If you’ve been searching for a show-stopping breakfast or brunch treat, you absolutely must try my Strawberry Sweet Rolls with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe. These rolls are an irresistible combination of fluffy, slightly sticky dough swirled with a sweet strawberry filling and topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting bursting with strawberry flavor. Every bite is a warm hug of fresh and tangy sweetness that will brighten any morning or dessert table. They’re not just sweet rolls; they’re a delightful celebration of strawberries in every layer!
Ingredients You’ll Need
To make these rolls, you’ll need a handful of simple ingredients that work beautifully together. Each one plays a crucial role in creating the perfect texture, flavor, and vibrant color of the strawberry sweet rolls, ensuring every bite is pure bliss.
- Fresh strawberries (12 ounces): Provides the juicy, fresh strawberry filling and punch of natural sweetness.
- Whole milk (¾ cup): Adds moisture and richness to the dough, helping to create a soft crumb.
- Granulated sugar (⅓ cup + 3 tablespoons): Sweetens both the dough and the filling for the perfect balance.
- Quick rise or active yeast (2 ¼ teaspoons): Essential for making the dough rise up fluffy and light.
- Large egg plus egg yolk: Contributes tenderness, richness, and structure to the rolls.
- Salted butter (7 tablespoons total): Fosters a tender crumb in the dough and a rich, creamy filling.
- Bread flour (3 ⅓ cups): Provides the right amount of gluten to achieve the ideal chew and rise in the dough.
- Kosher salt (¾ teaspoon): Balances the sweetness and enhances all the flavors.
- Cornstarch (1 tablespoon): Keeps the strawberry filling thick and luscious.
- Freeze dried strawberries (½ cup): The secret to turning the frosting into a vibrant, strawberry-packed delight.
- Cream cheese (4 ounces): The base of the frosting, delivering a smooth tang that complements the sweet rolls.
- Powdered sugar (1 ¼ cups): Sweetens and smooths the frosting into perfect spreadable creaminess.
- Vanilla extract (½ teaspoon): Adds warmth and depth to the frosting flavor.
- Milk (1 to 2 tablespoons): Helps thin the frosting just right for spreading.
How to Make Strawberry Sweet Rolls with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Step 1: Freeze the strawberries
Start by placing your diced strawberries on a large plate or shallow bowl and pop them into the freezer. This early freeze is critical because it ensures the berries are just right when you’re ready to roll up the dough, preventing any sogginess in your sweet rolls later on.
Step 2: Prepare the wet ingredients
Warm the milk until it’s just like a warm bath (about 120°F), then combine it with sugar and yeast. After waiting a couple of minutes for the yeast to bubble and foam, you know it’s active and ready. Add the egg, egg yolk, and melted butter, then mix everything until well combined for a smooth, flavorful base for your dough.
Step 3: Add the dry ingredients
Stir in the bread flour and salt with a wooden spoon until a nice dough begins to form. Doing this by hand at first keeps flour from flying everywhere, which means one less mess to clean up!
Step 4: Knead the dough
Use your mixer with a dough hook or your hands on a floured surface to knead until smooth and slightly sticky, about 8 to 10 minutes. This kneading helps develop the gluten, giving you soft yet structured rolls that rise beautifully.
Step 5: Let the dough rise
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and a warm towel, then let your dough rise until doubled—usually between 1 to 1 ½ hours. You’ll know it’s ready when poking the dough leaves a gentle indentation that doesn’t immediately bounce back.
Step 6: Roll out and butter the dough
Lightly dust your surface with flour, roll the dough into a 10×14-inch rectangle, and spread softened butter over it, leaving a small margin at one shorter edge. This buttery layer is the base for your strawberry filling that will melt into every bite.
Step 7: Prepare and add the strawberry filling
Mix the frozen diced strawberries with sugar and cornstarch until well coated, then sprinkle this filling evenly over the buttered dough. The cornstarch will thicken the juices released by the berries as they bake, keeping your rolls perfectly gooey without being runny.
Step 8: Roll and slice the dough
Starting from the shorter buttery side without the margin, tightly roll your dough log, seal the edge, then trim off the ends that have less filling. Slice into nine 1-inch rolls with dental floss or a serrated knife, handling gently so your swirls stay intact.
