Strawberry Shortcake Cheesecake Rolls (Printable Version)
Soft rolls swirled with creamy cheesecake 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
# How to Make It:
01 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Allow the 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 - In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and fluffy. Set aside until ready to assemble.
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 the edges. Gently layer the cooled strawberry mixture on top of the cheesecake filling.
05 - Roll the dough tightly from the longer side to form a log. Using a sharp knife, slice into 12 equal pieces. Arrange the rolls cut side up in a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
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.
07 - Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Drizzle the glaze over warm rolls before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The dough comes together easily and fills your kitchen with the best yeasted bread smell while it rises.
- Cream cheese and fresh strawberries create that nostalgic shortcake vibe but in a soft, pull apart format.
- These look impressive enough for brunch guests but come together with basic pantry ingredients.
02 -
- The strawberry filling must cool completely before spreading or it will melt the cheesecake layer and create a mess.
- Do not rush the rising times because underproofed rolls turn out dense and heavy.
03 -
- Use dental floss instead of a knife to cut the rolls for perfectly clean edges without squishing the spiral.
- If your kitchen is cold, turn the oven on for one minute then turn it off and let the dough rise inside with the door closed.