Strawberry Cheesecake Rolls (Printable version)
Soft rolls swirled with cheesecake filling and fresh strawberries for a decadent sweet treat.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dough
01 - 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
04 - 1/2 tsp salt
05 - 1 cup warm milk (110°F)
06 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
07 - 1 large egg
→ Cheesecake Filling
08 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
09 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
10 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
→ Strawberry Layer
11 - 1 1/2 cups diced fresh strawberries
12 - 2 tbsp granulated sugar
13 - 2 tsp cornstarch
14 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
→ Glaze
15 - 1 cup powdered sugar
16 - 2 tbsp milk
17 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
# Directions:
01 - In a large bowl, whisk together warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Allow mixture to rest for 5 minutes until foamy and activated. Add melted butter, egg, and salt, mixing to combine. Gradually incorporate flour until a soft dough forms. Knead by hand or with a dough hook for 8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Transfer to a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
02 - Combine strawberries, sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring continuously, until the mixture thickens and becomes jammy, approximately 6-8 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
03 - Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract together until smooth and fluffy. Set aside at room temperature for easy spreading.
04 - Punch down the risen dough and roll out on a floured surface to a 16x12 inch rectangle. Spread the cheesecake filling evenly over the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border around edges. Gently layer the cooled strawberry mixture on top of the cheesecake filling.
05 - Starting from the longer side, roll the dough tightly into a log. Using a sharp knife, slice into 12 equal pieces. Arrange rolls cut-side up in a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes until puffy.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake the rolls for 22-25 minutes until lightly golden and fully cooked through. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly before glazing.
07 - Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and pourable. Drizzle the glaze over warm rolls and serve immediately.
# Expert advice:
01 -
- The combination of pillowy dough, tangy cheesecake, and sweet strawberries tastes like something from a bakery case.
- They look impressive but come together with basic techniques anyone can master.
02 -
- The strawberry layer must cool completely before spreading, or it will melt the cheesecake filling into a mess.
- Underbaked rolls will collapse in the center, so give them the full time even if they look done on top.
03 -
- Dental floss cuts through the rolled dough more cleanly than a knife, keeping the rounds perfectly round.
- If your kitchen is cold, turn the oven on for one minute, turn it off, then let the dough rise inside.