Description
Soft and fluffy homemade cinnamon rolls featuring a sweet strawberry pie filling and topped with a vibrant lemon and strawberry cream cheese glaze.
Ingredients
For the Dough:
¾ cup milk
⅓ cup softened unsalted butter
3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour (+2 tablespoons if needed)
2 teaspoons instant yeast
¼ cup granulated sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 large egg
¼ cup water
For the Filling:
1 (21-ounce) can strawberry pie filling
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon granulated sugar
For the Glaze:
4 ounce cream cheese, softened
3 Tablespoons salted butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons freeze-dried strawberries, crushed into powder
3 tablespoons half & half
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Step 1: To make the dough, add ¾ cup milk and ⅓ cup unsalted butter to a small saucepan. Heat over medium-low, stirring until the butter melts. Remove from heat and let it cool to a lukewarm temperature.
- Step 2: In a large bowl or a stand mixer’s bowl, whisk together 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons instant yeast, ¼ cup granulated sugar, and ½ teaspoon salt.
- Step 3: Add 1 large egg and ¼ cup water to the dry ingredients and mix with a dough hook until just combined.
- Step 4: Slowly pour in the lukewarm milk mixture and the remaining 1 cup of all-purpose flour, mixing until a dough forms.
- Step 5: Knead the dough on medium speed for 6-7 minutes until it is smooth and pulls away from the sides. If the dough remains very sticky, add 1-2 tablespoons of flour and knead for another 2-3 minutes.
- Step 6: Form the dough into a ball, place it back in the bowl, and let it rest for 10 minutes.
- Step 7: On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a 9 x 15-inch rectangle.
- Step 8: For the filling, spread the strawberry pie filling evenly over the rolled-out dough. In a small bowl, combine 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon and ½ teaspoon of granulated sugar, then sprinkle this mixture over the strawberry filling.
- Step 9: Tightly roll the dough up, starting from the 15-inch side, to form a log. Pinch the seam to seal it.
- Step 10: Use a sharp knife to slice the log into 12 even rolls. Place the rolls cut-side up in a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- Step 11: Cover the pan with a damp cloth and let the rolls rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.
- Step 12: While the rolls are rising, preheat your oven to 375°F. Bake the rolls for 30 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown.
- Step 13: To make the glaze, combine 4 ounces of softened cream cheese, 3 tablespoons of softened salted butter, and 1 cup of powdered sugar in a medium bowl. Beat until smooth.
- Step 14: Add 3 tablespoons of half & half, 2 teaspoons of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of lemon zest, and the crushed freeze-dried strawberry powder to the glaze. Mix until fully combined.
- Step 15: Let the baked rolls cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then spread the glaze evenly over the warm rolls before serving.
Notes
You can make the dough by hand by stirring all ingredients in a large bowl and then kneading on a floured surface for about 10 minutes until smooth.
To prevent the filling from squeezing out while rolling, lift the dough up and over the filling rather than just pushing it forward.
For clean cuts, wipe the knife with a paper towel between each slice when cutting the rolls.
Allowing the rolls to cool for 10 minutes before glazing prevents the glaze from melting completely.
- Prep Time: 40 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American