Irresistible Mini Cheese Rolls Magic: 24 Cheesy Puffs You’ll Love!

These easy, homemade puff pastry mini cheese rolls are quick to make. They are like sausage rolls filled with yummy cheese, perfect for a snack table.

The mini cheese rolls or puffs inspired this recipe you can buy from Todays and Woolworths in South Africa. At Woolworths, you can get baked cheese puffs from the counter with pies and chicken, and they also sell frozen ones in a box.

Mini cheese rolls and mini sausage rolls have always been a part of the snack table in my house when I was growing up. There’s something really tasty about a cheese roll. I’ve been thinking about making these delicious little cheese treats for a long time!

Experience the magic of Bob Evans Dinner Rolls—soft, buttery, and irresistibly good!

Reverse Engineering This Recipe

I began by checking the ingredients in both Today’s Mini Cheese Rolls and Woolies Cheese Puffs. They were pretty similar, but what surprised me was that the Today’s rolls only had 5% cheese, while the Woolies puffs had 15% cheese.

The main ingredients, like water and milk, were listed in larger amounts. This made me think they used some kind of thick cheese sauce or roux to give the rolls their creamy taste.

So, my first attempt started by making a roux. I used 2 tablespoons of butter, 2 tablespoons of flour, 250ml of milk, 40 grams of cheese, salt, and pepper. I added more flour while cooking to make the sauce thicker. Then, I spread the cooled sauce on the puff pastry and baked it.

It turned out okay, but it wasn’t creamy enough. Later, while lying in bed, I thought about increasing the cheese and making a filling that didn’t need to be cooked and cooled before going into the puff pastry. That led to this final version!

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients used to make mini cheese rolls. Please check the recipe card for specific amounts.

Ready Rolled Puff Pastry: I used Edmond’s puff pastry because it’s the best one in New Zealand. If I were in South Africa, I would probably buy Woolies or Today’s Puff Pastry.

Cheddar Cheese: I used Tasty Cheese, which is New Zealand’s version of mature cheddar. I think cheeses like Edam, Gouda, or even low-moisture mozzarella could work too. I wanted to make sure there was a strong cheese flavor.

Butter: This adds a bit of richness to the puff.

Flour, Eggs, and Milk: These ingredients help bring everything together and thicken the filling while baking.

Cream Cheese: This adds a creamy texture to the filling.

Salt and Pepper: These are used for seasoning.

How to Make Mini Cheese Rolls

Step 1: Let the eggs, cream cheese, and milk sit at room temperature. You can microwave the cream cheese for 10 seconds at a time to help it soften faster.

Step 2: Preheat the oven to 170°C/340°F. Line two baking trays with baking paper and set them aside.

Step 3: Melt the butter in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat. Add the flour and milk, then whisk everything together.

Step 4: Add the two eggs, salt, pepper, and cream cheese to the butter mixture and whisk until combined.

Step 5: Fold the grated cheese into the mixture and set it aside.

Step 6: To make the mini cheese rolls, cut the puff pastry into lengths that total about 95cm long and 12cm wide. In a small bowl, beat an egg with a fork.

Step 7: Place the filling in the center of the pastry length, about 3cm wide and 1.5-2cm high.

Step 8: Brush one long edge of the pastry with milk, water, or a beaten egg, about 2cm wide. Fold the pastry over the cheese filling and press the long edges together. Use a fork to crimp the edges. Then, use a sharp knife to cut the pastry into mini rolls, about 4cm wide.

Step 9: Place the mini rolls onto the prepared baking trays. Brush the tops with a beaten egg and bake for about 20 minutes until the pastry is golden brown.

Step 10: Allow the rolls to cool slightly before serving. They taste great with mustard, sweet chili sauce, or a good tomato sauce.

Pro Tips for this Recipe

• Mini Cheese and Onion Roll: If you want to make a mini cheese and onion roll, finely dice and sauté half an onion, let it cool, and fold it into the filling with the cheese in step 5.
• Make Ahead: If you want to prepare these mini cheese rolls for an event, follow the instructions up to step 8. Then, place the cheese rolls in the fridge covered with cling film and plastic wrap the day before. Bake them just before the event!
• Ovens: The temperatures mentioned are for conventional ovens. If you’re using a convection, fan-forced, fan-assisted, or air fryer, reduce the temperature by 20°C/25°F.

For baking, make sure the oven is fully preheated and that the rack is in the middle of the oven. Try to open the oven as little as possible. For the best baking results, use an oven thermometer.

Remember that all ovens work a bit differently, so you may need to adjust baking times for your specific oven.

Storage and Freezing:

Baked cheese rolls will stay fresh in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Final Thoughts

These mini cheese rolls are a quick and easy snack that’s perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re serving them at a party or just enjoying them at home, they’re sure to be a hit with their flaky pastry and creamy cheese filling. You can even get creative by adding onions or making them ahead for your next event. Just remember to adjust the temperature if you’re using a different type of oven and store them properly to keep them fresh. Once you’ve tried them, they’re bound to become a go-to favorite!