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Soft Cheese Rolls

Featured in Food That Makes People Think You've Got Life Figured Out.

If you’re a fan of cheese, you'll love these rolls. They're fluffy, packed with sharp cheddar and garlic, and brushed with buttery garlic topping. Most of the 2 hours to make them is just waiting for the dough to rise, and they’re totally worth the effort.

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Clare Recipes
Updated on Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:16:26 GMT
Golden rolls with cheese spilling out, sitting in a white dish, garnished with fresh parsley. Pin it
Golden rolls with cheese spilling out, sitting in a white dish, garnished with fresh parsley. | lilicooks.com

Fluffy Cheese-Filled Garlic Rolls are airy, soft buns packed with tangy cheddar, aromatic garlic, and fresh chives, topped with garlicky butter and a dash of salt. They'll complement any dinner and won't take long to whip up. The tough part won't be making them—it'll be not eating them all yourself!

Mouthwatering Comfort In Each Mouthful

These buns blend the bold flavor of sharp cheddar with zesty garlic and fresh chives. You'll love the pockets of melted cheese throughout, and the buttery garlic coating finished with a sprinkle of salt turns them into a fancy treat that nobody can resist.

Must-Have Ingredients List

  • All-Purpose Flour: 2½ cups (312g) plain flour, with 10-12% protein, kept at room temp (68-72°F/20-22°C) so the gluten forms right
  • Active Dry Yeast: 2¼ teaspoons (7g) quick-rise yeast that's still good, tested before you start, kept in a tight container
  • Sharp Cheddar: 1 cup (113g) aged cheddar (at least 12 months) you've just grated yourself, chunky shreds for nice pockets, not cold
  • Fresh Garlic: 2 large cloves (10g) chopped very small, spread evenly for good taste, split between the dough and the topping
  • Fresh Chives: 2 tablespoons (6g) cut into tiny bits, vibrant green and snappy, measured after you chop them
  • Unsalted Butter: 4 tablespoons (57g) fancy butter (82% fat content), melted but cooled down (110°F/43°C)
  • Kosher Salt: 1½ teaspoons (9g) Diamond Crystal kosher salt for inside, with extra for sprinkling on top

Nail These Baking Steps

Mix Your Base Dough
Combine flour and yeast in big bowl. Warm water to exactly 110°F (43°C). Pour water in bit by bit while stirring, then add garlic and chives. Work dough for 8-10 minutes until it stretches thin without breaking. Keep dough warm at 75-78°F (24-26°C).
Let It Grow Right
Put dough in bowl with light oil coating. Cover using plastic wrap. Wait 60 minutes at 75°F (24°C) until it's twice as big. When you poke it, it should bounce back slowly and leave a tiny dent.
Form Them Perfectly
Cut dough into 12 same-sized chunks (65g each). Roll into tight balls using your curved hand. They should look smooth with some tension. If they fight back, let them sit 5 minutes.
Add The Cheese
Push each ball flat, put 1 tablespoon (9g) cheese in middle. Pinch edges closed completely, then reshape into smooth ball. Make sure no cheese shows or it'll leak out.
Second Growth Time
Put rolls in 9x13-inch pan so they touch at the edges. Cover loosely. Let grow 15 minutes at 75°F (24°C) until they look puffy but not doubled up.
Cook Them Just Right
Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 18-20 minutes until they reach 190°F (88°C) inside. Right away brush with warm garlic butter mix (110°F/43°C). Sprinkle salt on them while they're still hot.

Clever Prep-Ahead Tricks

Want to save some time? Freeze your dough balls right after the first rise. Line them up on a baking tray, freeze them solid, then stick them in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. When you want fresh rolls, just thaw them out, let them rise, and bake them as normal.

Best Ways To Keep Them Fresh

Once they've cooled down, keep your rolls in a sealed container at room temp and eat them within 2 days. For longer freshness, pop them in the fridge or freezer. To freeze them, wrap the cooled rolls in foil and tuck them in a freezer bag for 2-3 months. Warm them up in your oven or microwave before you eat them.

A bowl of golden-brown, shiny dinner rolls topped with sesame seeds and parsley, some rolls are partly broken open to reveal their fluffy interior. Pin it
A bowl of golden-brown, shiny dinner rolls topped with sesame seeds and parsley, some rolls are partly broken open to reveal their fluffy interior. | lilicooks.com

Tasty Pairing Suggestions

These cheesy garlic rolls go great with soup, salad, or any main dish. They work for everyday dinners but are fancy enough for special gatherings too. Add them to your next meal and watch them become a family favorite!

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Why’s warm milk needed?

Milk at 110-115°F gets the yeast working. Too hot will kill it, and too cool won’t activate it for rising.

→ Can I prep these rolls early?

Once you’re at the second rise, cover them and refrigerate overnight. Bring them to room temp and let them finish rising before baking.

→ How can I tell if the dough has risen enough?

It should double in size. Poke it gently—if the indentation stays, the dough is ready to go.

→ Is freezing these rolls possible?

Yep, freeze them after they’re baked. Thaw fully, warm them up, and brush with garlic butter before serving.

→ Why’s my dough sticky?

Sticky dough happens—humidity plays a part. Slowly add flour until it pulls away from the sides of the bowl but remains soft.

Cheese Garlic Rolls

Fluffy rolls filled with cheddar cheese, fresh garlic, and chives. Finished with garlic butter for the perfect side dish.

Prep Time
20 Minutes
Cook Time
27 Minutes
Total Time
47 Minutes
By: Lily Chen

Category: Party & Snacks

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 12 Servings (12 rolls)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 500g (4 cups) of all-purpose flour, divided.
02 4½ teaspoons (2 envelopes) of instant yeast.
03 50g (¼ cup) of granulated sugar.
04 1 room-temperature large egg.
05 1 teaspoon of kosher salt.
06 366g (1½ cups) of whole milk.
07 226g (2 cups) of shredded sharp cheddar cheese.
08 1 tablespoon of minced fresh garlic.
09 1 tablespoon of minced chives.
10 2 tablespoons of melted salted butter.
11 1 teaspoon of minced fresh garlic.
12 1 teaspoon of minced fresh chives.
13 1 teaspoon of kosher salt.

Instructions

Step 01

Using a stand mixer with a dough hook, blend together 3 cups of flour, the egg, yeast, sugar, and salt.

Step 02

Heat milk to a temperature of 110-115°F, then pour it into the mix. Knead for 2 minutes on medium speed.

Step 03

Sprinkle in ½ cup of flour and knead for another 2 minutes.

Step 04

Add the leftover flour, grated cheese, garlic, and chives. Knead until the dough gets soft and smooth.

Step 05

Cover the dough and set it aside for 45 minutes, or until it doubles in size.

Step 06

Deflate the dough by punching it down, then split it into 12 equal pieces.

Step 07

Set the dough balls into a greased 9x13 pan. Cover them and let them rise for 30 more minutes.

Step 08

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

Step 09

Bake for 22-27 minutes, watching for a golden brown finish.

Step 10

Combine the melted butter with minced garlic and chives. Spread this over the warm rolls.

Step 11

Sprinkle with a bit of salt before serving nice and warm.

Notes

  1. If dough feels sticky, just add flour a little at a time.
  2. You can pop this into the fridge after the second rise and bake it the next day.

Tools You'll Need

  • Dough hook and stand mixer for kneading.
  • Baking dish, size 9x13.
  • A brush for applying butter.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains milk, cheese, and butter.
  • Egg is included.
  • Made with wheat flour.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 293
  • Total Fat: 12 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 35 g
  • Protein: 10 g