vegan lemon berry rolls

Step 1

In a large nonstick pot, combine the milk, oil, and ¼ cup of sugar. Heat up to about 120F {warmer than body temperature but NOT burning hot} over medium heat, then remove from burner and sprinkle the yeast on top. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes to allow the yeast to activate.

Step 2

Afterwards, mix in the 2 cups of flour, cover the pot with a clean tea towel, and let the dough rise for about 1 hour.

Step 3

After the first rise, add in the salt, baking powder, baking soda, lemon zest, and additional flour. Knead until all the flour has been absorbed, and add more if needed. You want the dough to be soft and smooth but not too sticky! Using a sharp knife, cut an X on top of your dough {this helps it rise }, cover with a tea towel again, and let rise for an additional 3+ hours. You can let it rise overnight at this point, or you can also wait until the next step!

Step 4

After the second rise, lightly flour a clean surface, and dump the dough on top. Knead it for 2-3 minutes, adding more flour as needed. The dough should be smooth and easy to work with, so add flour if it's too sticky!

Step 5

Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out into a rough rectangle, making sure you don't roll it out too thin (somewhere between ½-1/4 inch).

Step 6

In a small bowl, combine the softened butter with the sugar and lemon zest. Mix together until smooth and creamy. Spread this mixture all over the dough, and top with the berries.

Step 7

Starting with the side farthest from you, tightly roll up the dough.

Step 8

Using a large, smooth knife, cut 1½-2 inch slices of dough, and place them in a greased 9x9 pan (or cast iron skillet). Make sure to leave some space between the rolls to allow them to rise more!

Step 9

At this point, you can cover the pans with plastic wrap and either let them rise for 30 minutes in a warm place, or place them in the refrigerator overnight (if you didn't let them rise overnight the first time).

Step 10

When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375F. Bake the rolls 22-27 minutes, until the tops are golden brown and no longer doughy.

Step 11

While the rolls cook, make the glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and lemon juice. Add more powdered sugar as needed to get the right consistency. You can add a bit of lemon extract to boost the flavor if you want.

Step 12

Let rolls cool slightly, then top with the glaze and enjoy!