Description

These homemade King’s Hawaiian rolls feature a soft, fluffy texture and are filled with a creamy ginger swirl. Perfect for brunch or as a sweet holiday side dish, they require simple hands-on steps and a couple of rises.

Ingredients

Scale

4 cups strong white bread flour (500g), plus extra for dusting
6 tablespoons granulated sugar (75g)
2.25 teaspoons active dry yeast (7g)
1 teaspoon fine sea salt (5g)
1 cup warm whole milk (240ml), 105-115°F
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled (4 tbsp for dough, 2 tbsp for glaze)
1 large egg, lightly beaten and room temperature
4 ounces full-fat cream cheese (113g), softened
1/4 cup powdered sugar (30g)
2 tablespoons candied ginger (30g), very finely diced

Instructions

Create the Dough Base: Whisk together flour, granulated sugar, yeast, and salt in a large bowl. Add the warm milk, cooled melted butter, and beaten egg. Mix until a shaggy dough forms.
Knead and First Rise: Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes by hand (or 6-8 minutes with a stand mixer) until smooth and elastic. Place in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
Prepare Ginger Cream Cheese Filling: While the dough rises, combine softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and finely diced candied ginger in a bowl until smooth. Cover and refrigerate until firm.
Shape and Fill Rolls: Gently punch down the dough and divide it into 12 equal pieces. Flatten each piece into a small circle, place 1-1.5 teaspoons of chilled filling in the center, and firmly pinch the edges together to seal completely.
Second Rise and Preheat Oven: Place filled rolls seam-side down in a lightly greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Cover and let rise for 30-45 minutes, until puffy and almost touching. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
Bake and Glaze: Bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown. Immediately brush generously with remaining melted butter. Let cool slightly before serving.

Notes

Ensure the cream cheese filling is cold and firm when shaping the rolls to prevent leakage during baking. Pinch seams tightly for a complete seal. Use strong bread flour for the softest, most tender crumb.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Bread
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 roll
Calories: 300 kcal
Sugar: 19 g
Sodium: 250 mg
Fat: 15 g
Saturated Fat: 8 g
Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 30 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 7 g
Cholesterol: 40 mg

Keywords: sweet rolls, hawaiian rolls, ginger, cream cheese, baking, yeast bread, pull-apart bread, brunch, holiday side dish