Luscious Lemon Sticky Buns

Pucker up and take a bite of these zingy lemon sticky buns! 

Ingredients:

2 1/2 tsps instant yeast

3/4 cup milk, at 105-110°F

1/2 cup butter, at room temperature

2 eggs

1/4 cup sugar

2 tsps vanilla extract

1 tsp almond extract

zest of 1 lemon

1 tbsp lemon juice

3  3/4 - 4 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

Lemon Filling:

1 cup sugar

zest of 1 lemon

4 tbsps butter, at room temperature

1/4 tsp powdered ginger

1/8 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup lemon juice

Cream Cheese Glaze:

1 lemon zested and juiced

4 oz cream cheese, at room temperature

1 cup icing sugar, maybe a few tbsps more

Gently stir the warm milk and yeast together in a large mixer bowl and cover with a dishtowel. Leave 10 minutes.

Mix 1/2 tsp salt with 1 cup flour and add to the bowl. Then add the butter, eggs, sugar, vanilla, almond extract, lemon zest and juice. Add the remaining flour 1 cup at a time until you have a sticky dough. Knead for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.

Coat ball of dough in a little vegetable oil, place in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap and a dishtowel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

While the dough is rising prepare the lemon filling. Rub the zest of 1 lemon into 1 cup of sugar with your fingers, then beat in the butter, ginger and cinnamon. Slowly add the lemon juice. Refrigerate for 1/2 hour.

On a floured surface pat or roll out the dough to a rectangle of about 10 X 15". Spread the filling to 1/2" from each edge and firmly roll up from the long edge. 

Grease and flour a 13 X 9" baking dish.

Cut the roll into 12 even slices and place the rolls in the baking dish. I use dental floss to slice the rolls as I find it doesn't squish them as much as a knife. Or maybe I need sharper knives 😕

Again, cover with plastic wrap and a towel and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until puffy.

Bake in a 350°F oven for 35 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 190°F. 

To make the glaze, cream the lemon juice and cream cheese together. The add the icing sugar in 2 or 3 additions to the consistency you like. Once the rolls have cooled about 10 minutes you can drizzle or spread the glaze over top and finish with a sprinkle of  lemon zest.

Best served warm! For reheating leftovers simply pop one in the microwave for 10-15 seconds 😋

Adapted from: thekitchn.com