The Best From-Scratch Cheesy Sourdough Pizza Rolls
Cheesy sourdough pizza rolls are a fun twist on an All-American classic favorite. Perfect for everyday meals or a friendly get-together, the familiar pizza flavors are baked into soft mouth-watering cheesy sourdough layers. Dunk them in homemade pizza sauce or ranch dressing and you’ll crave them over and over again!
Whether you’re into college football or the NFL pros, playoff season is here! Good thing, because it’s the perfect pick-me-up from the post-holiday blues and the cold month of January. At least here in Wisconsin.
January also brings everyone’s favorite New Year’s Resolution to get healthy with a cleaner diet and workout regimen. But an invitation to a football playoff party often clashes with those healthy efforts.
The convenient card board pizza usually graces the party day menu along with it’s side dish of harmful ultra-processed ingredients. Toss in bags of chips, soda and store-bought cookies and it’s a wreck for our guts. Well, all of that is so yesterday!!
So I set out to create a delicious homemade version of the traditional party favorite with a unique twist. These cheesy sourdough pizza rolls wrap up rich pizza flavor in a healthy sourdough bread minus toxic chemicals or preservatives.
And just like the traditional pizza pie, these rolls offer the same flexibility of flavor. Customize with all your favorite toppings like pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms or black olives. Yum! I’m hungry just thinking about my favorite Italian meal.
Trust me, family and friends can’t help but be impressed with the slow handmade taste of these cheesy pizza rolls. Serve with homemade pizza sauce and ranch dressing and they’ll soon be a new favorite!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Loaded with rich pizza flavor – The inclusion of pizza sauce, traditional herbs and onions into the dough itself take the flavor even deeper. Rolled with lots of cheese and all your favorite toppings, they’re sealed with garlic butter and topped with more cheese. Pizza and soft sourdough bread together? What’s not to love?!
Made with sourdough – The sourdough takes the homemade factor and makes these rolls even healthier. Sourdough ferments the flour and its components, making it easier for your body to digest. Easier digestion decreases belly bloat as well as gut and overall body inflammation, which causes many chronic conditions and diseases.
Unique appetizer or main meal – Rolls are often associated with sweet cinnamon rolls or sticky buns. Surprise your family with a unique twist on the classic pizza pie for supper with these cheesy sourdough pizza rolls. Guests will love them too for a fun appetizer at your next football party or get together.
Helpful Hints for the Best Cheesy Sourdough Pizza Rolls
- I recommend lard or coconut oil for this recipe because they stay soft at room temperature. They’ll keep your rolls pillowy soft verses butter which is harder at room temperature.
- The filling only calls for grated cheese and pizza sauce, but feel free to add other favorite pizza toppings like pepperoni, sausage or black olives. Keep in mind that vegetables like onions, mushrooms and peppers contain moisture, therefore you’ll need to adjust the baking time to avoid a doughy center.
- It’s easy to customize individual rolls. After rolling out the dough, spread the pizza sauce and grated cheese, then take a pizza cutter and make twelve strips. Add favorite toppings onto each strip per family member’s requests. Roll and bake.
- As you see, I placed my rolls on a baking sheet into the shape of a football. I used green onion tops to make the laces, but you can use parsley instead. These cheesy sourdough pizza rolls can also be baked in a 9×13 pan or cast iron skillet. Be sure to pre-heat the skillet with lard or coconut oil on the bottom for more even baking.
How to Make Cheesy Sourdough Pizza Rolls
What You’ll Need
Remember, to keep these rolls even healthier, it’s important to use high-quality organic ingredients. Source good ingredients with what you can afford and work towards a full pantry of healthy products.
With a little patience and priority, it can be done! It didn’t happen overnight for me so this is my encouragement for you.
Ingredients
Flour – I used all-purpose, but I find bread flour also works just as well.
Lard or Coconut oil – Use this for inside the dough instead of butter. Either one stays soft at room temperature and keeps the rolls soft and pliable.
Sourdough starter – Unless you have a super mature starter where discard rises dough, use an active and bubbly starter.
Various Herbs – A full list of the herbs used are in the recipe card below.
Pizza sauce – I used my homemade pizza sauce made with garden fresh tomatoes and herbs. Mimic that flavor by adding a teaspoon of the herbs called for in the dough, to store-bought pizza sauce.
Find a full list of ingredients in the recipe card below.
Equipment
Stand mixer or large mixing bowl
Dough whisk or wooden spoon (if mixing by hand)
Rolling pin and bench scraper (handy for picking up rolls)
Sharp knife
Baking sheet, 9×13 pan or cast iron skillet
Step-by-Step Instructions
For the Dough
Mix the dry ingredients together in the mixing bowl including the onions. Stir for one minute to fully incorporate the baking soda and powder.
In a separate bowl, whisk together all the wet ingredients.
Add wet ingredients to the dry and mix for 10-15 minutes or until dough appears smooth and elastic.
Transfer to a lightly greased bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap or beeswax wrap. Let the dough long-ferment for 24 hours, either on the countertop or in the fridge. Dough should double in size.
Assemble Pizza Rolls
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. After dough has long-fermented, roll a square shape approximately 15in x 20 in. Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce and sprinkle with grated cheese. Add additional toppings if desired. This is also the time to cut into twelve strips if customizing each roll.
