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Featured Image for post Cranberry Citrus Cream Cheese Sweet Rolls
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5 from 2 votes

Cranberry Citrus Cream Cheese Sweet Rolls

Cook Time20 minutes
Additional Time4 hours 40 minutes
Total Time5 hours
Course: Breads
Keyword: baking, Breakfast, Lemon, yeast, yeast bread
Servings: 12 Sweet Rolls
Author: Barbara Schieving

Ingredients

Dough

  • 3 cups bread flour
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons yeast I used 1 package yeast Red Star Platinum Yeast
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup milk
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature

Citrus Sugar and Filling:

  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
  • ½ cup sweetened dried cranberries

Cream Cheese Topping:

  • 4 ounce cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
  • 1 large egg yolk

Glaze:

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 5 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Instructions

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, combine 2 cups flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.
  • In saucepan or microwave safe dish, heat milk and butter until warm (120° – 130°).
  • Add liquids to flour mixture. Blend at low speed until moistened. Add eggs; beat 3 minutes at medium speed.
  • Switch to the dough hook and mix in the remaining flour a little at a time, to make a soft, slightly sticky dough, add more or less flour as needed. Knead the dough for 5 minutes. Place in greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover; let rise in warm place until double, about 45 minutes.
  • Make the citrus sugar by mixing ¾ cup sugar with the lemon and orange zests. Set aside
  • Punch down the dough and let it rest 5 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a 16-inch x 12-inch rectangle. Spread 2 tablespoons butter evenly over the dough with a rubber spatula or your fingers. Sprinkle ½ cup of the citrus sugar evenly over the butter. Sprinkle cranberries evenly over the sugar. Starting with the long end, roll the dough into a log, and cut it into 12 slices.
  • Place each piece, cut edges up, 1 inch apart on a parchment lined baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until double, about 30 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Make Cream Cheese Topping: Combine cream cheese, sugar, orange juice, and egg yolk; beat at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended.
  • Make a slight indentation in the center of each sweet roll. Fill the center of each roll with cream cheese topping. Sprinkle remaining citrus sugar over the tops of the sweet rolls.
  • Bake about 20 minutes until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool on the pan for 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Prepare glaze: Combine powdered sugar and lemon juice. Drizzle over rolls.