Neighbor Treats: Citrus Poppy Seed Rolls

These citrus poppy seed rolls are a dream!

Welcome back to my cozy cottage series, where I trade in my cozy corner for a cottage. A few of my neighbors missed out when I made my caramel brownies. To make it up to them, I made them these soft citrus clouds of goodness.

Recipe adapted from The Kitchen’s “Lemon Poppy Seed Recipe.”

Ingredients:

Recipe Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes

Dough:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
• 1 cup milk
• 1/3 cup sugar + 1 tsp sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tbsp poppyseed
• 1 tsp lemon extract
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast

Filling:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick/melted)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 lemons (zest)
• 2 limes (zest)
• 1 tsp cardamom
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Icing:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (room temp)
• 8 oz cream cheese (room temp)
• 2 cups powdered sugar (sifted)
• 2 lemons (juice)
• 2 limes (juice)

Topping:

• 1 lemon (zest)
• 1 lime (zest)
• 1 tbsp granulated sugar

Instructions:

Dough:

1. In a microwave-safe bowl or saucepan, combine the melted butter and milk. Warm the mixture until it reaches a temperature of about 100°F.
2. Once the mixture is warm, sprinkle in 1 tsp of sugar and active dry yeast. Allow it to sit for about 5 minutes to activate the yeast. You know the yeast is activated when it becomes frothy and releases a yeast-like aroma.
3. After activation, add the egg and whisk until combined. Set this mixture aside until you are ready to use it.
4. In a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the remaining sugar, all-purpose flour, salt, and poppy seeds on low speed. Then, add the milk mixture and mix on medium speed for about 10 minutes or until a dough forms.
5. Place the dough in a bowl coated with oil, cover it, and let it rise for about 1.5 hours.
6. While the dough is rising, prep your filling.

Filling:

1. In a medium bowl, add the sugar. Grate the zest of two lemons and two limes into the bowl. After grating, add in the cinnamon and cardamom. Using your fingers, combine the ingredients, which will help release the oils from the zest. Set the mixture aside until ready to use.

Rolls:

1. When the dough has risen, punch it down to release the air. Then, place the dough on a floured surface and roll it out until it is about 22 inches long.
2. Once rolled out, spread the room-temperature butter evenly around the dough and sprinkle the citrus sugar mixture filling, saving about one-third of the mixture.
3. With one-third of the sugar mixture, butter your baking dish and sprinkle the mixture evenly along the bottom.
4. Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough into about 15 even vertical lines. Roll up each section to form the rolls, then place them in a baking dish.
5. Cover the dough with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise for 30 to 45 minutes or until it has doubled in size. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F.
6. Once the rolls have risen, bake them in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until they are golden brown.

Icing & Topping:

1. While the rolls are baking, prepare your icing and topping. In a clean stand mixer or electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth, which should take about 1 minute.
2. Then, sift in the powdered sugar and mix until combined. Next, add the lemon and lime juice and combine everything once more. Set the icing aside in the fridge until you’re ready to use it (about 5 minutes).
3. In a small bowl, add sugar and grate one lime and one lemon using a grater. Mix the grated zest with the sugar with your fingers to help release the oils.

Assemble:

1. When the rolls are done baking, allow them to cool for about 5 minutes before icing. Once cooled, top them with the citrus icing and the citrus topping.

Enjoy!