Lemon Rolls

5 from 8 reviews

These lemon rolls are lemon poppy seed cinnamon rolls! The dough is super soft and full of lemon and poppy seeds. It is filled with a butter/sugar/ lemon filling with a lemon icing.

Prep Time1

Cook Time25

Resting Time1 20

Total Time1 46

Servings: rolls

Calories: 485kcal

Author: Stephanie Rutherford

Ingredients

Lemon Dough

1 cup Milk warmed to 110℉
2 1/4 tsp Active dry yeast 1 packet
2 Large eggs room temperature and lightly beaten
3 Large lemons zested
1 TBSP Lemon juice
5 cups All-purpose flour
1/4 cup White granulated sugar
1 tsp Salt
1 1/2 TBSP Poppy Seeds
10 TBSP Unsalted butter room temperature and cubed

Lemon Filling

1/2 cup Unsalted butter room temperature
3/4 cup White granulated sugar
2 Lemon zest
1 TBSP Lemon juice
1/2 TBSP Poppy seeds

Lemon Cream Cheese Icing

4 TBSP Unsalted butter room temperature
4 oz Cream cheese room temperature
1 cup Powdered sugar
1 Lemon zest
2 TBSP Milk
1 TBSP Lemon juice
Lemon zest and poppy seeds for decoration

US - Metric

Instructions

Lemon Dough

This recipe uses a stand mixer with a dough hook, for making by hand instructions, see recipe notes. Heat the milk in the microwave until warmed to 110℉. Sprinkle the yeast over the warm milk. Let it sit for 10 minutes.
1 cup Milk, 2 1/4 tsp Active dry yeast
In a large mixing bowl, mix the flour, sugar, salt, and poppy seeds. Add the cubed butter to the flour. Use a pastry kneader or your hands to knead the butter into the flour. The butter should be the size of a pea.
5 cups All-purpose flour, 1/4 cup White granulated sugar, 1 tsp Salt, 1 1/2 TBSP Poppy Seeds, 10 TBSP Unsalted butter
Add the milk/yeast, lightly beaten eggs, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Mix on low speed until a dough starts to form. Switch to medium speed and knead for 5 minutes.
2 Large eggs, 1 TBSP Lemon juice, 3 Large lemons zested
Preheat the oven to 200℉. Spray a large bowl with nonstick spray. Place the dough into the bowl. Cover with a kitchen towel and place in the oven. Turn off the oven and crack open the door and let it rise for 1 hour. For overnight instructions and see notes.

Lemon Filling

In a small bowl using a hand mixer. Beat the butter until smooth. Add in the sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and poppy seeds and beat until combined.
1/2 cup Unsalted butter, 3/4 cup White granulated sugar, 2 Lemon zest, 1 TBSP Lemon juice, 1/2 TBSP Poppy seeds
Place the dough on a lightly floured surface. Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough into a large rectangle. It should be 1/4 inch thick.
Spread the filling over the dough using an offset spatula. Roll the dough into a log starting on the short side.
Use a serrated knife to cut off the uneven ends. Then, use lightly sawing motions to cut into even 12 rolls.
Spray a 9X13 inch pan with baking nonstick spray. Place the 12 rolls into the pan. Cover with a towel and let rise for 20 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 375℉. Bake for 23-28 minutes until the rolls are lightly golden.

Lemon Cream Cheese Icing

Start the icing before the rolls are done baking. In a small bowl using a hand mixer, beat the butter and cream cheese on high speed until smooth.
4 TBSP Unsalted butter, 4 oz Cream cheese
Add in the powdered sugar and mix until smooth. Add in the lemon zest, milk, and lemon juice. Mix until smooth.
1 cup Powdered sugar, 1 Lemon zest, 2 TBSP Milk, 1 TBSP Lemon juice
Use a spoon and immediately spread the icing over the hot rolls. It will melt into the rolls. Top with lemon zest and more poppy seeds.
Lemon zest and poppy seeds

Notes

Flour- Make sure flour is spooned and leveled or use a kitchen scale. Compacted flour can dry out the rolls.

High altitude baking- Add an extra 3 TBSP of flour.

Pull out dairy ingredients 2 hours before baking.

Making by hand:

Mix the wet ingredients into the dry by using a rubber spatula. Switch to using your hands to mix until a dough starts to form.

Place dough on a lightly floured surface. Knead using your hands for 5-8 minutes.

It is done when your spread the dough apart thinly using your fingers. Hold the dough to the light. If you can see light through it, then it is done.

Overnight Instructions:

Spray a large bowl with nonstick spray. Place the dough in the bowl. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Chill in the fridge overnight. Continue with rest of the instructions.

Nutrition