If you love sweet treats that are both fluffy and fruity, then Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls with Lemon Cream Cheese Glaze are perfect for you! This delightful recipe combines the warmth and comfort of cinnamon rolls with the juicy goodness of strawberries and a zesty lemon cream cheese glaze. It’s a sweet way to start your day or to enjoy as a dessert.
Why Make This Recipe
These strawberry cinnamon rolls are a delightful twist on the classic recipe. The combination of cinnamon and strawberries creates a delicious flavor balance that is hard to resist. The lemon cream cheese glaze adds a refreshing tang that perfectly complements the sweetness of the rolls. Plus, they are perfect for breakfast, brunch, or any special occasion!
How to Make Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls with Lemon Cream Cheese Glaze
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup milk
- ⅓ cup softened unsalted butter
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons instant yeast
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup water
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (+2 tablespoons if the dough is very sticky)
- 1 (21-ounce) can strawberry pie filling
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 3 tablespoons salted butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons freeze-dried strawberries, crushed into powder (about 0.5 ounces freeze-dried strawberries)
- 3 tablespoons half & half
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest (about 1 large lemon)
Directions:
- Dough: In a small saucepan, heat the milk and butter until warm. In a bowl, mix 2 ¼ cups of flour, instant yeast, sugar, and salt. Add the warm milk mix and water, then add the egg. Stir until combined. Gradually add in 1 cup of flour, mixing until dough forms.
- Knead the dough for about 5 minutes, adding more flour if it’s sticky. Place it in a greased bowl, cover with a towel, and let it rise for 1 hour.
- Filling: After the dough rises, roll it out on a floured surface to form a rectangle. Spread the strawberry pie filling over the dough, then sprinkle with ground cinnamon and sugar. Roll up the dough tightly and slice it into rolls.
- Place the rolls into a greased baking dish. Cover them again and let them rise for another 30 minutes.
- Glaze: While the rolls are rising, prepare the glaze. In a bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, crushed freeze-dried strawberries, half & half, lemon juice, and lemon zest until smooth.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the cinnamon rolls for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before adding the glaze.
How to Serve Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls
Serve these delicious strawberry cinnamon rolls warm with a generous drizzle of lemon cream cheese glaze on top. They are great on their own or can be accompanied by a side of fresh strawberries for an extra treat!
How to Store Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls
Store any leftover rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. You can also refrigerate them for up to a week if you prefer. Reheat them in the microwave for a few seconds before serving to enjoy that fresh-out-of-the-oven taste again.
Tips to Make Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls
- Make sure the milk is warm but not hot when mixing with the yeast to ensure it activates properly.
- If the dough feels sticky, feel free to add the extra 2 tablespoons of flour to help with handling.
- For a little extra flavor, add some vanilla extract to the glaze.
Variation
You can make these cinnamon rolls even more special by adding chocolate chips or nuts to the filling. Another fun variation is to use other fruit pie fillings like blueberry or raspberry for a different flavor twist.
FAQs
Q: Can I make the dough ahead of time?
A: Yes! You can prepare the dough the night before, let it rise, then cover and refrigerate it. The next morning, let it come to room temperature before continuing with the recipe.
Q: Is the glaze optional?
A: While the glaze adds a delicious flavor, you can serve the rolls without it if you prefer. They are still tasty on their own!
Q: Can I freeze the cinnamon rolls?
A: Absolutely! Before baking, you can freeze the rolled-up cinnamon rolls. Just place them in a sealed container. When ready to bake, let them thaw and rise before baking as directed.
Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls with Lemon Cream Cheese Glaze
Ingredients
Dough Ingredients
- ¾ cup milk warm but not hot
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons instant yeast
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup water
- 1 cup all-purpose flour additional if dough is sticky
Filling Ingredients
- 1 can strawberry pie filling (21-ounce)
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
Glaze Ingredients
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 3 tablespoons salted butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons freeze-dried strawberries, crushed about 0.5 ounces
- 3 tablespoons half & half
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest about 1 large lemon
Instructions
Dough Preparation
- In a small saucepan, heat the milk and butter until warm.
- In a bowl, mix 2 ¼ cups of flour, instant yeast, sugar, and salt.
- Add the warm milk mixture and water, then add the egg. Stir until combined.
- Gradually add in 1 cup of flour, mixing until a dough forms.
- Knead the dough for about 5 minutes, adding more flour if it’s sticky.
- Place it in a greased bowl, cover with a towel, and let it rise for 1 hour.
Filling Preparation
- After the dough rises, roll it out on a floured surface to form a rectangle.
- Spread the strawberry pie filling over the dough, then sprinkle with ground cinnamon and sugar.
- Roll up the dough tightly and slice it into rolls.
- Place the rolls into a greased baking dish.
- Cover them again and let them rise for another 30 minutes.
Glaze Preparation
- While the rolls are rising, prepare the glaze.
- In a bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, crushed freeze-dried strawberries, half & half, lemon juice, and lemon zest until smooth.
Baking
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Bake the cinnamon rolls for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before adding the glaze.
