I felt like a twist this morning from traditional. Something fresh, sweet that offered a refreshed feeling while retaining that element only comfort foods can offer. I have a standard cinnamon roll dough recipe I rely on almost like oxygen. I will however, alter the fillings to create a variety of treats. Here is the basic recipe and the additions I added.
Lemon-Cinnamon Rolls
1 pkg yeast
3/4 cup warm water
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg, room temperature
2 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup butter, melted
Filling
1 tbsp cinnamon
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp lemon zest
Dissolve yeast in water and let stand 10 minutes.
Combine yeast, sugar, egg, salt and 1 cup flour in mixing bowl and mix well. Add remaining flour 1/2 cup at time until dough pulls from sides of mixing bowl. Turn dough out on floured surface and kneed until smooth and elastic, or roughly 8 minutes. Cover and let stand for 10 minutes.
Grease a 8×8 square pan and roll out dough to a 1/4 inch thickness, smear well with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon, brown sugar and lemon zest. Roll dough into a log shape and slice into 16 equal pieces. Place in pan cut side up and let rise until doubled.
Bake 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Glaze
1 cup confectioners sugar (Powdered sugar)
1 tbsp lemon juice
Enough water to make a thin paste.
Drizzle glaze over cooled rolls.
**If you want to be extra fancy, take a cup of decorators sugar and put in Ziploc baggy, add 2 tbsp lemon zest and shake up well. This infuses the sugar with lemon flavoring and can be sprinkled on top of the rolls for additional bling.**