New Zealand Cheese Rolls
Crispy and gooey New Zealand cheese rolls are a firm staple in cafés throughout the South Island. A tasty alternative to cheese scones, this iconic snack or appetizer is popular for a reason. Traditionally made with packaged onion soup and evaporated milk, this from-scratch recipe takes just as long to make and uses whole ingredients only.
When I moved to New Zealand in 2008 I made a point to try all the regional foods when travelling the country and these cheesy and comforting rolls that can be found in many cafés in Southland definitely made an impression. I had to recreate them of course and after many iterations I’m happy to share it with you to easily create anywhere around the world for a taste of New Zealand.
This from-scratch recipe is free from artificial flavor enhancers and packaged onion soup. The cheese-filled rolls are both, meal-prep friendly and perfect for little hands, offering a quick and easy savory snack.
For more easy snack ideas, check out my pigs in a blanket and Cheese and bacon turnovers as well.
If you loved this Cheese Roll Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating below. Thank you!
New Zealand Cheese Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 loaf white sandwich bread
- 3/4 cup Edam cheese grated
- 1/4 cup butter melted
Cheese Sauce
- 1 medium onion finely diced
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 tsp mustard powder
- 3/4 cup edam cheese grated
- salt & pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F (180C).
- To make the cheese sauce, melt the butter in a small saucepan on medium heat. Add finely chopped onions and sauté them in the butter until they're translucent.1 medium onion, 1/4 cup butter
- Add the flour while stirring, followed by the milk. Make sure to keep stirring to avoid any lumps as the milk will start to thicken. Reduce the temperature to low and add the mustard powder and grated cheese. Don't skimp on the cheese! They're cheese rolls after all! Watch the sauce closely and keep stirring it as it can easily burn. Once the cheese is melted, season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste.1/3 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup milk, 1/2 tsp mustard powder, 3/4 cup edam cheese, salt & pepper
- To assemble the cheese rolls, roll each sandwich bread slice flat with a rolling pin to avoid them breaking.1 loaf white sandwich bread
- Spoon some of the cheese sauce onto each slice of bread and spread it out evenly with the back of the spoon. Add some grated cheese and roll up each slice of bread tightly.3/4 cup Edam cheese, 1/4 cup butter
- Place the rolls on a baking sheet, seam side down. Brush the cheese rolls with melted butter and bake them for 15 minutes until they're golden brown. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Ingredients and substitutions
- Bread – Soft sandwich bread works best for the recipe. My soft whey bread is a great example.
- Cheese – Edam cheese adds a mild cheesy flavor to these rolls. You can substitute it with gouda or cheddar cheese for a stronger cheesy taste.
- Butter – Unsalted or salted butter both work well. Simply adjust the salt accordingly when seasoning the sauce.
- Onion – Yellow onions work best for this recipe.
- Mustard powder – The powder adds a distinct flavor and color to the cheese sauce.
- Milk – Full-fat or skim milk both work for this recipe.
- Flour – All-purpose flour thickens the cheese sauce.
Variations
Spice it up: Add some chili flakes, cayenne pepper, or siracha sauce to the cheese rolls for some extra spice.
Add herbs: Fresh chives or parsley add extra color and a fresh flavor to these cheese rolls.
Bacon bites: Add finely cubed bacon when sautéeing the onions to make these rolls extra delicious.Tips
Best cheese rolls ever
Thanks Lynda!