Lemon Buns with Lemon Cream Cheese Icing

Soft, buttery Lemon Buns with Lemon Cream Cheese Icing, filled with a sweet citrus-sugar mixture and topped with a rich, tangy icing. Perfect for brunch or a homemade treat, these golden, fluffy buns are bursting with fresh lemon flavor.

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Keyword Lemon Buns with Lemon Cream Cheese Icing

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 20

Rise Time 1 30

Total Time 2 10

Servings buns

Calories 351kcal

Author Cathy Pollak

Equipment

measuring cups and spoons For accurate ingredient amounts for the best results.
mixing bowls Needed for preparing the dough, yeast mixture, and filling.
Stand Mixer Makes mixing and kneading the dough easier and more consistent.
baking dish 9x13 Holds the buns while they rise and bake.
spatula Spreads the icing smoothly over the warm buns.

Ingredients

Lemon Bun Dough:

1 cup whole milk (lukewarm)
1/2 cup granulated sugar divided
2-1/4 tsp. (1 package) instant dry yeast
1/3 cup butter softened
1/2 tsp. table salt
2 large eggs
4 cups all-purpose flour
vegetable oil for greasing

Filling:

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
lemon zest (from 2 lemons)
1/3 cup butter softened enough to spread

Lemon Cream Cheese Icing:

6 tbsps. butter softened
1/2 cup cream cheese softened
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tbsp. lemon zest
2 tsps. fresh lemon juice

Instructions

Dough:

In a medium mixing bowl, add the warmed milk, 1 teaspoon of sugar, and yeast. (You can take this teaspoon from the ½ cup of sugar for the dough.) Set aside and let the yeast get foamy.
1 cup whole milk (lukewarm), 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 2-1/4 tsp. (1 package) instant dry yeast
Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat together the remaining sugar, butter, and salt until well combined. Add the eggs one at a time, beating until fully incorporated. Turn the speed to low and slowly add the flour until fully mixed.
1/3 cup butter, 1/2 tsp. table salt, 2 large eggs, 4 cups all-purpose flour
Switch to the dough hook and pour in the yeast-milk mixture. Knead until a soft dough forms—it should pull away from the sides of the bowl when ready.
Grease a clean medium-sized bowl with vegetable oil. Add the dough, flipping it to coat both sides lightly in oil. Cover with a tea towel and let it rest in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
vegetable oil

Filling:

While the dough rises, whisk together the sugar, vanilla, and lemon zest in a small bowl. Set aside.
1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, lemon zest (from 2 lemons)
Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
Once the dough has doubled in size, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll it into a ¼-inch thick rectangle.
Spread the softened butter over the dough using the back of a spoon or spatula, leaving a ½-inch border around the edges. Evenly sprinkle the filling mixture over the butter.
1/3 cup butter
Starting with the long edge, carefully roll up the dough, tucking as you go. Using a serrated knife, cut the roll into eight even slices, about 1½ inches wide. Place the buns in the greased baking dish. Cover and let them rise again in a warm spot until doubled in size.
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Bake on the middle rack for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

Icing:

While the buns bake, beat the butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add confectioners' sugar to taste (you don’t need to use the full cup if you prefer it less sweet), then mix in the lemon zest and lemon juice. Beat until smooth.

6 tbsps. butter, 1/2 cup cream cheese, 1 cup confectioners' sugar, 1 tbsp. lemon zest, 2 tsps. fresh lemon juice
Let the buns cool for 5–10 minutes before spreading the icing with a spatula.

Notes

For optimal outcomes when making these lemon buns with lemon cream cheese icing, I recommend referring to the recipe details within the post. The recipe post commonly includes valuable notes, expert tips and frequently asked questions, that are not presented in the recipe card, often including how to make this recipe dairy-free, gluten free or vegan and ideas for healthy ingredient substitutions or variations.

The provided nutrition information is merely an approximation, as variations can arise depending on the specific ingredients/brands you select.

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Nutrition