Lemon Sweet Rolls With Cream Cheese Icing

NY Times recipe from Yossy Arefi who states, “These sweet, lemony rolls are a fresh alternative to classic cinnamon rolls. A little cardamom in the dough and filling enhances the bright citrus flavor without overtaking it. This dough is adaptable: You can let the dough rise in the refrigerator, instead of at room temperature, so you can serve fresh, warm rolls for breakfast without getting up at the crack of dawn to make them.”

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Lemon Sweet Rolls With Cream Cheese Icing

  • Total time: 3 Hours 30 Minutes
  • Servings: 1 Dozen Rolls

Ingredients

Dough

  • 1 Package (7g) Active Dry Yeast
  • 1 Cup Buttermilk, warmed to 100°F
  • 1/4 Cup (50g) Granulated Sugar
  • 1/2 Cup (113g) Unsalted Butter, softened
  • 1 Tbsp Finely Grated Lemon Zest
  • 1 tsp Kosher Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Cardamom
  • 3 Large Eggs, lightly beaten
  • 4 to 4 1/2 Cups (512-575g) All-Purpose Flour, plus more for work surface

Filling

  • 1 Cup (201g) Granulated Sugar
  • 1 Tbsp Finely Grated Lemon Zest
  • 1/4 tsp Cardamom
  • Pinch Kosher Salt
  • 6 Tbsp (85g) Unsalted Butter, very soft, plus more for parchment paper

Icing

  • 6 oz (170g) Cream Cheese, softened
  • 1 Cup (123g) Powdered Sugar
  • 1 to 2 Tbsp Lemon Juice, plus more as needed

Directions

  • 1)

    Make the dough: Combine the yeast, buttermilk and 1 tablespoon sugar and let sit until foamy, about 5 minutes.

  • 2)

    Add the butter, remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, lemon zest, salt and cardamom to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix on low to combine. Add the eggs and buttermilk mixture, and stir until combined.

  • 3)

    With the mixer on low speed, slowly add 4 cups/510 grams of the flour and stir until all of the flour is moistened. Switch to the dough hook, and mix for 5 more minutes. The dough will be soft and billowy, and it will stick to the bottom of the bowl. Add more flour if the dough seems very, very soft.

  • 4)

    Transfer the dough to a fresh, lightly oiled bowl. Turn the dough to coat it with oil, then cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Alternately, refrigerate the dough before rising for up to 24 hours and proceed with the recipe as written. The rolls may need a slightly longer second rise.

  • 5)

    Make the filling: Combine the sugar, lemon zest, cardamom and a pinch of salt. Use your fingers to rub the lemon zest into the sugar.

  • 6)

    Assemble the rolls: Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with parchment paper and butter the pan and paper. Gently deflate the dough by folding it over itself a few times in the bowl. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and pat or roll it into a rectangle
    about 12-by-16-inches and ¼-inch thick. Gently spread the soft butter over the dough, and sprinkle the sugar mixture evenly over the top. Roll the dough into a tight log and use a serrated knife or length of floss to cut the log into 12 even pieces.

  • 7)

    Place the rolls into the prepared pan, cover, and let rise again until doubled in size, about 1 hour. You can also refrigerate the rolls before the second rise for up to 24 hours, if you’d like to bake them later. Let the rolls rise at room temperature until doubled in size before baking.

  • 8)

    Finish the rolls: Heat oven to 350°F and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the rolls are golden and cooked through. While the rolls are baking, make the icing: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth. The icing should be quite thick, but spreadable. Add a little more lemon juice if necessary.

  • 9)

    Let the rolls cool for about 5 minutes, then spread the icing over the top. Enjoy warm.