Description
At their heart, braided lemon buns are a type of enriched yeast pastry made with flour, butter, eggs, and milk. Unlike plain bread, enriched doughs are soft, airy, and slightly sweet—perfect for sweet fillings like cinnamon, chocolate, or in this case, tangy lemon sugar.
Ingredients
Scale
For the enriched dough:
- ¾ cup warm milk (about 110°F / 43°C)
- 2¼ tsp instant yeast
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- Zest of 1 lemon
For the lemon sugar filling:
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- Zest of 2 lemons
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, very soft
Optional glaze:
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
1. Make the dough
- In a bowl, combine warm milk, yeast, and sugar. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
- Add egg, butter, flour, salt, and lemon zest. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 8–10 minutes).
- Cover and let rise until doubled (about 1 hour).
2. Prepare the filling
- Mix lemon zest into sugar using fingertips to release oils. Stir in soft butter until spreadable.
3. Shape the buns
- Roll dough into a rectangle (~12×16 inches). Spread lemon sugar evenly.
- Fold dough lengthwise (like closing a book). Cut into 12 strips.
- Twist each strip and coil into a bun shape. Place on lined tray.
4. Second rise
- Cover and let buns rise for 30–45 minutes until puffy.
5. Bake
- Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15–18 minutes until golden. Cool slightly.
6. Glaze (optional)
- Mix powdered sugar and lemon juice. Drizzle over warm buns.
Notes
These braided lemon buns are light, zesty, and perfect with a cup of tea or coffee. For an extra touch, drizzle them with a simple lemon glaze or dust with powdered sugar before serving. They also make a lovely addition to brunch tables or spring gatherings
- Prep Time: 25 minutes (plus 1 hr rising)
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Bread / Pastry
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: European (Scandinavian-inspired)
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bun
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 11g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: Moderate
Keywords: soft lemon buns, lemon sweet roll recipe, braided sweet rolls