Strawberry Shortcake Cheesecake Rolls (Printable Version)

Soft swirled rolls with cheesecake filling and fresh strawberries, perfect for dessert or brunch gatherings.

# What You 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:

01 - Whisk warm milk, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl. Let sit 5 minutes until foamy. Add melted butter, egg, and salt. Gradually mix in flour until soft dough forms. Knead by hand or with dough hook for 8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in greased bowl, cover, and let rise 1 hour until doubled.
02 - Combine strawberries, sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice in saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and jammy (6-8 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool completely.
03 - Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth and fluffy. Set aside until ready to assemble.
04 - Punch down risen dough and roll out on floured surface to 16x12 inch rectangle. Spread cheesecake filling evenly over dough, leaving 1/2-inch border. Gently spread cooled strawberry mixture on top of cheesecake layer.
05 - Roll up tightly from longer side to form log. Slice into 12 equal pieces. Arrange rolls cut side up in greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Cover and let rise 30 minutes until puffy.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake rolls for 22-25 minutes until lightly golden and cooked through. Remove from oven and cool slightly in pan.
07 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle generously over warm rolls before serving.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The combination of pillowy dough, tangy cheesecake, and sweet strawberries hits every craving at once
  • They look impressive coming out of the oven but the dough is surprisingly forgiving
  • The jammy strawberry layer swirled throughout makes each bite feel like summer
02 -
  • The strawberry mixture must cool completely before spreading, or it will melt the cheesecake filling and make a mess
  • Letting the rolls rise the second time makes them significantly fluffier and more tender
  • Use a sharp knife and saw gently when slicing the log to keep the swirls intact
03 -
  • If the dough springs back too much while rolling, let it rest for five minutes and try again
  • Use unflavored dental floss or fishing line to slice the log for perfectly clean cuts

Go Back