Step 9: Second rise
Place the rolls in a parchment-lined pan, cover, and let them rise again for 1 to 1 ½ hours until puffed and touching each other. The strawberry juices may leak out slightly, but that’s just extra flavor working its magic while baking.
Step 10: Bake until perfect
Pop your rolls into a 350°F oven and bake for about 23 to 28 minutes until edges are just golden and an instant-read thermometer shows 185-190°F. This prevents overbaking so the rolls stay soft and tender inside.
Step 11: Make the strawberry cream cheese frosting
Blend freeze dried strawberries into a powder, then whip softened butter and cream cheese until fluffy. Mix in the strawberry powder, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth, adding milk a little at a time until the frosting reaches your desired creaminess.
Step 12: Frost and enjoy!
Spread the strawberry cream cheese frosting generously over the warm rolls so it melts into every nook. Then dig in and savor the warm, gooey strawberry sweetness of these unforgettable rolls!
How to Serve Strawberry Sweet Rolls with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Garnishes
To elevate these strawberry sweet rolls further, sprinkle a few freeze dried strawberry crumbs on top of the frosting or garnish with fresh sliced strawberries for extra color and texture. A light dusting of powdered sugar adds a lovely touch for presentation.
Side Dishes
Complement your rolls with a simple side like a bowl of mixed berries or a refreshing green salad with citrus vinaigrette to balance the sweetness. For a heartier brunch, serve alongside scrambled eggs to add savory contrast.
Creative Ways to Present
Arrange the rolls on a pretty serving platter with small bowls of extra frosting and fresh strawberries for guests to help themselves. You can also serve individual rolls in cute ramekins or wrap them up as charming take-home treats for special occasions.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once cooled, cover the rolls tightly with plastic wrap and foil or store individual pieces in airtight containers or silicone bags in the fridge. They will stay fresh and delicious for up to 5 days.
Freezing
If you want to save some for later, freeze the cooled rolls in a single layer on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer them to freezer bags. They keep well for up to 2 months and thaw quickly at room temperature.
Reheating
Reheat refrigerated or thawed rolls in the microwave for 15-second intervals until warmed through. The frosting will soften delightfully, bringing back that fresh-out-of-the-oven gooey magic you love.
FAQs
Can I use frozen strawberries instead of fresh?
Fresh strawberries are best for both the filling texture and flavor balance, but you can use frozen if fresh aren’t available—just make sure to drain any excess liquid to avoid sogginess.
What type of yeast should I use for this recipe?
You can use either quick rise or active dry yeast. Just make sure to proof the active dry yeast in warm milk first to activate it before mixing with other ingredients.
How do I know when the dough has risen enough?
The dough is ready after the first rise when it has doubled in size and a gentle poke leaves an indentation that slowly fills back in but doesn’t spring back immediately.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes! After kneading, you can refrigerate the dough covered overnight. Bring it to room temperature before rolling it out and continuing the recipe as usual.
Is there a substitute for freeze dried strawberries in the frosting?
If you can’t find freeze dried strawberries, finely chopping fresh strawberries and reducing the amount of milk slightly can work, though you may get a softer frosting with more moisture.
Final Thoughts
Making these Strawberry Sweet Rolls with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe is such a rewarding experience that fills your kitchen and home with the warm scent of fresh strawberries and baked sweetness. Whether you’re treating family or impressing guests, these rolls bring a special magic that’s hard to beat. Trust me on this—grab those strawberries and give them a try. Your mornings will thank you!
PrintStrawberry Sweet Rolls with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Delightfully soft and sweet strawberry rolls filled with a luscious strawberry mixture and topped with a creamy homemade strawberry cream cheese frosting. These strawberry sweet rolls combine fluffy bread dough with fresh strawberries and a rich frosting, perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a special dessert treat.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 9 rolls
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Strawberries
- 12 ounces fresh strawberries, stemmed and diced (about 1 ¾ cup diced strawberries)
Wet ingredients
- ¾ cup (180g) whole milk
- ⅓ cup (67g) granulated sugar
- 2 ¼ teaspoons quick rise or active yeast (from 1 (1/4-ounce) package yeast)
- 1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk, at room temperature
- 4 tablespoons salted butter, melted
Dry ingredients
- 3 ⅓ cups (400g) bread flour, plus more as needed
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
Filling
- 3 tablespoons salted butter, softened
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Strawberry cream cheese frosting
- ½ cup (11 grams) freeze dried strawberries
- 4 tablespoons salted butter, softened
- 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 ¼ cup (150 grams) powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 to 2 tablespoons milk, to make creamy
Instructions
- Freeze strawberries: Place the diced strawberries on a large plate or in a large shallow bowl, then place them in the freezer. This step is important to ensure the strawberries are sufficiently frozen by the time you roll up the dough.
