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Home / Latest Posts / Recipes / Course / Bread / Lemon Pull Apart Rolls

Lemon Pull Apart Rolls

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By: Leigh Anne WilkesPosted: 2/20/25Updated: 2/20/25

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure policy here.

cast iron pan full of lemon pull apart rolls

These lovely lemon pull apart rolls are a piece of heaven and they literally melt in your mouth! Making them with frozen rolls makes them so easy!

cast iron pan full of lemon pull apart rolls

Why You’ll Love This Recipe!

Amazing Lemon Flavor! The best part of this lemon pull-apart bread is how it tastes.  It is full of lovely lemon flavor.  

So Easy to Make! The second best part is how easy the recipe is because it uses frozen roll dough!  I actually found this recipe over at the Rhodes website and it was love at first site and first taste!  

Great Texture: The sugar creates a nice crunchy, lemony texture on top and the inside of the roll is soft and sweet.

No Yeast Involved! Because these rolls are made with store bought, frozen roll dough there is no instant yeast or dry ingredients involved!

baked lemon pull apart rolls in a black cast iron pan

Ingredients Needed

  • Frozen Dinner Rolls. I use Rhodes frozen rolls but you can use other brands. Each roll weighs about 1.3 oz. See below if you prefer to make your own roll dough.
  • Lemons
  • Granulated Sugar
  • Butter, salted
  • Powdered Sugar
ingredients for lemon pull apart rolls

How to Make Lemon Pull Apart Rolls

  • Remove frozen rolls from freezer, place on a baking sheet or plate and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to thaw at room temperature. You want them to be thawed but still cold.  Depending on the temperature of your house, this will take around 1 1/2 hours.  I used 12 rolls for my 10 inch cast iron skillet pan.
making lemon sugar with lemon zest and sugar
  • Mix up lemon sugar mixture by combining sugar and lemon zest.  Stir together with a fork or spoon, you can even use your fingers to rub the lemon zest into the sugar so it gets infused into the sugar.
  • Cut the rolls in half with a pair of scissors and lay them into the pan.  Pour melted butter over the top.
rolls placed in cast iron pan and butter poured over them.
  • Sprinkle half of the lemon sugar mixture over the top.   Cover them with plastic wrap.
sugar sprinkled over rolls and rolls rising in pan
  • Set the rolls in a nice warm place and let them rise for an hour or until they double in size.
  • Sprinkle the other half of the sugar mixture on top after they have risen.
lemon pull apart rolls in a cast iron pan, golden brown
  • Bake at 350 degree F until they are nice and golden brown, about 20-25 minutes.
  • Combine powdered sugar, melted butter and lemon juice until you have a nice drizzling consistency.
  • Remove the rolls from the oven and cool for five minutes, then glaze.
pouring glaze over top of lemon pull apart rolls

Tips from leigh Anne

  1. Don’t let the rolls start to rise before you cut them in half, they should be still cold and just thawed. Time will vary depending on how warm your house is.
  2. Enjoy this delicious great warm, I think that is the way it is best enjoyed!
  3. If you prefer to make your own homemade dough, form your rolls into 1.3 oz. balls after the first rise and then cut them in half and continue with recipe as written.
hand holding one lemon pull apart roll

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to store leftover pull apart lemon rolls?

Keep them stored at room temperature in an airtight container. They will stay fresh for up to 3 days.

How do I rewarm pull apart rolls?

Place on a microwave safe plate and put them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds.

Can I make these into a cinnamon roll pull apart bread?

Absolutely! Instead of the lemon sugar and zest, mix together sugar and cinnamon and use that.

pull apart rolls on a plate

Some of my other favorite recipes bread recipes:

  • Cheese Pull Apart Bread
  • Buttery Cloverleaf Yeast Rolls
  • Cinnamon Roll Pull Aparts
  • Pizza Monkey Bread
  • 30 Minute Rolls
  • Quick and Easy Orange Rolls
  • Everything Bagel Seasoning Pull Apart Rolls
  • Magleby’s Rolls

Be sure and follow me over on You Tube for weekly cooking demos.

4.88 from 8 votes
cast iron pan full of lemon pull apart rolls

Lemon Pull Apart Rolls

Recipe From: Leigh Anne Wilkes
These lovely lemon rolls are a piece of heaven and they literally melt in your mouth! Making them with frozen rolls makes them so easy!
serves: 12 servings
Prep:10 minutes minutes
Cook:20 minutes minutes
Total:30 minutes minutes
Rate Recipe

Ingredients

  • 12 frozen dinner rolls thawed but still cold
  • zest from 2 whole lemons
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup butter melted

Citrus Glaze

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon butter melted
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Instructions

  • Mix lemon zest with sugar.
  • Cut rolls in half and place in a 10-inch cast iron pan or 9×13-inch sprayed baking pan.
  • Drizzle 1/4 cup melted butter over rolls.
  • Sprinkle with lemon zest/sugar mixture, reserving 1/2 of mixture to sprinkle on just before baking.
  • Cover with sprayed plastic wrap. Let rise until double in size.
  • Remove wrap. Sprinkle on remaining mixture.
  • Bake at 350°F 20-25 minutes. Remove immediately from pan and place on cooling rack.
  • Combine glaze ingredients and mix well. Drizzle over pull-aparts.

Tips & Notes:

  1. Don’t let the rolls start to rise before you cut them in half, they should be just thawed.
  2. Enjoy this delicious great warm, I think that is the way it is best enjoyed!
  3. If you prefer to make your own homemade dough, form your rolls into 1.3 oz. balls after the first rise and then cut them in half and continue with recipe as written.

Recommended Products

Cast Iron Skillet (10in)
Measuring Spoons

Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 231kcal (12%) Carbohydrates: 38g (13%) Protein: 4g (8%) Fat: 7g (11%) Saturated Fat: 4g (25%) Cholesterol: 13mg (4%) Sodium: 268mg (12%) Potassium: 49mg (1%) Fiber: 2g (8%) Sugar: 19g (21%) Vitamin A: 147IU (3%) Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) Calcium: 77mg (8%) Iron: 2mg (11%)
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full disclosure here.
Course:Bread
Cuisine:American
cast iron pan full of lemon pull apart rolls
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4.88 from 8 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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  1. Donna Smart says

    Posted on 8/9 at 8:41 am

    These are delicious!

    Reply
  2. Rosemary says

    Posted on 5/28 at 4:15 am

    What really yummy, but easy recipe

    Reply
  3. Becky says

    Posted on 5/24 at 5:03 pm

    Easy and delicious!

    Reply
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