Why You’ll Love These Rolls
- Pillowy-soft yeast dough
- Sweet strawberry filling with real fruit
- Creamy, tangy cream cheese swirl
- Perfect for make-ahead baking
- Crowd-pleasing and beautiful
🛒 Ingredients You’ll Need
Dough
- ¾ cup warm milk (about 43°C / 110°F)
- 2¼ teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
Strawberry Filling
- 1½ cups fresh or frozen strawberries, finely chopped
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Cream Cheese Filling
- 170 g (6 oz) cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk or strawberry juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
🍓 Preparing the Strawberry Filling
Step 1: Cook the Strawberries
In a small saucepan, combine strawberries, sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until thick and jam-like (about 5–7 minutes).
Step 2: Cool Completely
Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool fully. A cooled filling prevents soggy dough.
🥣 Making the Dough
Step 3: Activate the Yeast
In a bowl, mix warm milk and sugar. Sprinkle yeast on top and let sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.
Step 4: Mix the Dough
Add egg and melted butter. Stir in flour and salt until a soft dough forms.
Step 5: Knead
Knead dough for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1–1½ hours, until doubled in size.
🧁 Preparing the Cream Cheese Filling
Step 6: Mix Filling
In a bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
🍥 Assembling the Rolls
Step 7: Roll Out Dough
Punch down dough and roll into a rectangle about 30×40 cm (12×16 inches).
Step 8: Spread Fillings
Spread cream cheese filling evenly over the dough, leaving a small border. Spoon strawberry filling on top and gently spread.
Step 9: Roll and Cut
Roll tightly from the long edge. Cut into 10–12 rolls using a sharp knife or dental floss.
Step 10: Second Rise
Place rolls in a greased baking dish, cover, and let rise for 30–45 minutes until puffy.
🔥 Baking the Rolls
Bake at 175°C (350°F) for 22–25 minutes, or until lightly golden and cooked through.
🍰 Glazing (Optional)
While rolls are warm, whisk together glaze ingredients and drizzle over the top for extra sweetness.
🧠 Pro Tips for Perfect Rolls
- Use room-temperature ingredients
- Don’t overfill to prevent leaking
- Cool strawberry filling completely
- Slice gently for clean swirls
- Cover loosely if browning too fast
🔄 Delicious Variations
Strawberry Lemon Rolls
Add lemon zest to cream cheese filling.
Mixed Berry Rolls
Use raspberries or blueberries with strawberries.
Chocolate Strawberry Rolls
Sprinkle mini chocolate chips over filling.
No-Yeast Version
Use refrigerated crescent roll dough for a shortcut.
🧊 Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
- Store covered at room temperature for 1 day
- Refrigerate up to 4 days
- Freeze baked rolls for up to 2 months
- Reheat gently in the oven or microwave
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
Serve Strawberry Cream Cheese Rolls with:
- Fresh fruit
- Coffee or tea
- Vanilla yogurt
- Whipped cream on the side
They’re perfect for brunch tables and holiday mornings.
⭐ Final Thoughts
Strawberry Cream Cheese Rolls are soft, fruity, creamy, and utterly irresistible. They combine the comfort of classic sweet rolls with the freshness of strawberries for a dessert—or breakfast—that feels special every time.