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Lemon Rolls

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Move over cinnamon rolls, there are new rolls in town and they’re lemon rolls! It’s no secret that I love cinnamon rolls (and make them often). I was wanting to shake things up a bit so I decided that it would be nice to make Lemon Rolls for a change. Lemon is such a great flavor for spring, but I’ve never tried it in a breakfast type of food. Oh my, I have been missing out. Lemon Rolls rock – you need lemon sweet rolls in your life, trust me on that!

Lemon Roll Recipe

LEMON ROLLS

When I was figuring out how to make these, I wasn’t sure what to put in the filling. Cinnamon was clearly not the top choice. So after noodling ideas for a while, I decided to try something a little crazy. A secret ingredient if you will. Sugar and some lemon zest was fine, but just didn’t feel complete. I needed something more for these lemon rolls.

Lemon Roll Recipe

Because I’m crazy and will try anything, I added lemon pudding mix (not made into pudding, just the dry mix) to the filling in these lemon rolls. I had no idea what to expect. But oh my heck, it turned out to be a great idea.

Easy Lemon Rolls

Serious lemon sweet roll deliciousness in that pan right there.

How To Make Lemon Rolls

I didn’t leave out the cream cheese frosting, of course! The only thing better than a lemon roll is a lemon roll with cream cheese frosting. So delicious, and absolutely perfect for a spring breakfast or brunch. I’ve already added these to my list of Easter breakfast ideas and Mother’s Day breakfast ideas.

Lemon Rolls

LEMON ROLLS RECIPE

Lemon Rolls Recipe

Lemon Rolls

These delicious lemon rolls are an incredible alternative to cinnamon rolls. They are perfect for a spring breakfast or brunch, for Easter breakfast or Mother's Day breakfast. 
5 from 13 votes
Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Servings: 24 servings

Ingredients

Rolls

  • 1 box of lemon cake mix
  • 2 packages of rapid rise dry yeast
  • 2 1/2 cups of very warm water
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 5 cups flour

Filling

  • 1 cup butter softened
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • Zest from one lemon
  • 1 package Lemon Flavor Instant Pudding Mix

Frosting

  • 1 package (8 ouncePHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese softened
  • 1/4 cup (1/2 sticbutter softened
  • 2 teaspoons pure lemon extract
  • 3 1/2 - 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 3-5 TBSP milk

Instructions

Rolls

  • Mix yeast and warm water until dissolved.
  • Combine cake mix, salt and flour in a large bowl.
  • Add warm water/yeast mixture and vanilla to cake mix, salt and flour mixture. Mix well. This may require kneading with your hands a bit to completely combine ingredients.
  • Cover tightly. Let rise for one hour. Punch down and let rise again for another 30-60 minutes.
  • Divide dough in half. On a floured surface, roll one half of dough into a rectangle shape, approx 1/4? thick.
  • Once dough is rolled out, brush with half of softened butter.
  • Combine white sugar, lemon zest and JELL-O Lemon Flavor Instant Pudding Mix in a bowl, stirring until well combined.
  • Sprinkle half of the sugar, lemon zest and JELL-O Lemon Flavor Instant Pudding mix over buttered dough.
  • Starting at end opposite from you, roll the dough towards you until all dough is rolled into one long piece.
  • Slice dough into 12 equal sized pieces. Place 12 rolls into a 13x9 inch pan that has been sprayed with non stick cooking oil.
  • Repeat process with remaining dough to make the second pan of lemon rolls.
  • Cover and let both pans rise until almost doubled in size, approximately 30 minutes. Don't worry if rolls don't completely double in size, they will continue to rise while baking.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 15-25 minutes or until lightly brown.
  • While rolls are baking, prepare your frosting.
  • Remove from oven and either frost immediately if you would like frosting to melt into rolls, or wait until rolls have cooled, then frost.

Frosting

  • Beat cream cheese, softened butter and lemon extract in a bowl until light and fluffy. Mix until well combined. Add in your confectioner’s sugar, one cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  • Add in three tablespoons milk, and mix until very well combined. If you desire a thinner frosting, add additional two tablespoons of milk, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  • Store rolls in refrigerator.
Tried this recipe?Mention @lovefromtheoven or tag #lovefromtheoven!

Easy and delicious lemon roll recipe. Love the secret ingredient in the filling!

Love Lemon? Want to add a little more of this sweet citrus to your table? I’ve got some great lemon recipes that you will want to try! Click on any photo or link to be taken to the recipe post! Enjoy!

Great Lemon Recipes

Want those delicious Girl Scout Lemon Cookies but it’s not Girl Scout Cookie season? Try my copycat Girl Scout Lemon Ups.

This Lemon Cake is a family favorite.

