Description
Delight in the soft, sweet, and fluffy Iced Rolls, a classic treat featuring a tender bread dough topped with a luscious honey frosting and crowned with a glacé cherry. Perfect for breakfast, afternoon snacks, or special occasions, these rolls combine the comforting flavors of vanilla and butter with a deliciously smooth honey glaze.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 4 cups bread flour (plus more as needed & for dusting kneading surface)
- 1 cup milk (warmed to 110°F)
- 1 packet active dry yeast (about 2 1/4 teaspoons)
- 4 tablespoons sugar (for activating yeast)
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup butter (room temperature)
- 1/4 cup sugar (for sweetening dough)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon salt
Egg Wash
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon water
Honey Frosting
- 4 cups powdered sugar (plus more as needed)
- 4 tablespoons butter (room temperature)
- 4 tablespoons honey
- 1 cup milk (plus more as needed)
Topping
- Glacé cherries (for topping)
Instructions
- Activate yeast: Warm the milk to 90-110°F. Pour into the bowl of a stand mixer, then add 4 tablespoons of sugar and the active dry yeast. Whisk gently to combine and let the mixture sit for 10-15 minutes until it becomes foamy and bubbly, indicating the yeast is activated.
- Combine dough ingredients: Attach the dough hook to the mixer. On the stir setting, slowly add the bread flour, eggs, room temperature butter, and 1/4 cup sugar meant for the dough sweetening into the yeast mixture. Pause periodically to scrape the sides of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
- Add flavorings: Stir in vanilla extract and salt. Continue mixing until a thick and sticky dough forms, about 10 minutes.
- Knead dough: If the dough is overly sticky, add flour one tablespoon at a time until it feels smooth, thick but not sticking to fingers or spatula. Knead the dough with the dough hook for another 10 minutes until elastic and cohesive.
- First rise: Cover the dough bowl with a damp towel and place in a warm spot. Allow it to rise for 60-90 minutes or until it doubles in size.
- Shape rolls: Punch down the dough and transfer it to a lightly floured surface. Knead gently and roll the dough into a long log shape. Cut into 12 pieces for larger buns or 24 for smaller ones.
- Second rise: Place the cut buns on a large baking sheet, spacing them 1-2 inches apart. Cover lightly with plastic wrap and a damp towel. Let them rise for 15-30 minutes until puffed up. Work in batches to prevent buns from touching. Refrigerate any extras to slow proofing.
- Preheat and egg wash: Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a small bowl, whisk together 1 egg and 1 tablespoon water. Brush each bun lightly with the egg wash for a beautiful golden crust.
- Bake buns: Bake the buns in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until puffed and golden brown. Let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
- Prepare honey frosting: When the buns have completely cooled, combine powdered sugar, room temperature butter, and honey in a medium bowl. Using a hand mixer on low speed, blend until the mixture becomes crumbly.
- Thin frosting: Continue mixing on low, gradually add milk one or two tablespoons at a time until the frosting thickens to a smooth, pourable consistency. Add extra powdered sugar if the frosting becomes too thin.
- Ice and top rolls: Spread or pour the honey frosting over each cooled bun. Place a single glacé cherry on top of each roll. Allow the frosting to dry for about an hour for a nice crust or serve immediately.
Notes
- Make sure the milk is warm and not hot when activating the yeast to prevent killing the yeast.
- The dough should be sticky but manageable; avoid adding too much flour to keep the rolls soft.
- Brushing with egg wash gives the rolls a gorgeous golden color and shine.
- Customize the topping by swapping glacé cherries with nuts or sprinkles for variation.
- Store leftover iced rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days or freeze for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Bread, Dessert, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 large roll (without frosting approx. 90g; with frosting approx. 120g)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: Iced Rolls, Sweet Bread, Honey Frosting Rolls, Soft Dinner Rolls, Yeast Rolls, Glacé Cherry Topping
