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    Home » Recipes » Breads » Sweet Rolls

    Citrus Cream Cheese Pull Apart Rolls

    Published by Melissa on March 25, 2021 | Updated June 10, 2022 | 22 Comments

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    Cream Cheese Pull Apart Rolls with a tangy and bright orange cream cheese filling and a zesty lemon glaze are the perfect sweet and tart treat for breakfast or tea.

    close up on a loaf of cream cheese pull apart rolls

    It’s hard to have a bad day if it starts with a fresh-from-the-oven buttery and soft homemade rolls. And when that roll is surround with tangy citrus cream cheese filling, topped with citrus sugar,  and drizzled with a sweet lemon glaze, all the better!

    These delicious cream cheese pull apart rolls are easy to make, thanks to premade dough, and are always a crowd-pleaser. I’m sharing them just in time for Easter so your family can start off the holiday on a sweet and creamy note. This recipe is a fun twist on more traditional hot cross buns. 

    This is a family favorite recipe that is slightly adapted from a 1999 Cooking Light recipe. My family would be disappointed if I didn’t make these for Easter morning. 

    pinterest button for cream cheese pull apart rolls

    How to Make Fluffy Cream Cheese Rolls

    Note that this recipe makes two 9-inch cake pans of rolls. You’ll cut the 18 rolls in half and divide the halves between two pans. Then top them with dried cranberries, cream cheese filling, and orange sugar for a crisp and sweet topping. 

    ovheread collage of the steps to make pull apart rolls with cream cheese and orange

    When arranging the halves in the pans, they will not completely cover the bottom of your pans. This is fine. As the rolls rise they will fill in any space. In particular, the rolls will expand quite a bit during the second rise and even more while baking.  

    Overnight Method: The recipe also includes an overnight method so you can get the rolls started the night before you want to serve them. 

    overhead collage of filling a cake pan with rolls and cream cheese filling

    Cream Cheese Orange Filling

    Before whipping up the tangy cream cheese mixture, make sure your cream cheese and egg are at room temperature. If you start with cold cream cheese, you may end up with tiny lumps in your mixture that will not cream together with the other ingredients.

    The citrus in this recipe adds the perfect amount of brightness and tang to cut through rich cream cheese. 

    You can buy one lemon and one orange for the recipe. This will get you both the zest and orange and lemon juice needed. I recommend zesting your lemon and orange before juicing it. It is hard to zest a flimsy juiceless orange.

    close up on a loaf of cream cheese pull apart rolls

    Sugar & Citrus Zest Mixture

    Mixing the zest into the sugar will help release the flavor of the zest. A trick to maximize the citrus flavor is to roll the zest and sugar mixture between your fingers to release even more of the zest flavor.

    side view of a loaf of cream cheese rolls with citrus

    Glazing Cream Cheese Pull-Apart Rolls 

    While the rolls bake and cool, you can make the simple two-ingredient lemon glaze to drizzle on top. The ingredients for this simple glaze blend together easily with a whisk or a fork. 

    If you’re not using the glaze immediately, place a damp paper towel over the bowl so the surface doesn’t crust over. If you have a dry home (forced air heat, etc.) you may need to dampen the towel a few times.

    showing how to remvoe a loaf of pull apart rolls from a cake pan

    Serving Homemade Citrus Cream Cheese Pull Apart Rolls

    Serve these fluffy citrus rolls warm and with extra glaze if you’d like. You can unmold the rolls, as shown above, onto a platter once the rolls have cooled for 15 minutes, but I generally serve them right from the cake pan.

    If you end up with leftovers, store them in an airtight container on the counter. To serve, gently reheat the rolls in the microwave to soften a bit. 

    Single citrus roll on a plate

    More Homemade Roll Recipes

    There are more fluffy and sweet roll recipes where this came from! Try these treats next:

    • Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls are a classic breakfast indulgence with sticky cinnamon filling and bright white glaze. 
    • Lion House Rolls are fluffy dinner rolls that are perfect with jam and butter or alongside a savory soup. 
    • Cranberry Citrus Cream Cheese Sweet Rolls are an easy from-scratch version of these cream cheese pull apart rolls with a buttery yeasted dough. 
    close up on a loaf of cream cheese pull apart rolls
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    Citrus Cream Cheese Pull Apart Rolls

    Fluffy and soft citrus cream cheese pull apart rolls with lemon glaze and orange cream cheese filling are the perfect sweet treat for breakfast or tea time.
    Prep Time2 hrs
    Cook Time25 mins
    Additional Time15 mins
    Total Time2 hrs 40 mins
    Course: Breads
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 36 rolls
    Calories: 87kcal
    Author: Barbara Bakes LLC
    Prevent your screen from going to sleep

    Equipment

    • Microplane Premium Classic Zester (baby blue)
    • OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Stainless-Steel Mixing Bowl Set, White
    • USA Pan Bakeware Round Cake Pan, 9 inch

    Ingredients

    • 1 25- ounce package frozen roll dough*
    • Cooking spray
    • ¼ cup butter or margarine — melted
    • ½ cup sweetened dried cranberries — such as Craisins OR ½ cup dried apricots — chopped
    • 1 cup granulated sugar — divided
    • 8 ounces regular or ⅓-less-fat cream cheese softened
    • 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
    • 1 tablespoon grated orange rind
    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 5 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