Easy Lemon CakeLemon Cupcakes are perfect little bites of sunshine!

Lemon CupcakesLemon Loaf Cake is something I could eat every morning.

Lemon Loaf RecipeLemon Cookies are so fun, great for Easter!

Lemon CookiesThis Lemon Poke Cake is both easy and delicious.

Lemon Poke Cake

My fellow food bloggers have some great lemon recipes to try as well!

Barefeet In The Kitchen has some amazing Lemon Crinkle Cookies.

Lemon Crinkle Cookies

This Lemon Cheesecake Crescent Braid from Wine & Glue would also be great for a spring breakfast or brunch!

Lemon Cheesecake Crescent Braid

These Raspberry Lemonade Bars from Tidy Mom make my mouth water!

Raspberry Lemonade Bars

This Lemon Angel Pie from Your Homebased Mom is such a classic dessert recipe.

Lemon Angel Pie

And speaking of lemons and pies, how fun are these Mini Lemon Hand Pies from Lemons For Lulu? Love these!

Mini Lemon Hand Pies

Originally published March, 2015.

About author Christi Johnstone of Love From The Oven

Christi is the baker, cook, blogger, food photographer, recipe developer and sprinkle lover behind Love From The Oven. As a busy mom, it's important to Christi that her recipes are family-friendly and picky eater approved. In addition to running Love From The Oven, Christi is the author of The My Little Pony Baking Book and Smart Cookie, and the co-author of Peeps-A-Licious.
Interested in working with Christi? please contact her by email.
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our disclosure policy.

Home » Baking & Sweets » Bread » Lemon Rolls

#LoveFromTheOven Bread Breakfast Easter Holiday
February 24, 2017 by LOVE FROM THE OVEN

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  1. TS says

    April 29, 2020 at 7:11 pm

    Hi! I What an great idea! My family and I share the love for lemon! I would like to make this recipe but dislike cream cheese desserts and frosting. Do you have a suggestion for an alternative frosting? Would a confectioners sugar, vanilla, and milk frosting be too sweet? I would hate to make it too sweet but like the idea of frosting aesthetically and to have a “sauce.”

    Reply
    • Christi Johnstone says

      April 30, 2020 at 10:05 am

      TS, you can certainly switch the frosting. While that frosting would be sweeter, maybe add some lemon juice to help balance that. The frosting from my Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake would probably be ideal.

      Reply
  2. Shauna says

    May 31, 2020 at 11:32 am

    Can I use regular jello instead of instant? I got the wrong kind on accident.

    Reply
    • Christi Johnstone says

      June 1, 2020 at 1:14 pm

      I’m guessing it would be fine, though I have not tested it that way.

      Reply
  3. Lynn says

    June 4, 2020 at 2:05 pm

    5 stars
    Just made them. Soooooooo good. I had to use vanilla pudding as I didn’t have lemon, so just added lemon flavor to the butter

    Reply
  4. Vanessa says

    July 6, 2020 at 8:43 pm

    5 stars
    These are the fluffiest most delicious sweet rolls. I made orange rolls. Just substituted orange cake mix, orange zest and orange extract where the recipe called for lemon. I used vanilla pudding in place of the lemon pudding for the filling. Thank you for the recipe! 🍊 I will try the lemon next time 🍋.

    Reply
  5. Mila says

    July 16, 2020 at 1:54 pm

    Ca n active be used instead of rapid rise dry yeast? All I have is dry yeast

    Reply
    • Christi Johnstone says

      July 17, 2020 at 9:50 am

      Mila, I’ve only made it as written, but you should be fine.

      Reply
  6. Jacki Turner says

    September 25, 2020 at 12:20 pm

    what size pudding box?

    Reply
    • Christi Johnstone says

      September 25, 2020 at 1:01 pm

      The smaller size, typically around 3.4oz, but the weight seems to vary by brand and flavor.

      Reply
  7. maryleigh kragh says

    October 4, 2020 at 8:30 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe gets better with time! The lemon flavor fed my need for lemon! It made a bunch of rolls!

    Reply
    • Christi Johnstone says

      October 5, 2020 at 11:30 am

      So glad you enjoy it!

      Reply
  8. Hope says

    October 28, 2020 at 6:26 pm

    Hi. My dough is very very wet. Is this the way it’s supposed to be? I read and re-read the directions and haven’t made a mistake. I don’t think I can roll it out without adding more flour.

    Reply
    • Christi Johnstone says

      October 29, 2020 at 9:54 am

      Hope, sounds like something was off in the measuring, definitely add more flour, that’s completely fine!

      Reply
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Hi, I'm Christi I love sharing easy & delicious recipes that your family & friends will love. I'm a mom, cookbook author...Read More

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