These Brave Iced Rolls are the ultimate comfort food. With their pillowy soft texture and a sweet swirl of cherries, they’re perfect for cozy mornings or special occasions.
Place the warm milk (about 100°F) and the dry yeast into the bowl of a stand mixer. Whisk gently and let it sit for around 5 minutes until it becomes frothy.
Add the sugar, salt, softened butter, egg, vanilla extract (optional), and flour into the stand mixer bowl with the yeast mixture. Using the dough hook attachment, blend the ingredients together on medium speed. Let it mix for around 10 minutes, or until the dough comes together and forms a smooth, elastic ball.
Transfer the dough to a large, greased bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and let it sit in a warm spot for 1 hour. The dough should rise and puff up, doubling in size.
Shape the Rolls
After the dough has risen, softly deflate it by pressing down. Transfer it to a lightly floured surface and use a rolling pin to roll it into a large rectangle, approximately 12x15 inches.
Roll it up snugly, just like a Swiss roll. Then, using a sharp knife or dental floss, cut the rolled dough into 12 equal pieces, slicing carefully to maintain the round shape of each roll.
Place the rolls on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover them gently with plastic wrap and let them rise again for another hour, until they puff up.
Bake the Rolls
Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Once the rolls have risen, remove the plastic wrap and bake them for 15–20 minutes, or until they’re golden brown.
Remove the rolls from the oven and allow them to cool down slightly before adding the icing.
Make the Icing:
While the rolls are baking, prepare the icing by whisking together the powdered sugar, milk, corn syrup, and lemon juice in a medium bowl until smooth.
Once the rolls have cooled, fill a decorating bag with the icing and generously pipe it onto each roll. Top each roll with a maraschino cherry in the center for a finishing touch.
Let the icing set slightly, then enjoy your beautifully iced rolls!