Lemon Curd Sweet Rolls Recipe: Bright Breakfast Joy

Silky lemon curd elevates ordinary sweet rolls into a tantalizing breakfast delight that awakens your taste buds with bright, zesty flavors.

This delectable pastry combines creamy, luxurious filling with soft, pillowy dough in a delightful culinary fusion.

The delicate balance of sweet and tart creates an irresistible morning treat that elevates your typical breakfast routine.

Bursting with sunshine-inspired notes, these rolls offer a sophisticated twist on classic breakfast pastries.

Each bite promises a harmonious blend of tender dough and vibrant citrus essence that dances across your palate.

Unexpected and delightful, this recipe brings a fresh perspective to traditional morning baking.

Rich, indulgent, and impossibly delicious, these sweet rolls will become your new weekend favorite.

Reasons to Bake Lemon Curd Sweet Rolls Today

• Burst with Zesty Brightness: These lemon curd sweet rolls deliver a tangy punch that wakes up your taste buds with vibrant citrus flavor, transforming an ordinary breakfast into a sunshine-filled morning treat.
• Foolproof Comfort Baking: Perfect for bakers of all levels, this recipe offers simple step-by-step instructions that guarantee soft, pillowy rolls even for novice kitchen enthusiasts who want to impress without stress.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Ideal for brunches, weekend gatherings, or special occasions, these rolls seamlessly transition from casual family breakfast to elegant morning entertaining with their sophisticated lemon twist.
• Quick Homemade Luxury: Despite seeming complex, these rolls come together in just a few hours, providing a surprisingly accessible way to enjoy bakery-quality pastries straight from your own kitchen with minimal effort.

Ingredients for Lemon Curd Sweet Rolls

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides the base structure for soft and tender sweet rolls.
• Active Dry Yeast: Essential for rising and creating a light, airy texture in the rolls.
• Granulated Sugar: Helps activate yeast and adds subtle sweetness to the dough.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and controls yeast growth.

• Whole Milk, Water: Creates a warm liquid environment for yeast activation and adds moisture to the dough.
• Eggs: Provide richness, structure, and help bind the ingredients together.
• Unsalted Butter: Adds flavor, tenderness, and helps create a soft roll texture.

• Lemon Curd: Tangy, sweet filling that gives a bright citrus flavor to the rolls.
• Powdered Sugar: Creates a smooth, sweet glaze with a classic white appearance.
• Lemon Flavoring: Intensifies the lemon taste in the glaze.
• Milk: Helps thin and smooth out the glaze for easy drizzling.

How to Make Lemon Curd Sweet Rolls from Scratch

Step 1: Activate the Yeast

Warm water and milk to 110-115°F. Sprinkle yeast into the liquid and stir gently. Let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes until it becomes foamy and fragrant.

Step 2: Prepare the Dough Base

Add the activated yeast mixture to a stand mixer. Combine all remaining dough ingredients and mix for 4-5 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.

Step 3: First Dough Rise

Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm spot for 1.5 hours or until the dough doubles in size.

Step 4: Roll Out the Dough

Dust a clean surface with flour. Roll the dough into a 15″ x 18″ rectangular shape, ensuring an even thickness.

Step 5: Add Lemon Curd Filling

Spread lemon curd evenly across the dough, leaving a ½” border around the edges to prevent spillage.

Step 6: Shape the Rolls

Carefully roll the dough lengthwise into a tight log. Slice the log into 1 ½” thick pieces using a sharp knife.

Step 7: Second Dough Rise

Place the rolled pieces in a greased 13″ x 9″ baking pan. Cover and let them rise for 1 hour in a warm location.

Step 8: Bake the Rolls

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake the rolls for 15-20 minutes until they turn golden brown and look perfectly puffy.

Step 9: Create Lemon Glaze

• Powdered sugar
• Lemon flavoring
• Milk

Stir until the mixture becomes smooth and glossy.

Step 10: Finish and Serve

Drizzle the lemon glaze over warm rolls. Serve immediately and enjoy the zesty, sweet treat.

Smart Tips for Lemon Curd Sweet Rolls Success

• Activate Yeast Perfectly: Ensure water and milk are precisely 110-115°F to activate yeast without killing it, creating a fluffy dough texture.
• Stretch Dough Gently: Roll out the dough carefully to maintain its elasticity, preventing tough rolls and ensuring an even lemon curd distribution.
• Check Rising Progress: Let dough rise in a warm, draft-free area to help it double in size, which guarantees soft and airy sweet rolls.
• Slice Rolls Evenly: Use a sharp serrated knife or unflavored dental floss to cut uniform rolls, preventing uneven baking and appearance.
• Glaze with Precision: Drizzle warm glaze over slightly cooled rolls to achieve a smooth, glossy finish that enhances the lemon flavor and adds visual appeal.