Carefully roll into a log and cut into twelve rolls with a sharp knife.
Arrange rolls into the shape of a football on a baking sheet. Or place in a 9×13 pan or pre-heated cast iron skillet. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the center is done.
Meanwhile, melt butter and finely chopped garlic cloves together.
When rolls are done baking, remove from oven. Brush with garlic butter, grate more cheese on top of the rolls to cover them completely and decorate with onion tops or parsley into football laces. Or simply sprinkle them on top of the cheese.
Return to oven for 15 minutes or until cheese turns brown. Serve warm with pizza sauce and ranch dressing.
Try these rolls today with my Easy From-Scratch Homemade Ranch Dressing
Recipe FAQ’s
Is sourdough discard okay to use in this recipe?
Unless you have an older more mature starter, an active bubbly starter is recommended for the best rising action.
What if the dough is too sticky to roll out?
It’s possible the dough is too warm or over-fermented. Place the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour to firm up for easier rolling. Use a floured surface for rolling.
How should leftover rolls be stored?
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. Re-heat in a 350 degree oven for 5 minutes.
More Recipes From Becky’s Kitchen
Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar | Healthy, Simple and Frugal
5 Simple Peppermint Herbal Tea Blends to Try This Winter
How to Make Homemade Shrub | A Dye-Free Beverage Flavoring
Simple Gluten-Free Banana Bread with Pumpkin Seed Crumble
If you try this recipe and love it, come on back and leave it a 5-star review! Tag me with your photos on Instagram @beckybuttlesamericana
And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened.” Luke 13:20-21
Happy Baking and God Bless! –Becky
The Best From-Scratch Cheesy Sourdough Pizza Rolls
Cheesy sourdough pizza rolls are a fun twist on an All-American classic favorite. Perfect for everyday meals or a friendly get-together, the familiar pizza flavors are baked into soft mouth-watering cheesy sourdough layers. Dunk them in homemade pizza sauce or ranch dressing and you'll crave them over and over again!
Ingredients
For the Rolls
- 4 cups all-purpose flour (560g)
- 1 teaspoon garlic and onion powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon fennel
- 1 teaspoon mint
- 1/2 cup sourdough starter (100g)
- 1/2 cup water (118g)
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup coconut oil or lard
- 2 tablespoons honey (42g)
- 3/4 cup diced onions
- 1/4 cup pizza sauce
For the Filling
- Approximately 1 pound grated cheese preferably mozzarella
- 1 pint jar of pizza sauce
For the Topping
- Approximately 1 pound grated cheese
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1-2 cloves of garlic
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley or onion tops
- Pizza sauce for serving
- Ranch dressing for serving
Instructions
For the Dough
Mix the dry ingredients together in the mixing bowl including the onions. Stir for one minute to fully incorporate the baking soda and powder.
In a separate bowl, whisk together all the wet ingredients.
Add wet ingredients to the dry and mix for 10-15 minutes or until dough appears smooth and elastic.
Transfer to a lightly greased bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap or beeswax wrap. Let the dough long-ferment for 24 hours, either on the countertop or in the fridge. Dough should double in size.
Assemble Pizza Rolls
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. After dough has long-fermented, roll a square shape approximately 15in x 20in. Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce and sprinkle with grated cheese. Add additional toppings if desired. This is also the time to cut into twelve strips if customizing each roll.
Carefully roll into a log and cut into twelve rolls with a sharp knife.
Arrange rolls into the shape of a football on a baking sheet. Or place in a 9x13 pan or pre-heated cast iron skillet. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the center is done.
Meanwhile, melt butter and finely chopped garlic cloves together.
When rolls are done baking, remove from oven. Brush with garlic butter, grate more cheese on top of the rolls to cover them completely and decorate with onion tops or parsley into football laces. Or simply sprinkle them on top of the cheese.
Return to oven for 15 minutes or until cheese turns brown. Serve warm with pizza sauce and ranch dressing. Enjoy!
Notes
- I recommend lard or coconut oil for this recipe because they stay soft at room temperature. They'll keep your rolls pillowy soft verses butter which is harder at room temperature.
- The filling only calls for grated cheese and pizza sauce, but feel free to add other favorite pizza toppings like pepperoni, sausage or black olives. Keep in mind that vegetables like onions, mushrooms and peppers contain moisture, therefore you'll need to adjust the baking time to avoid a doughy center.
- It's easy to customize individual rolls. After rolling out the dough, spread the pizza sauce and grated cheese, then take a pizza cutter and make twelve strips. Add favorite toppings onto each strip per family member's requests. Roll and bake.
- I placed my rolls on a baking sheet into the shape of a football. I used green onion tops to make the laces, but you can use parsley instead. These cheesy sourdough pizza rolls can also be baked in a 9x13 pan or cast iron skillet. Be sure to pre-heat the skillet with lard or coconut oil on the bottom for more even baking.
I’m a wife and homemaker inspiring old-fashioned skills for a homemade, self-sufficient lifestyle, always with a warm beverage in hand. Homemade Recipes. Gardening. Preserving. Healthy Living.
Want More Recipes from Becky?
Sign up to receive exclusive recipes only for subscribers! Plus you’ll get the latest blog posts straight to your inbox!
