Strawberry Rolls with Cream Cheese Glaze are the ultimate fruity twist on classic cinnamon rolls, combining the sweet essence of strawberries with a luscious cream cheese glaze. These ultra-soft, gooey rolls are filled with a rich strawberry sugar mixture and homemade strawberry preserves, then topped with a dreamy glaze that melts into every swirl. Whether you’re planning a weekend brunch, a special breakfast, or a sweet dessert, this recipe will impress with its flavor, presentation, and irresistible aroma. If you’re a fan of strawberries and cream, prepare to fall in love with every bite of these decadent rolls.
Why You’ll Love These Strawberry Rolls
These strawberry rolls aren’t just beautiful to look at—they’re bursting with real fruit flavor and offer the perfect balance of sweetness and richness. The homemade dough is pillowy and soft, while the strawberry filling adds a fruity punch. The strawberry preserves provide juicy texture, and the cream cheese glaze brings a tangy-sweet finish that makes every bite indulgent. These rolls are perfect for spring and summer, or anytime you want a bright and cheerful treat. Best of all, making them from scratch gives you full control over the ingredients and guarantees exceptional freshness.
Ingredients
Dough
- 1 cup warm milk (110°F)
- 2 packets (14g) active dry yeast
- 2 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten
- 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature and cut into cubes
Strawberry Filling
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons ground freeze-dried strawberries
Strawberry Preserves
- 2 cups diced fresh strawberries
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Cream Cheese Glaze
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
Step-by-Step: How to Make Strawberry Rolls with Cream Cheese Glaze
Make the Dough
- Heat the milk in the microwave for about 1 minute, or until it reaches 110°F.
- Stir in the yeast and allow it to sit for roughly 10 minutes, until foamy and activated.
- In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the flour, salt, and sugar.
- Add the cubed butter and use a pastry cutter or fork to blend until the texture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Pour in the yeast mixture and beaten eggs. Mix on low with a dough hook until a dough forms. Then knead on medium speed for 5 minutes until slightly sticky.
- Grease a large bowl lightly with nonstick spray. Place the dough inside, cover with a towel, and set it in a warm oven (preheated to 200°F and turned off with the door ajar) for about an hour or until doubled in size.
Make the Strawberry Preserves
- Combine strawberries, sugar, cornstarch, water, and lemon juice in a medium saucepan.
- Cook over medium heat until the strawberries release their juices and the mixture thickens, about 10 minutes.
- Transfer to a bowl and chill in the refrigerator to cool.
Prepare the Strawberry Filling
- In a small bowl, use a hand mixer to beat together butter, sugars, and ground freeze-dried strawberries until smooth and spreadable.
Make the Cream Cheese Glaze
- In another small bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter until fluffy.
- Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk. Mix until creamy and pourable.
Assemble and Bake
- On a floured surface, roll out the dough into a large rectangle about 1/4 inch thick.
- Spread the strawberry filling evenly across the dough.
- Spoon the chilled strawberry preserves over the filling.
- Starting from the shorter side, roll the dough up tightly to create swirls.
- Trim the edges if needed and slice into 12 equal rolls.
- Arrange rolls in a greased 9×13-inch baking pan. Cover and let rise for 35 minutes.
- Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes, until golden on top.
- Spread the cream cheese glaze over the warm rolls and serve immediately.
Helpful Tips
- Avoid overheating the milk to prevent deactivating the yeast.
- Select fresh, ripe strawberries for the best flavor in your preserves.
- Cooling the preserves before assembly helps them stay neatly layered.
- For clean, uniform slices, use unflavored dental floss or a serrated knife.
- Don’t overbake—aim for a soft, golden top.
Substitutions and Variations
- Try raspberries or blueberries instead of strawberries for a new flavor.
- Enhance the glaze with lemon zest for a citrusy twist.
- Use store-bought preserves for convenience.
- Replace dairy products with vegan alternatives for a dairy-free version.
- Sprinkle in some white chocolate chips for an extra treat.
Storage Instructions
Store any leftover rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days. To reheat, microwave individual rolls for 15–20 seconds. For longer storage, wrap unglazed rolls tightly in plastic wrap and foil, then freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight and warm before glazing.
Nutritional Information
(Per serving, based on 12 servings)
- Calories: 375
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Sugar: 24g
- Protein: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
Note: These nutritional estimates can vary depending on the exact ingredients used.
Serving Suggestions
- Enjoy warm with a cup of coffee or tea for a delightful breakfast.
- Serve with a mimosa or berry smoothie for an elegant brunch.