Storing and Reheating Lemon Curd Sweet Rolls Correctly

• Refrigerate: Store lemon curd sweet rolls in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Cover with plastic wrap to prevent drying out.
• Freeze: Wrap individual rolls tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 1 month to maintain optimal flavor and texture.
• Reheat: Warm rolls in the microwave for 15-20 seconds or in a preheated 325°F oven for 5-7 minutes until heated through. Add a small splash of milk to restore moisture and softness.

What to Serve with Lemon Curd Sweet Rolls

• Pair with Bright Chamomile Tea: The delicate floral notes of chamomile perfectly complement the tangy lemon curd, creating a refreshing and balanced flavor profile that enhances the sweetness of the rolls.
• Serve Alongside Vanilla Bean Gelato: The creamy, smooth vanilla gelato provides a cool contrast to the warm, zesty rolls, adding a luxurious touch that elevates the dessert experience.
• Match with Sparkling Prosecco: The light, crisp bubbles of prosecco cut through the richness of the rolls, while its subtle sweetness harmonizes with the lemon's bright citrus notes, making for an elegant and indulgent pairing.

Flavor Variations for Lemon Curd Sweet Rolls

• Zesty Orange Swirl Rolls: Replace lemon curd with orange marmalade and swap lemon flavoring for orange extract in the glaze. Add orange zest to the dough for an extra citrusy punch.
• Lavender Honey Sweet Rolls: Incorporate dried lavender buds into the dough and use honey instead of lemon curd. Craft a honey-lavender glaze using honey, powdered sugar, and a touch of dried lavender.
• Cream Cheese Berry Rolls: Substitute lemon curd with a mixture of softened cream cheese and mixed berry jam. Sprinkle fresh berries between dough layers and top with a vanilla cream cheese glaze.
• Chai Spice Rolls: Blend warm chai spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger into the dough. Use a spiced chai-infused filling and create a complementary chai glaze with a hint of black tea powder.

Lemon Curd Sweet Rolls Recipe

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4.6 from 29 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Silky lemon curd transforms classic sweet rolls into a citrusy dream. Pillowy dough swirled with tangy filling creates a breakfast sensation you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

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Ingredients:

Dough Base:

• 4.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons instant yeast
• 0.75 cup granulated sugar
• 0.5 cup unsalted butter (soft or melted)
• 0.5 cup water (110-115°F)
• 0.75 cup milk (coconut milk) (110-115°F)
• 1 large egg (room temperature)
• 1 teaspoon salt

Filling:

• 10 ounces (283 grams) lemon curd (homemade or store-bought)

Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 0.25 teaspoon organic lemon flavoring
• 3–4 tablespoons milk (coconut milk)

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Instructions

1. Activate yeast by dissolving it in tepid liquid, allowing it to foam and become fragrant for 5-10 minutes.
2. Transfer the activated yeast into a stand mixer and incorporate remaining dough components, kneading until achieving a silky, elastic consistency.
3. Nestle the dough into a lightly greased vessel, drape with a clean cloth, and permit rising in a warm environment until volume doubles, approximately 90 minutes.
4. Gently roll the dough on a flour-dusted surface into an expansive rectangular shape, maintaining even thickness.
5. Lavishly spread lemon curd across the dough’s surface, preserving a narrow untouched border around the edges.
6. Carefully roll the dough lengthwise into a compact log, creating a tight, uniform spiral.
7. Slice the log into uniform segments, each approximately 1½ inches thick.
8. Arrange the delicate rolls in a generously buttered baking pan, ensuring slight separation between pieces.
9. Cover the rolls and allow a secondary rise, letting them become puffy and interconnected for approximately one hour.
10. Preheat the oven to 350°F, positioning the rack in the center.
11. Bake the rolls until they transform into a rich, golden-amber hue, typically 15-20 minutes.
12. Craft a luminous glaze by whisking powdered sugar with lemon flavoring and milk until achieving a smooth, pourable consistency.
13. Drizzle the glossy glaze over warm rolls, allowing it to cascade and settle into delectable crevices.

Notes

• Precise temperature matters when activating yeast, ensuring perfect dough rise and soft texture.
• Allow sufficient rising time to develop rich, fluffy roll structure and enhance flavor development.
• Use room temperature ingredients to promote even mixing and consistent dough performance.
• Rolling dough to exact measurements guarantees uniform filling distribution and consistent baking.
• Covering rolls during second rise prevents surface drying and promotes optimal volume expansion.
• Glaze while rolls are warm to achieve best absorption and most delectable coating coverage.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 340
• Sugar: 22 g
• Sodium: 250 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 50 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg