Flavor Flight Rolls
with Cream Cheese Frosting
a sweet treat recipe
Rena is a self-taught cook and baker who enjoys experimenting with ingredients, flavors and culinary techniques from around the world. Her Asian/American heritage, youth spent in the Middle East and European husband have greatly influenced her palate and creativity with food. She shares her small-batch recipes and photos/videos of her creations and the process on (
@agirlandaspoon) and blog (
agirlandaspoon.com).
These small-batch, mix-and-match rolls are playful, flavorful, and easy to make entirely by hand. Featuring three distinct flavors: Maple Cinnamon Sugar, Honey Ginger Lemon, and Strawberry Pink Peppercorn, they bring a balance of warm, bright, and aromatic notes.
This recipe is designed to make individual cutting and rolling easy. Once rolled out, the dough is layered with a base filling of butter and sugar, cut into strips, and individually flavored for a true “flavor flight” experience.
Finished with a light cream cheese frosting, these rolls are cohesive without losing their individuality - perfect as a fun, shareable treat or a thoughtful gift.
Note: the filling amounts are per 2 rolls. If you want to adjust the number of flavored rolls, multiply as desired.
TIME (ACTIVE) | 40 M
TIME (INACTIVE) | 2 H 30 M
TOTAL | 3 H 10 M
6 SERVINGS
| 1 roll
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT:
9 X 6½ (OR 9½ X 6½) 2-INCH DEEP PAN
- Make the Dough: In a bowl, mix warm milk, sugar, and yeast, and let sit 3-5 minutes until slightly foamy. Mix in the egg and oil, and then add the flour and salt, mixing until a shaggy dough forms. Knead by hand on a lightly floured surface for 6-7 minutes until fairly smooth.
- Add the butter: Add butter in 2-3 additions, kneading well after each addition. It will feel messy at first - keep kneading and squeezing the butter in. It will come together into a soft, smooth dough. Knead another 3-5 minutes until smooth, soft, and elastic.
- First Rise: Cover and let rise until almost doubled in size, about 60-75 minutes.
- Chill (optional): Deflate gently, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2-4 hours (or overnight).
- Roll: If chilled, allow the dough to rest at room temperature for 15-20 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a 9 x 12-inch rectangle (about ¼-inch thick). Mix butter and sugar (base filling) until smooth and spread evenly over the dough.
- Cut and Flavor: Cut the dough into 3 long strips about 3 x 12 inches and separate.
• Maple Cinnamon: Sprinkle Maple Cinnamon Sugar generously over one strip
• Honey Ginger Lemon: Drizzle honey over another strip. Mix the lemon zest and sugar and sprinkle over the honey. Finish with a scattering of the finely chopped crystallized ginger.
• Strawberry Pink Peppercorn: Mix the powdered/crushed freeze-dried strawberries with sugar. Sprinkle over the third strip. Finish with a scattering of the crushed pink peppercorn.
- Final Cut + Shape: ut each strip lengthwise into two. You should now have 6 long strips, each about 1½ inches wide. Roll each strip into a spiral.
- Final Rise: Preheat oven to 350℉. Place rolls in a greased 9 x 6½-inch pan. Cover and rise for 30-45 minutes, until slightly puffy.
- Bake: Bake at 350℉ for 18-22 minutes, until lightly golden. Cool slightly.
- Make frosting: In the meantime, make the frosting. Beat all of the frosting ingredients until smooth. Add milk 1 tsp at a time until soft and spreadable.
- Frost and Finish: Frost rolls while warm (not hot).
- For an extra touch:
• Dust the Maple Cinnamon Sugar rolls with more Maple Cinnamon Sugar.
• Place 1-2 freeze-dried strawberries on the Strawberry Pink Peppercorn Rolls.
• Place 1-2 pieces of crystallized ginger on the Honey Ginger Lemon Rolls.
Best eaten same day. Store in an airtight container for 2-3 days. Warm gently before serving.
These rolls are not overly sweet and are meant to highlight the flavors within. If you want even more sweetness, increase the sugar in the base filling.
You can use all bread flour or all-purpose. Bread flour creates a chewier texture with more structure and rise, while all-purpose flour produces a softer, more tender crumb and may require slightly longer kneading. Using a combination of both gives you the best balance of structure and softness.
crystallized
small pieces
Crystallized ginger root is tender and sweet with a spicy bite. Add small cubes of crystallized ginger to dishes for chewy texture and a bit of sweet spiciness.
0.18 oz - PORTION$0.50
2 oz - JAR$5
2 oz - REFILL$4
freeze-dried
strawberry slices
Freeze-dried strawberry slices have a vibrant red color, crisp texture, and sweet aroma. Perfect for snacking and baking.
0.5 oz - REFILL$2
0.5 oz - REFILL (5 PACK)$8
1 oz - REFILL$3
whole
Pink peppercorn, though peppery, is more rounded than the assertive black peppercorn; it has delicate fruity notes that can be almost sweet.
0.18 oz - PORTION$0.50
0.8 oz - JAR$6
0.8 oz - REFILL$5
4 oz - REFILL$17