- Garnish with fresh strawberry slices for added color and flavor.
- Present as a dessert alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Frequently Asked Questions About Strawberry Rolls
Can I make the dough the night before? Absolutely. After the first rise, refrigerate the dough overnight. Allow it to return to room temperature before rolling it out and assembling.
Can I use frozen strawberries? Yes, frozen strawberries work for the preserves. Just thaw and drain them thoroughly to prevent excess liquid.
How do I prevent the rolls from coming undone? Roll the dough snugly and nestle the slices closely in the baking pan so they support each other while baking.
Why didn’t my rolls rise properly? Check that your yeast is active and your milk was the correct temperature—not too hot or too cold.
What can I use if I don’t have freeze-dried strawberries? While optional, freeze-dried strawberries add an intense flavor. If unavailable, try strawberry powder or a bit of flavored gelatin instead.
Conclusion
Thank you so much for stopping by to explore these delightful Strawberry Rolls with Cream Cheese Glaze! This recipe is one of my personal favorites because it brings together the comfort of a classic roll with the fresh brightness of strawberries. The soft, tender dough filled with fruity sweetness and topped with a smooth, tangy glaze is simply irresistible. Whether you’re baking these for a special brunch or just treating yourself, I hope they bring joy to your kitchen and smiles to your table. Wishing you happy baking adventures, and thanks again for being part of our delicious, food-loving community!
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PrintStrawberry Rolls with Cream Cheese Glaze
- Total Time: 3 hours
- Yield: 12 rolls 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Strawberry Rolls with Cream Cheese Glaze are soft, gooey, and filled with real strawberry flavor. These homemade rolls feature a sweet strawberry filling, juicy strawberry preserves, and a creamy glaze. Perfect for brunch, breakfast, or dessert—bake a batch today!
Ingredients
For the Dough:
1 cup warm milk (110°F)
2 packets (14g) active dry yeast
2 large eggs, room temperature
4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
¼ cup granulated sugar
10 tbsp unsalted butter, cubed and at room temperature
Strawberry Filling:
½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
½ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup light brown sugar
2 tbsp ground freeze-dried strawberries
Strawberry Preserves:
2 cups diced fresh strawberries
⅓ cup granulated sugar
1 ½ tbsp cornstarch
3 tbsp water
1 tbsp lemon juice
Cream Cheese Glaze:
4 oz cream cheese, softened
4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
3 tbsp milk or heavy cream
Instructions
Make the Dough
- Heat the milk in the microwave for about 1 minute, or until it reaches 110°F.
- Stir in the yeast and allow it to sit for roughly 10 minutes, until foamy and activated.
- In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the flour, salt, and sugar.
- Add the cubed butter and use a pastry cutter or fork to blend until the texture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Pour in the yeast mixture and beaten eggs. Mix on low with a dough hook until a dough forms. Then knead on medium speed for 5 minutes until slightly sticky.
- Grease a large bowl lightly with nonstick spray. Place the dough inside, cover with a towel, and set it in a warm oven (preheated to 200°F and turned off with the door ajar) for about an hour or until doubled in size.
Make the Strawberry Preserves
- Combine strawberries, sugar, cornstarch, water, and lemon juice in a medium saucepan.
- Cook over medium heat until the strawberries release their juices and the mixture thickens, about 10 minutes.
- Transfer to a bowl and chill in the refrigerator to cool.
Prepare the Strawberry Filling
- In a small bowl, use a hand mixer to beat together butter, sugars, and ground freeze-dried strawberries until smooth and spreadable.
Make the Cream Cheese Glaze
- In another small bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter until fluffy.
- Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk. Mix until creamy and pourable.
Assemble and Bake
- On a floured surface, roll out the dough into a large rectangle about 1/4 inch thick.
- Spread the strawberry filling evenly across the dough.
- Spoon the chilled strawberry preserves over the filling.
- Starting from the shorter side, roll the dough up tightly to create swirls.
- Trim the edges if needed and slice into 12 equal rolls.
- Arrange rolls in a greased 9×13-inch baking pan. Cover and let rise for 35 minutes.
- Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes, until golden on top.
- Spread the cream cheese glaze over the warm rolls and serve immediately.
Notes
Be sure milk is warm—not hot—to activate yeast.
Chill preserves to keep layers neat.
Use floss or a serrated knife for clean slices.
Store rolls at room temp for 2 days or refrigerate for 5.
Freeze unglazed rolls for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 1 hour Resting Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll
- Calories: 375 kcal
- Sugar: 24g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Protein: 6g