Lemon Rolls
This soft and fluffy homemade Lemon Rolls recipe is made with a simple dough that results in a brioche-like texture. With an overnight rise in the fridge, these can be finished on a lazy day morning with a thick smear of cream cheese frosting for an ideal brunch.
Servings 12
Calories 430kcal
Ingredients
Dough
- 7 grams / 2 ¼ teaspoons instant dry yeast
- 200 milliliters / ¾ cup + 2 tablespoons whole milk lukewarm
- 560 grams / 4 cups bread flour
- 60 grams / ⅓ cup superfine/caster sugar
- 2 grams / 1 teaspoon lemon zest finely chopped
- 110 grams / 2 large eggs room temperature
- 80 grams / 2.8 ouncesbutter cubed and room temperature
Filling
- 20 grams / 1 ½ tablespoons butter very soft
- 165 grams / ⅔ cup lemon curd
- 50 grams / ½ cup superfine/caster sugar
Frosting
- 100 grams / 3.5 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 15 grams / 1 tablespoon butter room temperature
- 170 grams / 1 ½ cups confectioner’s/icing sugar
- 5 grams / 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
Dough
- Place the yeast and milk in a bowl and allow to dissolve for 3 minutes.
- Once bubbling, add the flour, sugar and lemon zest and beat on low until the mixture resembles a shaggy mixture.
- Add one egg in and combine on low until fully combined, repeat with each egg until you have a dough formed.
- On a low setting with your mixer, add in 1-2 cubes of butter and incorporate until you cannot see any butter remnants in your dough.
- Repeat by adding the butter and mixing until it is fully incorporated into your dough.
- Beat for a further 5 minutes until the dough it looks slightly glossy and is pulling away at the sides of your bowl.
- Lightly butter a bowl and place the dough therein, placing in the fridge to rise until doubled in size, approximately 1 hour.
- Remove from the fridge, lift and allow the dough to fully deflate.
- Return to the fridge and repeat to allow to rise until doubled in size.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for several hours or preferably overnight.
- The next morning, remove from the refrigerator and lightly grease your baking tin.
- Roll your dough out to an equal rectangle and ¼ inch thickness.
Filling
- Combine the lemon curd and softened butter until it’s smooth.
- Smear the mixture over the dough leaving the ¼ inch edge without any filling.
- Sprinkle the sugar evenly over the lemon filling.
Assembly
- Slowly and carefully roll your dough from the base of your wide rectangle into a tight scroll.
- Cut into 12 even pieces and place into your baking tin with 1 ½-2 inches gap between each.
- Allow to proof at room temperature for 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 190ºC/375F.
- Bake in the oven for 10 minutes and then increase the temperature to 200C/400F and bake, until golden on top, approximately 10 further minutes.
- Remove and allow to cool.
Frosting
- Meanwhile, for the frosting, beat the cream cheese and butter in a bowl until smooth.
- Add in 1 cup of the sugar and vanilla extract and combine until smooth and looking slightly glossy.
- Add the remaining sugar and combine until the mixture is thick but slowly drizzles from your whisk.
- Spoon evenly on top of your rolls and smear over until every one is well coated.
- Dig in!
Notes
- Room temperature ingredients: The eggs and butter need to be room temperature so that they mix better with the dough and room temp butter will incorporate better into your dough to create that smooth texture. The cream cheese and butter will also incorporate best at room temperature ensuring your frosting is nice and smooth.
- You can make the dough by hand: You will have to knead the dough to achieve the same results as a mixer for approximately 20 minutes and is best done without any additional flour on your work surface.
- Bench scraper: This isn't necessary, however, will make shaping the nice even edges of your dough to give you a perfect rectangle shape.
- Liquid weight in grams: The weight of milk is 207 grams. The large eggs weigh between 63-67 grams each or 2.22-2.36 ounces and the vanilla extract is 4 grams.
- Lemon curd: Though it will be a little squishy to roll and cut, you want high quality lemon curd and for ease, store bought is easiest here.
- Can prepare ahead of time: Simply prepare the rolls as instructed, but instead of baking immediately, cover and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, let them come to room temperature, then bake as directed.
- You can freeze them: It’s best to freeze without the frosting. After baking and cooling, place them in an airtight container or freezer bag and store in the freezer. When ready to enjoy, thaw at room temperature or heat them up in the oven for a few minutes.
Nutrition
Calories: 430kcal