Citrus Rolls

INGREDIENTS

Dough

1 1/4 oz package active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water (100 degrees)
1/2 teaspoon + 1/3 cup sugar, divided
1/2 cup warm milk
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups all-purpose flour

Filling

1/4 cup  + 1/4 cup butter, softened and divided
1/2 cup + 1/2 cup sugar, divided
2 lemons, zested 

Icing

8 oz cream cheese
3-4 cups powdered sugar
1/2-1 lemon, juiced

DIRECTIONS

Mix yeast, warm water and 1/2 teaspoon of sugar in a small bowl. Let the yeast "puff." This takes five minutes, or so — If it doesn't puff the yeast is old or the water was too hot.

Melt butter in sauce pan. Add milk to warm as the butter is finishing the melt. Let sit until mixture is lukewarm. 

In a large mixing bowl combine 1/3 cup sugar, salt, egg and warm milk + melted butter mixture. Mix well.

Add the yeast mixture to the mixing bowl. Mix well. 

Once both bowls are combined, slowly add in the flour by sections. Mix until a smooth dough forms. The dough should be slightly stiff and very sticky.

Turn dough onto a workspace or kneed in bowl with a dough-hook for 5 minutes. Dough will turn very soft — dough will stick to your fingers. 

Place dough in a well buttered bowl and let it rise, covered, in a warm place until doubled — overnight, works well, but four hours will do.

Once the dough is doubled, punch it down and place on a well floured workspace.

Cut dough in half and form two dough-balls and let it rise for five minutes. 

Roll each dough-ball into a rectangle — use flour on the work surface. 

Spread the dough with 1/4 cup soft butter. Sprinkle dough with sugar. Then, zest one full lemon on top. 

Roll up length wise (photos here).

Repeat with the second dough-ball.

Line or grease muffin tin. 

Cut the dough into slices and place in the greased paned. Let rolls rise in a warm place until doubled — about an hour 

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 12 - 18 minutes until light golden. If they start to brown quickly, cover in foil and continue baking. 

Make icing by combining all ingredients in a mixing bowl until creamy. 

Spread icing over cooled rolls.