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5 from 7 ratings

Lemon Raspberry Rolls

These gooey lemon raspberry rolls are soft and fluffy, filled with delicious lemon sugar and raspberry jam filling, and frosted with lemon raspberry cream cheese frosting. A delightful and indulgent treat to bake this spring!

Ingredients

For the Raspberry Jam

  • 12 oz (340 g) raspberries
  • 1/3 cup (66 g) granulated white sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cornstarch

For the Lemon Rolls

  • 1 1/4 cups (300 ml) whole milk, warmed to about 110 degrees F (43 C)
  • 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
  • 1 tsp granulated white sugar (to bloom the yeast)
  • 4 3/4 cups (593 g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp (25 g) granulated white sugar
  • 2 eggs, whisked
  • 1/2 tbsp vanilla
  • 2 tbsp (20 g) lemon zest (about 2 lemons zested)
  • 1/2 cup (112 g) unsalted butter, very softened

For the Lemon Raspberry Filling

  • 1/2 cup (112 g) unsalted butter, very softened
  • 1/2 cup (110 g) brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated white sugar
  • 2 tbsp (20 g) lemon zest (about 2 lemons zested)
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup (80 g) raspberry jam from above
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) heavy cream, at room temperature (for pouring in between the rolls)

For the Lemon Raspberry Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 6 tbsp (84 g) unsalted butter, very softened
  • 6 oz (170 g) cream cheese, cold
  • 1 cup (130 g) powdered sugar
  • 1/2 tbsp (5 g) lemon zest (about ½ lemon zested)
  • 2 tbsp (40 g) raspberry jam from above

Instructions
 

For the Raspberry Jam

  • Add the raspberries to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring and mashing occasionally, until the raspberries begin to break down and are liquidy. (If using frozen raspberries it will take about 10 minutes.)
    12 oz (340 g) raspberries
  • Pass the raspberries through a sieve to remove the seeds. (You'll want to really press with a rubber spatula to get all of the juice out.) There should be around 3/4 cup (180 ml) of liquid, but it could be slightly more if using frozen raspberries.
  • Return the raspberry liquid to the saucepan, off the heat, and whisk in the cornstarch and sugar.
    1/3 cup (66 g) granulated white sugar, 1/2 tsp cornstarch
  • Heat the mixture over medium heat for about 10-13 minutes until the jam is thick.
  • Remove the jam from the heat. Measure out 2 tbsp (40 g) to use later in the frosting. The remaining 1/4 cup (80 g) will be used in the filling.

For the Lemon Rolls

  • To start, bloom your yeast. Mix your active dry yeast, sugar, and warm milk together and let sit for 10 minutes until foamy on top.
    1 1/4 cups (300 ml) whole milk, warmed to about 110 degrees F (43 C), 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast, 1 tsp granulated white sugar (to bloom the yeast)
  • Next, in a large bowl of a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, mix flour, salt and sugar together.
    4 3/4 cups (593 g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 2 tbsp (25 g) granulated white sugar
  • To the dry ingredients add the whisked eggs, vanilla, lemon zest and softened butter and mix.
    2 eggs, whisked, 1/2 tbsp vanilla, 2 tbsp (20 g) lemon zest (about 2 lemons zested), 1/2 cup (112 g) unsalted butter, very softened
  • Add in the yeast mixture and mix until everything is blended. Switch to a dough hook and knead on medium speed for 7-10 minutes until the dough pulls away from the edges of the bowl, forms a ball and springs back when pressed.
    (If the dough is still looking very sticky halfway through, add 1 tbsp (8 g) of flour at a time until it pulls away from the sides of the bowl.)
  • Form the dough into a ball. Place the dough in a large, greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and place in a warm place to rise, (outside or a cold oven with the light on works well for this), for 1- 1 ½ hours, or until the dough doubles in size.

For the Lemon Raspberry Filling

  • While the dough rises, make the filling by mixing the butter, brown sugar, white sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt and raspberry jam together in a small bowl.
    1/2 cup (112 g) unsalted butter, very softened, 1/2 cup (110 g) brown sugar, 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated white sugar, 2 tbsp (20 g) lemon zest (about 2 lemons zested), 1 tbsp (15 ml) fresh lemon juice, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 cup (80 g) raspberry jam from above

Assembling and Baking the Rolls

  • Grease a 9×13" casserole dish and set aside.
  • Once the dough has had a chance to rise, punch the dough to release the air, remove it from the bowl and roll it out on a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough into about an 18 x 12 inch rectangle/oval. It should be about ¼ inch thick.
  • Next, spoon the prepared lemon raspberry filling over the dough and spread it evenly with an offset spatula.
  • Roll up the dough tightly into a long log shape starting from the end closest to you. Cut off a bit of the ends to make the log even. Cut 12 rolls about 1 ½ inches wide using unflavored floss or a very sharp knife.
  • Place the rolls in the greased casserole dish and pour room temperature heavy cream in between each roll. Cover them with plastic wrap and let them proof in a warm spot for about an hour, or until they have doubled in size.
    1/4 cup (60 ml) heavy cream, at room temperature (for pouring in between the rolls)
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) about 15 minutes before the rolls are done proofing.
  • Once the rolls have proofed, bake for 22-25 minutes, or until a light golden color.

For the Lemon Raspberry Cream Cheese Frosting

  • While they bake, make the cream cheese frosting by adding the softened butter to a medium bowl and mixing it on high speed with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy.
    6 tbsp (84 g) unsalted butter, very softened
  • Add in the cream cheese and mix until combined on medium speed.
    6 oz (170 g) cream cheese, cold
  • Sift the powdered sugar into the mixture a little at a time and mix on low speed until all is combined.
    1 cup (130 g) powdered sugar
  • Then add in the lemon zest and raspberry jam and combine on low then high speed until the frosting is fluffy.
    1/2 tbsp (5 g) lemon zest (about ½ lemon zested), 2 tbsp (40 g) raspberry jam from above
  • Let the rolls cool for 5 minutes, then cover the warm rolls with the cream cheese icing. Then, serve!
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