🧀 Easy Cheddar Cheese Rolls
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20–25 minutes
Rising Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Yield: 12 rolls
Nothing says comfort like warm, cheesy bread straight from the oven. These soft, fluffy cheddar rolls have a golden crust and a tender, melty cheese center—perfect for dinner, holidays, or weekend baking.
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Beginner-friendly
- Perfect with soups, salads, or pasta
- Make-ahead friendly
- Always a crowd-pleaser
📝 Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 3 ¼ cups (410g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (240ml) warm whole milk (110°F / 43°C)
- ¼ cup (60g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (57g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg (room temperature)
- 2 ¼ tsp (7g) instant or active dry yeast
- 1 tsp salt
For the Filling & Topping:
- 2 cups (225g) sharp cheddar cheese, grated (divided)
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley or chives (optional)
- 2 tbsp (28g) melted butter (for brushing)
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Activate the Yeast
In a large bowl, mix warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let sit 5–7 minutes until foamy.
(If using instant yeast, you can skip this step.)
2️⃣ Make the Dough
Add melted butter, egg, salt, and 3 cups flour.
Mix until combined. Knead 5–7 minutes (or 8–10 minutes by hand) until smooth and elastic.
Add remaining flour gradually if dough is too sticky.
3️⃣ First Rise
Shape dough into a ball and place in a lightly greased bowl.
Cover and let rise in a warm place for 45–60 minutes, until doubled in size.
4️⃣ Shape the Rolls
- Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Roll dough into a 12×16 inch rectangle.
- Sprinkle 1½ cups cheese evenly over the dough.
- Roll tightly into a log.
- Cut into 12 equal slices.
- Arrange in baking dish (3 rows of 4).
5️⃣ Second Rise
Cover and let rise 20–30 minutes until puffy.
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
6️⃣ Bake
- Sprinkle remaining ½ cup cheese on top.
- Bake 20–25 minutes until golden brown.
- Immediately brush with melted butter.
7️⃣ Serve
Let cool 5 minutes, then serve warm. Garnish with herbs if desired.
💡 Tips for Success
- Milk should be warm, not hot (hot milk kills yeast).
- Use freshly grated cheddar for best melting.
- For make-ahead: refrigerate shaped rolls overnight and bake the next day.
🥖 Storage
- Store at room temperature (airtight) for 2 days.
- Reheat at 300°F (150°C) for 5–10 minutes.
- Freeze up to 2 months.
🔎 Nutrition (Per Roll – Approx.)
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Fat: 13g
- Carbs: 30g
- Protein: 9g