White Chocolate Cranberry Sweet Rolls - The Recipe Rebel (2024)

These White Chocolate Cranberry Sweet Rolls are perfect for Christmas brunch or a make-ahead weekend breakfast! Soft and fluffy homemade rolls are filled with homemade cranberry filling, then topped with a white chocolate glaze.

If you love cranberries and white chocolate, check out this Cranberry White Chocolate Fudge and these White Chocolate Cranberry Sweet Rolls!

Does anyone else get fixated on one flavor combination, then that’s all you want to eat for a while? That’s me right now with these White Chocolate Cranberry Sweet Rolls. Turns out, I love white chocolate and cranberry together. The tangy cranberry and luscious white chocolate just complement each other insanely well.

I used my favorite bun dough recipe (I use Mom’s Homemade Buns when baking rolls just by themselves), layered it with homemade sweet and tangy cranberry filling, rolled it up, then baked it to soft and fluffy perfection. Oh, then I topped it off with an absolutely perfect white chocolate glaze.

Does it get better than that?

If you love cranberry recipes as much as I do this time of year, check out Cranberry Caramel Bars, Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin with Cranberry Sauce or this Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider.

Ingredients Needed

This recipe is so good because every single component is totally homemade! A super simple dough, an easy and tasty cranberry filling, and a rich and decadent white chocolate glaze!

Here’s what you’ll need:

Dough

• Milk: you’ll need warm milk to activate the yeast. I microwave mine for 30-45 seconds.
• Butter: be sure to bring the butter to room temperature before you get started.
• Granulated Sugar: they are sweet rolls, after all!
• Instant Yeast: make sure you use instant yeast so the dough rises quickly.
• Eggs: binds the ingredients together.
• Salt: enhances the flavor.
• All-Purpose Flour: gives the dough its structure.

Filling

• Cranberries: you can use fresh or frozen cranberries.
• Water: thins the mixture to make it spreadable.
• Granulated Sugar: for sweetness.
• Cornstarch: thickens the filling to give it more of a jam-like texture.

Glaze

• White Chocolate: use chopped white chocolate or white chocolate chips.
• Cream: melted with the chocolate to make the glaze drizzle-able.
• Powdered Sugar: makes a perfectly sweet, rich flavor for the glaze.

How to Make White Chocolate Cranberry Sweet Rolls

Here is a quick overview with some extra tips. Find the full recipe down in the recipe card!

1. Make the dough and let it rise: When your dough is ready, it will be tacky but not sticky. Make sure you don’t add too much flour or it will be difficult to roll! Place in a warm, dry spot for 1-1.5 hours.
2. Make the filling: Simmer cranberries, water, and sugar until the berries start to burst, then thicken with corn starch. Be sure you let it cool so it thickens further before you roll the buns!
3. Assemble the rolls: Roll the dough out and spread the filling, then roll the dough up. Slice into 1.5″ rounds using a serrated knife, then place into a greased baking dish. They might be messy, but it’s all good!
4. Bake: Bake at 350ºF until the tops are light golden brown, then remove from the oven and cool slightly.
5. Add the glaze: In a bowl, mix white chocolate and cream. Microwave until melted, then whisk in powdered sugar. Drizzle over the warm rolls, then store or serve.

Sweet Rolls FAQs

Tips and Notes

• Let it rise…twice! Don’t forget, there are two times you’ll set the dough aside to let it rise. Once after it’s mixed for 1-1.5 hours, then again after the rolls are assembled for 20-30 minutes. This creates the softest, fluffiest rolls!
• Find a warm, dry place. The oven (turned off) is a great place to set the dough to let it rise.
• Cool the filling. You can set it out on the counter until it comes to room temperature or speed up the process by placing it in the fridge or freezer.
• Serve warm. These White Chocolate Cranberry Sweet Rolls are so good served warm with the glaze a little bit melty. Trust me.
• To save time, feel free to use store-bought cranberry filling. If you do have time, I highly recommend doing it homemade though.

Variations

• Use another jam. Feel free to layer in whatever jam your heart desires. Strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, you name it.
• Add nuts. Give your rolls a little crunch by sprinkling a handful of chopped walnuts or pecans over the filling before rolling them up.
• Swap the topping. These cranberry rolls would also be delicious topped with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting or another type of glaze/frosting.

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