- Mix wet ingredients: Warm the milk in a microwave-safe bowl or glass measuring cup for 1 minute until it reaches about 120°F (warm bath temperature but not too hot). Add the sugar and sprinkle the yeast over the milk. Let sit for 2 minutes until it bubbles and foams, signaling yeast activation. Then add the egg, egg yolk, and melted butter. Mix on medium speed for 30 seconds until well combined, or stir with a wooden spoon.
- Add dry ingredients: Using a wooden spoon, stir in the flour and salt into the wet mixture until a dough forms, to prevent flour from flying around.
- Knead the dough: Attach the dough hook to your stand mixer and knead the dough on medium speed for 8 to 10 minutes. Alternatively, knead by hand for the same time on a well-floured surface. The dough will be slightly sticky but properly measured to bake well.
- First rise: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and a warm towel. Let the dough rise until doubled in size, about 1 to 1 ½ hours. The dough is ready when you poke it an inch deep and the indentation remains without immediately bouncing back.
- Roll out dough: Dust a clean surface generously with flour. Transfer the risen dough and roll it out into a 10×14-inch rectangle. Spread the softened butter over the dough, leaving a ¼-inch margin on the far shorter side.
- Prepare filling: Remove frozen strawberries from the freezer. Combine them with sugar and cornstarch, stirring to coat the strawberries evenly. Sprinkle the coated strawberries evenly over the buttered dough.
- Roll up the dough: Starting from the short side (10-inch side) without the margin, roll the dough tightly into a log. Pinch the seam to seal and place seam-side down. Trim ½ inch off each end and discard or save to bake separately. Gently press the ends inward to compact the dough slightly.
- Cut rolls: Use unflavored dental floss or a serrated knife to cut the dough log into nine 1-inch slices.
- Second rise: Line a 9×9 inch or 11×7 inch pan with parchment paper. Place the rolls in the pan, cover with plastic wrap and a towel, and let rise until the rolls puff up and touch each other, about 1 to 1 ½ hours. Some strawberry juice may leak out, which is normal.
- Preheat oven: Set the oven to 350°F while the rolls are rising.
- Bake rolls: Remove plastic wrap and towel, and bake rolls for 23 to 28 minutes until edges are slightly golden and the internal temperature reaches 185 to 190°F. Avoid overbaking to keep the rolls soft inside.
- Make frosting: While rolls bake, blend freeze dried strawberries in a high-powered blender for 30 seconds until powdery. In a stand mixer bowl fitted with a whisk, beat softened butter and cream cheese on high for 1 to 2 minutes until fluffy. Add strawberry powder, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract, mixing on low then increasing to medium-high until smooth and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add milk 1 tablespoon at a time until the frosting reaches a creamy consistency.
- Frost and serve: Once the rolls are out of the oven, immediately spread the strawberry cream cheese frosting over the warm rolls so it seeps into every nook. Enjoy warm and gooey!
- Storage: Allow rolls to cool, then cover with plastic wrap and foil or place individual rolls in airtight containers or silicone bags. Store in the fridge up to 5 days. Reheat rolls in the microwave in 15 second intervals until warm. For freezing instructions, refer to the blog post.
Notes
- Freezing the diced strawberries before adding to the filling prevents them from making the dough soggy during rolling and rising.
- The dough should be slightly sticky; do not add too much flour or the rolls may become dense.
- It’s important not to overbake the rolls to keep them soft and tender inside.
- You can save the trimmed dough ends and bake them for a delicious mini treat.
- Use unflavored dental floss for the cleanest and easiest roll slicing.
- The strawberry cream cheese frosting is best spread immediately while the rolls are still warm for perfect gooeyness.
- Store leftovers properly to maintain freshness and reheat gently before serving.