    Instructions

    • Thaw roll dough at room temperature 30 – 60 minutes until rolls are easy to cut in half.
    • Cut rolls in half. Place 18 halves, cut sides down, in the bottom of each of 2 (9-inch) round cake pans coated with cooking spray. Brush butter evenly over rolls. Cover; let rise in a warm place (85º), free from drafts, 30 minutes.
    • Sprinkle with dried cranberries. In a mixing bowl, add ¼ cup granulated sugar and cream cheese and beat at low speed of a mixer until smooth. Add orange juice and egg and beat until well blended. Pour cream cheese mixture evenly over rolls.
    • Cover and let rise 1 hour or until doubled in size.
    • Preheat oven to 350º.
    • Combine ¾ cup granulated sugar, and rinds in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over rolls.
    • Bake at 350º for 20 minutes. Cover with foil. Bake an additional 5 minutes or until rolls in the center are done. Remove from oven; cool 15 minutes.
    • Combine powdered sugar and lemon juice. Drizzle over rolls.

    Video

    Notes

    Overnight Variation: After pouring the cream cheese mixture over rolls, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 12 hours. Gently remove plastic wrap from rolls. Let stand at room temperature 30 – 60 minutes or until dough has doubled in size. Sprinkle with rind mixture. Proceed with recipe as directed.
    *I usually use 18 Rhodes rolls

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 87kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Fiber: 1g
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    About Melissa & Barbara

    As of June 2022 Melissa Griffiths now is the one adding recipes. So think of it as Barbara Bakes, and Melissa too! Melissa and Barbara have been blogging friends for over 10 years and when Barbara was ready to retire and spend more time with her family, Melissa took over the site. Read more...

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Shery Sullivan

      March 28, 2021 at 8:10 am

      These sound amazing. With just my husband & I, I might make 1 pan for Easter. Even then I’ll share with friends. He won’t want to share, but we need to watch our weight. When I head north in about a month I have a big family who’ll appreciate this.

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        March 28, 2021 at 8:45 am

        Thanks Sherry – enjoy!

        Reply
    2. Lori

      April 20, 2017 at 10:13 pm

      I’ve made these a couple of times, I did the overnight version and In a bundt pan, absolutely delicious!

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        April 21, 2017 at 2:13 am

        Thanks Lori! We had them again for Easter.

        Reply
    3. Bonnie

      April 04, 2015 at 9:44 am

      I have a question abou the recipe. It says place 24 cut rolls in each of two round pans. Do 24 half-rolls fit in one pan? Does that mean there are 48 pieces of dough- 24 in each? Sirry I’m so confused. I haven’t made these yet- making today and they look delicious!!

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        April 04, 2015 at 10:07 am

        Hi Bonnie – they are so delicious. I’m making them today as well. 24 half rolls do fit in one pan – the Rhodes rolls I use are not big. If you’re using the big Texas size rolls, you won’t be able to fit that many in the pan. The original recipe calls for 24, but I usually only use 18 rolls total, so 18 half rolls per pan so they have more room to rise in the pan and none of the topping spills over the side.

        Reply
    4. kathy

      April 20, 2014 at 4:04 pm

      bravo for a great recipe made for Easter am were very moist

      i did cheat a bit an made a copycat Hawaiian roll recipe since had pineapple juice in which i used part oj for a change also used oj for glaze an was very nice

      i made a large pan an 2 small pans so froze one

      thanks again

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        April 21, 2014 at 7:08 pm

        Hi Kathy – I like the idea of using homemade Hawaiian rolls in this recipe. Thanks for sharing! Glad you enjoyed them.

        Reply
    5. kathy

      March 30, 2014 at 2:06 pm

      love the toppings but wonder can one use homemade sweet roll dough ? sure be easier for me

      thanks

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        March 30, 2014 at 9:16 pm

        Yes I’ve made them with homemade roll dough before and they’re even better.

        Reply
    6. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef

      March 30, 2014 at 12:50 am

      Those rolls look like a party for breakfast. What a great way to celebrate Easter morning!

      Reply
    7. Leslie

      March 29, 2014 at 5:11 pm

      Sounds delicious!

      The link to your favorite dinner roll recipe is not active..???

      Reply
    8. Jacquelyn Potter

      January 23, 2013 at 5:06 pm

      Good looking recipe.

      Reply
    9. carrian

      August 29, 2012 at 10:28 am

      These were the best things EVERRRRRRR! Such a perfect recipe

      Reply
    10. Asiya @ Chocolate and Chillies

      August 01, 2012 at 10:35 am

      Popping over from Taste and Tell where I read about these rolls and they do look amazing! Can’t wait to give them a try!

      Reply
      • Barbara

        August 01, 2012 at 10:43 am

        Hi! Thanks for popping in. Definitely give them a try. It’s one of the few recipes that I make over and over again.

        Reply
    11. Becky

      July 26, 2012 at 4:46 pm

      Thanks so much for sending me this link. I LOVE sweet rolls but rarely make them. I need more visitors to come stay with me so I can have an excuse to make these!

      Reply
    12. Monica H

      May 16, 2010 at 4:25 am

      Oh my, these look and sound delicious. I should make these for my mom- I know she'd love them!

      Reply
    13. Lorraine @NotQuiteNigella

      March 21, 2009 at 11:23 pm

      I love the sound of these Barbara and they look so gooey and good (just how you’d want a pullapart to be!)

      Reply
    14. Deborah

      April 10, 2008 at 4:00 pm

      I love any kind of pull-aparts, and these sound especially good!

      Reply
    15. Big Boys Oven

      April 02, 2008 at 8:51 am

      looks so amazingly good! must be delicious

      Reply

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