combine the sugar, nutmeg, ginger, & lemon zest in a bowl so the zest has a chance to flavor the sugar. Once the dough has risen, add just enough lemon juice to the sugar mixture form a thick clumpy mixture like wet sand (I used the whole ¼ cup.)
- Lightly grease a jelly-roll pan with baking spray. On a floured surface, pat the dough out into a large yet thick rectangle; about 10″x15″.
- Spread the dough evenly with 3 Tbsp of very soft unsalted butter. Then spread the lemon/sugar mixture over the top. Roll the dough up tightly, starting from the top, long end. Stretch & pull the dough taut as you roll, to keep the lemon-sugar firm inside.
- Cut rolls using floss or string about 1″ thick. Place on the prepared baking sheet with ends inward to help keep from unrolling once they raise. Cover the rolls with a towel (I like to use a LIGHTLY damp towel) & let raise for another hour or until puffy & nearly doubled.
- Heat oven to 350˚F. Place risen rolls in the oven & bake for 20-25 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into a center roll reads 190˚F. (You may also press the center to see if it springs back to determine the doneness; if it springs back, it's done.)
- While rolls are baking prepare the glaze. Using a hand mixer, beat cream cheese until light & fluffy in a medium sized bowl. Add the powdered sugar, zest & half the lemon juice (2 Tbsp.) Blend until smooth & creamy. If you want a thinner glaze add the remaining 2 Tbsp lemon juice. Top warm rolls with glaze. Serve while still warm.
Notes
- You will need 3 large lemons for this recipe
Did you make this?
Don’t forget to leave a rating below and make sure to follow on Pinterest and Instagram for more!
These look really good!!
Thanks for linking up this post to The Best Blog Recipes @The Weekend re-Treat!
You’ve been featured on today’s 25 Easter Dessert Idea’s post!
Hope to see you link up again at the party this weekend!
Shauna
http://thebestblogrecipes.blogspot.com/
http://ready2loseweight.blogspot.com/
Yum, they look great! Pretty photos, too.
Thank you! I just bought a DSLR & I am learning how to use it 🙂
Oh my these look delicious! I just pinned it to my baking board on Pinterest. Also started following you with Bloglovin. 🙂 Found you through the Time To Sparkle Link Party. Your blog is not good for my diet but I’m sure I’m going to be addicted to it anyways. I’m drooling at my computer as I type. 😉
Haha. My blog is not good for my diet either, but that is why I send my goodies to work with my husband. After I have one piece of course 🙂
Yum! These look amazing! I love citrus also, so I was hooked at lemon!
I just made these rolls and they are delish. I love all the lemon flavor. Im a big cinnamon roll fan but I thought I would give these a try. I was not disappointed. I might try making this dough and glaze with a cinnamon filling. Oh I bet it would be amazing. Thanks for the yummy recipe, and hello from West Jordan Utah.
Hooray! Tiffany I am so glad you liked them! I love when people actually make my food & come back to tell me what they thought! Glad it was a success! 🙂
Your lemon rolls look delicious!!!! I love making different kinds of sweet rolls, and these look wonderful!
My hubby loves sweet rolls and lemon, so this would be a hit! Maybe I will try them for Easter brunch. Can’t wait to read thru your other recipes. What a great blog!
Thanks! Let me know if you try these & what you think 🙂
Those lemon rolls look so delicious…sure wish I had some to go with my coffee this morning!!!
Thanks Jocelyn! They were pretty tasty!
I made sweet rolls often when I had a houseful of kids to eat them, Orange rolls, cinnamon rolls, danish etc. These lemon rolls look perfect–maybe I’ll make them and share with the neighbors. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind!
Wonderful looking recipe
Mmm! Danish! That is one thing I miss about working in a bakery…fresh danishes every morning, but my waist line is a lot happier now that I don’t work there! 🙂