Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls with Lemon Cream Cheese Glaze

These Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls with Lemon Cream Cheese Glaze are soft, fluffy, and filled with sweet strawberries, then finished with a smooth lemony cream cheese glaze. They are perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet dessert and taste like a mix of strawberry shortcake and classic cinnamon rolls.

Ingredients

For the Dough

• 1 cup warm milk
• 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• ⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups all-purpose flour

For the Strawberry Filling

• 1½ cups fresh strawberries, finely chopped
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons softened butter

For the Lemon Cream Cheese Glaze

• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 2–3 tablespoons milk

Preparation Steps

Step 1: Prepare the dough

In a large bowl, combine warm milk and yeast. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy. Add sugar, melted butter, egg, and salt. Mix well, then gradually add flour until a soft dough forms. Knead for 5–7 minutes until smooth. Cover and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.

Step 2: Prepare the strawberry filling

In a bowl, mix chopped strawberries with brown sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon. Set aside so the mixture thickens slightly.

Step 3: Assemble the rolls

Roll the dough into a large rectangle. Spread softened butter evenly over the dough. Sprinkle the strawberry mixture evenly on top. Roll tightly into a log and cut into 9–12 rolls.

Step 4: Second rise

Place rolls in a greased baking dish. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes until puffy.

Step 5: Bake

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake for 25–30 minutes until lightly golden and cooked through.

Step 6: Make the glaze

Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and milk. Mix until creamy and pourable.

Step 7: Glaze and serve

Drizzle glaze over warm rolls before serving.

Variations

• Use frozen strawberries, thawed and well drained
• Add white chocolate chips to the filling
• Replace lemon glaze with vanilla glaze
• Add a little strawberry jam for extra filling
• Make mini rolls for brunch trays

Serving Suggestions

• Serve warm with coffee or tea
• Pair with fresh strawberries on the side
• Add extra glaze just before serving
• Serve as a brunch centerpiece
• Enjoy as a dessert with vanilla ice cream

Prep Time / Cooking Time / Total Time

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cooking Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes (including rise time)

Nutritional Info (Approx.)

• Calories: 380 per roll
• Carbohydrates: 55g
• Protein: 7g
• Fat: 15g

Conclusion

Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls with Lemon Cream Cheese Glaze are soft, fruity, and comforting. They are a perfect homemade treat that feels bakery-style but is easy enough to make at home.