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    Home » Our latest posts » Main Courses with Meat

    Kids Can Bake: Pepperoni Rolls

    March 31, 2016 Filed Under: Main Courses with Meat, Pork, Yeast Bread

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    The amounts given here are approximations, adjust as desired. You can use store bought frozen bread dough or our simple bread dough recipe.

    If you are looking for an easy and simply delicious recipe for your kids to bake for lunch or even dinner, I have a fun one for you today: Pepperoni Rolls.

    Pepperoni Rolls - simple rolls stuffed with pepperoni and cheese. West Virginia Pepperoni Rolls. Kids recipes.

    I first heard about these on an episode of Barnwood Builders on DIY Network. They proclaimed them a West Virginia staple. So I asked the only West Virginian I know, my neighbor, Nathan. He confirmed they are in fact a "thing" and proceeded to ask his mom and cousin for a recipe. Neither had an official recipe, because there really isn't one. They assured me they were so easy to make and gave me some general directions.

    They also explained the history of this dish: The miners in West Virginia, many of whom were Italian immigrants, used to make them and take them down into the mine to eat for lunch. Simple, portable, and hearty.

    In actuality, these are nothing more than bread dough wrapped around pepperoni and cheese and then baked. Traditionally they are made with a stick of pepperoni cut into large chunks. But I was assured they could be made with pre-sliced pepperoni. Which was a good thing, because I had a whole pack of mini-pepperoni slices left over from the Egg Hunt Pizza Party we had last week.

    You can use store bought frozen bread dough if you want to make life easier for yourself. Just defrost so it is ready to be shaped and rise one last time before baking. I used my stand by bread dough recipe that I also used for the pizza crust last week. This will add an hour and a half to the recipe prep time for letting the dough rise the first time.

    After I made up the dough I handed the rest over to my soon to be 8 year old chef.

    He divided the dough into 12 equal balls. We even broke out the scale to be as accurate as possible (and sneak in a little Spring Break learnin', shhh!)

    Pepperoni Rolls - simple rolls stuffed with pepperoni and cheese. West Virginia Pepperoni Rolls. Kids recipes.

    Then he spread the dough ball into a circle. It works best if you leave it a little thicker in the middle and thinner around the edges.

    Pepperoni Rolls - simple rolls stuffed with pepperoni and cheese. West Virginia Pepperoni Rolls. Kids recipes.

    Then he added the cheese and pepperoni to the center of the dough circle.

    Pepperoni Rolls - simple rolls stuffed with pepperoni and cheese. West Virginia Pepperoni Rolls. Kids recipes.

    And he wrapped the dough around the filling.

    Pepperoni Rolls - simple rolls stuffed with pepperoni and cheese. West Virginia Pepperoni Rolls. Kids recipes.

    Then I let them rise and baked them. He still doesn't do the oven parts of recipes.

    Pepperoni Rolls - simple rolls stuffed with pepperoni and cheese. West Virginia Pepperoni Rolls. Kids recipes.
    See the not so pretty one on the right? That's why I said to make your dough circle thicker in the middle, which will become the top of the roll.

    We each had a few for dinner and I froze the rest so he can have them for lunch or afterschool snack next week.

    [click_to_tweet tweet="Pepperoni Rolls. Easy and delicious recipe kids can make themselves. #kidsbaking #pepperonirolls" quote="Pepperoni Rolls. Easy and delicious recipe kids can make themselves. #kidsbaking #pepperonirolls" theme="style2"]

    Pepperoni Rolls

    Pepperoni Rolls - simple rolls stuffed with pepperoni and cheese. West Virginia Pepperoni Rolls. Kids recipes.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 lb bread dough risen once
    • 5-6 oz pepperoni (stick or slices)
    • 6 oz mozzarella cheese

    Instructions
     

    • Divide the bread dough into 12 balls. Slice the cheese and pepperoni into 12 pieces (adult job for children too young to handle knife).
    • Press out each ball of dough into a circle. Ideally it should be thicker in the middle and thinner on the outside.
    • Add cheese an pepperoni to the center of the dough circle.
    • Fold ends of dough circle around the cheese and pepperoni and press to seal.
    • Place seam side down on a greased baking sheet. Let rise 20 minutes.
    • While dough is rising, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • Grown up or older child only job: Bake rolls for 15-20 minutes until light brown.

    Notes

    The amounts given here are approximations, adjust as desired. You can use store bought frozen bread dough or our simple bread dough recipe.

    Until next time, happy eating.
    Audrey

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Julie

      March 31, 2016 at 3:26 pm

      Ooh yes, a great idea for kids to make for themselves. Pinning for quite a bit later 🙂

      Reply
      • Audrey

        April 01, 2016 at 4:33 pm

        You'll be surprised how soon they will be able to start helping in the kitchen, Julie. Mine was helping me by at least 18 months, all he did was dump the measuring cup full of ingredients I handed him, but he loved it.

    2. Debbie Rodrigues

      April 01, 2016 at 7:18 am

      That's so cool that your kids can bake!
      I was never stimulated to do it and had no curiosity or interest myself. Not good...
      Thanks for sharing this recipe.

      Reply
      • Audrey

        April 01, 2016 at 4:32 pm

        Mine loves it, unless Daddy is home. Then it is all about Dad. ha ha!

    3. Marilyn Lesniak

      April 01, 2016 at 7:24 pm

      My granddaughter would love these! Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe at The Recipe Sharing Pin and Yum Party! I hope to see you next week. Pinned and Yummed.
      Please visit Thursday Favorite Things for more sharing fun!

      Reply
      • Audrey

        April 03, 2016 at 7:58 am

        So fun and easy to make. But I am sure you bake with her a lot, Marilyn.

    4. Jess Powell (Babi a Fi)

      April 02, 2016 at 11:42 am

      Oh, yum, these look great! I love stuff that kids can get really involved with making too. x #FridayFrivolity

      Reply
      • Audrey

        April 03, 2016 at 7:54 am

        Mine has been helping in the kitchen since he was able to stand. He loves it.

    5. Morgan @ Morgan Manages Mommyhood

      April 05, 2016 at 5:29 am

      This is so cute and so yummy! I can't wait until my boys can start to help me in the kitchen!

      Reply
      • Audrey

        April 07, 2016 at 4:31 pm

        Mine started helping in the kitchen not too long after he could stand. He could dump and stir, sometimes he even made it in the bowl. haha!

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