Freshly baked cinnamon rolls covered with lemon glaze in a round baking dish.

Sunrise Cinnamon Rolls

Refrigerated pizza dough makes these cinnamon-raisin spirals surprisingly quick to put together. Lemon zest in the filling and a lemon glaze give the warm rolls a cheerful lift.

By Betty Lou GardnerAbout 2 hours 15 minutesUpdated 2026-08-22

These shortcut Sunrise Cinnamon Rolls turn refrigerated pizza dough into a warm pan of cinnamon-raisin spirals with bright lemon flavor in the filling and glaze. They are easy enough for a weekend breakfast and still feel special for holidays and slow mornings.

Betty Lou Gardner in a family archival photograph

Granny’s Kitchen Notes

From Betty Lou Gardner

I glaze these while they are still warm so the lemon icing soaks into the tops a little. Sometimes I use pecans instead of raisins when that is what I have in the cupboard.

How to Make Sunrise Cinnamon Rolls

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A baking dish brushed generously with softened butter.

Sweet dough rolled into a large even rectangle on a floured counter.

01

Roll Out the Dough

Bring the dough toward room temperature, then roll it into a large, even rectangle on a lightly floured surface.

Cinnamon sugar, lemon zest, and raisins spread over buttered dough.

02

Add the Filling

Brush with melted butter and add the cinnamon sugar, lemon zest, and raisins.

Filled dough rolled into a log and sliced into even rolls.

03

Roll and Slice

Roll the dough snugly from a long side and divide the log into 12 even pieces.

Shaped cinnamon rolls arranged evenly in a buttered baking dish.

04

Let the Rolls Rise

Arrange the rolls in the baking dish and let them become visibly puffy.

Cinnamon rolls baked until golden and puffed.

05

Bake Until Golden

Bake until the tops are light golden and the center rolls are cooked through.

Powdered sugar and lemon juice whisked into a smooth glaze.

Warm cinnamon rolls finished with lemon glaze.

06

Glaze and Serve

Whisk together the lemon glaze and spoon or brush it over the rolls while they are still warm.

Freshly baked cinnamon rolls covered with lemon glaze in a round baking dish.

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Betty Lou Gardner

Betty Lou Gardner

Betty Lou Gardner’s family recipes are preserved in Granny’s Recipe Box.

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