Easy Lemon Sweet Roll Recipe
These Easy Lemon Sweet Rolls are soft, fluffy, and filled with bright citrus flavor. Swirled with buttery lemon sugar filling and topped with a creamy lemon glaze, they’re the perfect sweet breakfast, brunch treat, or spring dessert.
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 packet 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup warm milk
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 large egg
For the Lemon Filling
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
For the Lemon Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 –2 tablespoons milk if needed for consistency
Instructions
1. Prepare the dough
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.
- Add warm milk, melted butter, and egg. Mix until a soft dough forms.
- Knead for 6–8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
2. Let the dough rise
- Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
3. Make the filling
- In a small bowl, mix softened butter, sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice until combined.
4. Roll out the dough
- Roll dough into a large rectangle on a lightly floured surface.
- Spread the lemon filling evenly over the dough.
5. Shape the rolls
- Roll the dough tightly into a log. Slice into 12 equal rolls.
- Place rolls into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
6. Second rise
- Cover and let rolls rise for 20–30 minutes until puffy.
7. Bake
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake rolls for 22–25 minutes until lightly golden.
8. Make the glaze
- Whisk together powdered sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and milk until smooth.
9. Glaze and serve
- Drizzle glaze over warm rolls and serve fresh.
Video
Notes
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📝 Notes
- Fresh Lemon Flavor: Use freshly grated lemon zest and fresh lemon juice for the brightest citrus flavor.
- Dough Tip: Make sure the dough rises in a warm spot until doubled in size for soft, fluffy sweet rolls.
- Easy Shortcut: Refrigerated dough can be used for a quicker version if you’re short on time.
- Filling Ideas: Add a little cream cheese or extra lemon zest to the filling for even richer flavor.
- Do Not Overbake: Bake just until lightly golden so the rolls stay soft and tender inside.
- Lemon Glaze: Drizzle the rolls with a simple powdered sugar lemon glaze while still slightly warm.
- Serving Suggestion: These sweet rolls are perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert with coffee or tea.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.