Lemon Sweet Rolls with Cream Cheese Filling

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Soft lemon cream cheese rolls are a fresh twist on classic cinnamon rolls. A bright, bakery-style treat that’s perfect for spring mornings or weekend baking.

These Lemon Cream Cheese Rolls are a sweet treat for breakfast! Tender dough filled with tangy lemon cream cheese filling and topped with a lemon glaze.

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These Lemon Cream Cheese Rolls are a fresh, bright twist on a classic favorite. Think soft, buttery rolls are like cinnamon rolls but filled with a tangy lemon cream cheese filling and topped with a sweet lemon glaze.

If your family already loves cinnamon rolls, this is an easy way to try something a little different without straying too far from what you know works.

The dough is soft and tender, the filling is creamy with just the right amount of citrus, and the whole thing feels special enough for a spring brunch or weekend baking day, without being complicated.

This is one of those recipes that helps you gently expand your family’s comfort zone in the kitchen. It’s familiar, just with a little twist.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• a fresh twist on cinnamon rolls your family already loves
• a simple way to introduce new flavors without pushback
• soft, buttery dough with bright lemon flavor
• perfect for spring mornings or weekend baking
• great for sharing or freezing for later

How to make lemon sweet rolls

here is a brief overview of how to make these so you can get an idea for how to make them. For the full set of written directions, including ingredient amounts, please scroll down to the recipe card below.

Make the dough – You’ll mix together a soft, enriched dough and let it rise until light and fluffy.

Prepare the filling – While the dough rises, stir together a creamy lemon filling with cream cheese, sugar, and fresh lemon.

Roll and fill – Roll the dough into a large rectangle, spread with butter and the lemon cream cheese filling, then roll it up into a log.

Slice and chill – Cut into rolls and place in your baking dish. These rest overnight in the fridge, which makes them perfect for prepping ahead.

Bake – Let the rolls come to room temperature, then bake until golden and soft in the center.

Glaze and serve – Drizzle with a sweet lemon glaze and enjoy while warm.

These rolls also make a generous batch (about 2 dozen), which makes them perfect for sharing.

You can:

• freeze half for later
• bring some to a friend

If you’re working on adding more variety to your meals, recipes like this are a great place to start – same cozy format, new flavor to explore.

For an extra fun variation, you can sprinkle in fresh blueberries or raspberries before rolling them up for a pop of color and flavor.

Jenni

Lemon Sweet Rolls

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These Lemon Cream Cheese Rolls are a sweet treat for breakfast! Tender dough filled with tangy lemon cream cheese filling and topped with a lemon glaze.

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Prep Time 3 hours hrs

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 3 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Servings: 24 Servings

Course: Family Breakfast Recipes

Cuisine: American

Calories: 318

Ingredients Method Nutrition

Ingredients

  

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Rolls:

• 1 package active dry yeast 2 1/4 teaspoons
• ¼ cup water warm
• 2 Tablespoons white vinegar
• 2 cups milk + 2 TBSP, room temperature
• ⅔ cup shortening cold
• 3 Tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 5 cups all purpose flour
• 2 Tablespoons salted butter melted (for after baking)

Filling:

• 16 ounces cream cheese softened
• 1 lemon zested and juiced
• 1 egg room temperature
• ½ cup salted butter melted

Glaze:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 lemon zested and juiced
• ¼ cup milk

Method

 

Rolls

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the warm water and yeast and let it sit for 10 minutes, until it was foamy.
2. In a measuring cup add the white vinegar and then fill to the 2 cup line with milk.
3. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda and baking powder.
4. Cut in the shortening until it resembles small peas.
5. Stir the yeast mixture and the milk mixture into the dry ingredients and mix well.
6. Transfer the dough to a bowl lightly sprayed with cooking oil. Cover and let rise 2 hours or until doubled in size.
7. Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray and set aside.

Filling:

1. In a medium bowl cream the softened cream cheese until creamy.
2. Mix in the zest, juice, sugar, and egg until well combined. Set aside.

Assembly:

1. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll to a large rectangle about 1/8″ thick.
2. Spread the melted butter over the surface of the dough and dollop the cream cheese mixture on top, spreading it evenly out.
3. Gently roll the dough up into a log and cut into equal sized rolls (about 2″) Place the rolls in the pan.
4. Cover the rolls and let them rest in the fridge overnight.

To Bake:

1. When you are ready to bake, let the rolls come to room temperature while you preheat the oven to 400F.
2. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until lightly baked (do not under bake or they will be doughy in the center).
3. Brush with 2 TBSP melted butter and them return to the oven for 1 minute.
4. Allow to cool for a few minutes.

Glaze:

1. In a medium bowl whisk together the ingredients for the glaze and drizzle on the top of the rolls.
2. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 318kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 5gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 270mgPotassium: 107mgFiber: 1gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 451IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 65mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is provided as a general estimate and may vary based on ingredients, brands, and substitutions. For specific dietary needs, we recommend calculating nutrition using your preferred tool.

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