Imagine sinking your teeth into a cloud of soft, sweet dough, swirled with a luscious strawberry cheesecake filling. These delightful Strawberry Cheesecake Sweet Rolls are the perfect treat for any occasion, combining the best of both worlds with their irresistible flavors and textures.
These rolls are a symphony of sweet, creamy, and fruity goodness, topped with a simple glaze that takes them over the top.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: Sweet and creamy cheesecake flavor combined with the freshness of strawberries.
- Textures: Soft, pillowy dough with a creamy, fruity filling and a smooth glaze.
- Total Time: 3 hours 45 minutes, includes active and inactive time.
- Difficulty: Intermediate. The recipe involves yeast dough, but it’s manageable with patience.
What You’ll Need
To create these marvelous Strawberry Cheesecake Sweet Rolls, you’ll need a few key components. First, a simple dough made with flour, milk, butter, sugar, and yeast serves as the base. Next, a creamy cheesecake filling, starring cream cheese and fresh strawberries. Finally, a simple glaze made with powdered sugar and milk provides the perfect finishing touch.
Ingredient Notes
- All-Purpose Flour – This provides the structure for the sweet rolls. Make sure to measure your flour correctly, either by weight or using the scoop and level method.
- Granulated Sugar – Used in both the dough and the filling, sugar adds sweetness and helps the yeast activate in the dough.
- Active Dry Yeast – This is what makes the rolls rise! Ensure your yeast is fresh by checking the expiration date.
- Milk – Helps to create a tender dough.
- Unsalted Butter – Adds richness and flavor to both the dough and the filling.
- Cream Cheese – The star of the cheesecake filling, providing that classic creamy, tangy flavor. Make sure it’s softened before using.
- Fresh Strawberries – These are the heart of the filling, lending their beautiful color and fresh flavor.
- Powdered Sugar – Used for the glaze, this gives the sweet rolls a smooth, sweet finish.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Add a touch of citrus – A teaspoon of lemon zest in the dough or filling will brighten the flavors.
- Use different berries – Try using fresh raspberries or blueberries with the cheesecake filling, or a combination of your favorites.
- Add a streusel topping – Create a simple streusel topping with flour, butter, and sugar for extra texture.
How to Make Strawberry Cheesecake Sweet Rolls
First, let’s bloom the yeast. In a small bowl, combine warm milk (105-115°F), sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for about 5 minutes, until foamy.
In a large bowl, whisk together 3 cups of flour and the remaining sugar. Add the yeast mixture, melted butter, and salt. Mix until the mixture comes together. Start adding the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until the dough comes together and is no longer sticky.
Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 5-7 minutes, until it’s smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
Next, prepare the filling. In a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth. Gently fold in the chopped strawberries.
Once the dough has risen, punch it down and roll it out on a lightly floured surface to form a 12×16 inch rectangle. Spread the cream cheese filling evenly over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Starting from one long side, tightly roll up the dough.
Using a sharp knife or unflavored dental floss, cut the log into 12 rolls. Place the rolls in a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Cover and let rise for 45 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake the sweet rolls for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.
While the rolls are baking, prepare the glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and milk until smooth.
Once the rolls are baked, let them cool slightly before drizzling with the glaze. Serve warm and enjoy.
Pro Tip: Make sure your ingredients are at the appropriate temperatures, especially the milk for the yeast and the cream cheese for the filling. This makes a big difference in achieving the best results.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t skip the rise time – Allowing the dough to rise properly is crucial for achieving light and fluffy sweet rolls.
- Use a sharp knife or floss – To get clean cuts when slicing the rolls, use a very sharp knife or unflavored dental floss.
- Don’t overbake – Keep an eye on the rolls towards the end of baking to prevent them from drying out. They are ready when golden brown.
- Cool slightly before glazing – This helps the glaze set properly.
- Serve fresh – These rolls are best enjoyed the same day they are baked.
FAQs
- Can I use frozen strawberries? Fresh strawberries work best, but you can use frozen, thawed, and drained berries if needed.
- Can I make the dough in a stand mixer? Absolutely! Use the dough hook attachment as directed.
- How do I know if the rolls are done? They should be golden brown on top and firm to the touch. You can also use a thermometer and check for an internal temperature of around 190°F.
- Can I make these gluten-free? You can try using a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, but the texture may not be exactly the same.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve these sweet rolls warm with a cup of coffee or tea for breakfast or brunch.
- Enjoy them as a delightful dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Pair them with fresh fruit and whipped cream for an extra-decadent treat.
Make This Recipe in Advance
You can make the dough through the first rise and then refrigerate it overnight. The next day, let the dough come to room temperature before rolling it out and assembling the rolls. The baked sweet rolls also freeze well for up to a month. Wrap them tightly and thaw them at room temperature before serving, and add the glaze right before eating.
Print
Strawberry Cheesecake Sweet Rolls Recipe
- Total Time: 3 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 rolls 1x
Description
These delightful Strawberry Cheesecake Sweet Rolls are the perfect treat for any occasion, combining the best of both worlds with their irresistible flavors and textures.
Ingredients
1 cup warm milk (about 110°F)
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (for filling)
1/2 cup granulated sugar (for filling)
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 cup fresh strawberries, diced
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup powdered sugar (for filling)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for filling)
1 cup powdered sugar (for glaze)
2–3 tablespoons milk (for glaze)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for glaze)
Optional: 1/4 cup strawberry jam for extra flavor (for glaze)
Instructions
Activate yeast in warm milk and sugar until frothy.
Mix in melted butter, salt, eggs, and 2 cups of flour.
Gradually add remaining flour, kneading the dough until smooth.
Let the dough rise in a greased bowl for 1 hour.
Combine softened butter, sugar, and cinnamon for the filling.
Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
Roll out the dough into a rectangle.
Spread the cinnamon butter, then the cream cheese mixture, over the dough.
Sprinkle diced strawberries evenly.
Roll up the dough and slice into 12 rolls.
Place rolls in a greased baking dish and let rise for 30 minutes.
Bake at 350F (175C) for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla for the glaze. Add strawberry jam if desired.
Drizzle glaze over warm rolls before serving.
Notes
Don’t skip the rise time – Allowing the dough to rise properly is crucial for achieving light and fluffy sweet rolls.
Use a sharp knife or floss – To get clean cuts when slicing the rolls, use a very sharp knife or unflavored dental floss.
Don’t overbake – Keep an eye on the rolls towards the end of baking to prevent them from drying out. They are ready when golden brown.
Cool slightly before glazing – This helps the glaze set properly.
Serve fresh – These rolls are best enjoyed the same day they are baked.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Cuisine: American
