Friday nights are sacred in our house. It usually involves a stack of movies, a blanket fort, and a serious craving for pizza. But sometimes, we want something more fun than a standard slice. Enter these Flaky Pepperoni Pizza Rolls with Mozzarella. Max calls them "pizza whirls," and they are the ultimate finger food—soft, buttery dough spiraled around zesty pepperoni and gooey cheese, baked until golden brown and brushed with garlic herbs.
Jump to:
- Why You Will Love This Flaky Pepperoni Pizza Rolls with Mozzarella
- How To Make Flaky Pepperoni Pizza Rolls with Mozzarella
- What Pairs Well With Flaky Pepperoni Pizza Rolls with Mozzarella
- Flaky Pepperoni Pizza Rolls Variations
- Equipment
- Storage / Make Ahead / Serving Tips
- Top Tips for Best Flaky Pepperoni Pizza Rolls
- Flaky Pepperoni Pizza Rolls with Mozzarella FAQs
- The Ultimate Party Snack
- Related
- Flaky Pepperoni Pizza Rolls with Mozzarella
Why You Will Love This Flaky Pepperoni Pizza Rolls with Mozzarella
You will love this recipe because it transforms store-bought dough into a bakery-quality appetizer with almost zero effort. Unlike frozen pizza snacks, these are fresh, incredibly flaky, and packed with real mozzarella that stretches for miles. They are less messy than a regular slice, making them perfect for game days, lunchboxes, or just snacking on the couch. The garlic butter glaze on top? That’s the game-changer.
How To Make Flaky Pepperoni Pizza Rolls with Mozzarella
To get that beautiful spiral look from the picture, we treat the pizza dough just like cinnamon rolls. We roll the dough out into a large rectangle, slather it with pizza sauce, and layer on the cheese and pepperoni. We roll it up into a tight log, slice it into rounds, and bake them until they puff up. A final brush of melted garlic-herb butter gives them that irresistible golden shine.
Flaky Pepperoni Pizza Rolls with Mozzarella Ingredients
The Rolls
- 1 tube (13.8 oz) Refrigerated Pizza Dough (or Crescent Dough Sheets for extra flakiness)
- ½ cup Pizza Sauce or Marinara
- 1 ½ cups Mozzarella cheese; shredded
- ½ cup Pepperoni slices (mini pepperoni works best, or regular slices chopped)
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese; grated
The Garlic Herb Butter
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; melted
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley or Italian seasoning
- Pinch of salt
Step by Step Method
Prep the Dough
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet or 9x9 baking dish with parchment paper.
- Unroll the dough onto a lightly floured surface and stretch it gently into a large rectangle (about 10x14 inches).
Layer the Fillings
- Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a small ½-inch border at the top edge to help seal it later.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and parmesan evenly over the sauce.
- Arrange the pepperoni slices in a single layer over the cheese.
Roll and Slice
- Starting from the long edge closest to you, tightly roll the dough up into a log. Pinch the seam at the end to seal it shut.
- Using a serrated knife (or unflavored dental floss for a clean cut), slice the log into 12 even rolls.
Bake
- Place the rolls on the baking sheet or in the dish. Mom Tip: If you want soft edges, let them touch slightly. For crispy edges, space them 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 15–18 minutes, or until the dough is puffed and deep golden brown.
The Finishing Touch
- While they bake, whisk together the melted butter, garlic powder, and dried herbs.
- As soon as the rolls come out of the oven, brush the tops generously with the garlic herb butter. Serve warm with extra marinara for dipping.
MAX’S REACTION
"They look like cinnamon rolls but taste like pizza! I love unrolling them to get to the pepperoni in the middle. The buttery top is the best part—I got garlic fingers!"
What Pairs Well With Flaky Pepperoni Pizza Rolls with Mozzarella
These rolls are the star of the show, but they need a dipping buddy. A bowl of warm marinara or ranch dressing is essential. If you are serving them as a main dinner, pair them with a crisp Caesar salad or some roasted broccoli to balance out the carbs and cheese.
Flaky Pepperoni Pizza Rolls Variations
Crescent Roll Hack
For Pepperoni pizza rolls with crescent rolls, use a sheet of crescent dough instead of pizza dough. The result is lighter, buttery, and even flakier.
Meat Lovers
Add cooked crumbled sausage or bacon bits along with the pepperoni for a heartier filling.
Cheesy Garlic Bread
Skip the red sauce inside. Brush the dough with garlic butter, fill with mozzarella and mozzarella sticks cut into chunks. It becomes a Pizza rolls with mozzarella sticks hybrid!
Tortilla Pinwheels
For a lighter, lunch-box version, try Pepperoni pizza rolls with tortillas. Spread ingredients on a flour tortilla, roll, slice, and bake for just 10 minutes until crisp.
Equipment
- Baking Sheet or 9x9 Baking Dish
- Serrated Knife (essential for cutting dough without squishing it)
- Pastry Brush
- Parchment Paper
Storage / Make Ahead / Serving Tips
Refrigerator Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheating
To keep them flaky, reheat in an air fryer at 350°F for 3–4 minutes or in a toaster oven. Microwaving them will make the dough chewy and soft.
Make Ahead
You can assemble the rolls, place them in the baking dish, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 4 hours before baking.
Top Tips for Best Flaky Pepperoni Pizza Rolls
The most common mistake is using too much sauce, which makes the dough soggy and hard to roll. Use a thin layer of sauce inside and serve extra on the side for dipping. Also, the "dental floss trick" is a lifesaver slide a piece of floss under the log, cross it over the top, and pull quickly to slice the dough without squishing the spiral shape!
Flaky Pepperoni Pizza Rolls with Mozzarella FAQs
Why are my rolls soggy?
You likely used too much sauce or didn't bake them long enough. Ensure the oven is fully preheated before putting them in.
Can I freeze these?
Yes! You can freeze the baked rolls. Thaw them in the fridge and reheat in the oven to crisp them back up.
Can I use puff pastry?
Absolutely. Puff pastry makes them incredibly airy and fancy, more like a savory danish. Just follow the package instructions for baking temperature.
How do I keep the cheese from leaking out?
Try not to overfill them right at the edges. Also, baking them touching each other in a high-sided dish helps contain the cheese.
The Ultimate Party Snack
These pizza rolls have become our most requested appetizer for parties because they disappear in seconds. They are fun, nostalgic, and honestly way better than delivery. If you are planning a party spread, check out our sweet Maple Donut Bars Recipe, the viral Kings Hawaiian Cheesecake Danish, or our soft and buttery Chocolate Chip Vanilla Custard Brioches for a dessert finish.
Share your Flaky Pepperoni Pizza Rolls! Tag us @HannahCooking with #PizzaRolls; we’re dying to see your version and hear about your homemade kitchen stories!
⭐️ Rate this Flaky Pepperoni Pizza Rolls with Mozzarella recipe and let us know what twists or ingredients you used!
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Flaky Pepperoni Pizza Rolls with Mozzarella
Equipment
- 1 Baking Sheet (Or 9x9 dish)
- 1 Serrated knife (For cutting dough)
- 1 Pastry brush (For butter glaze)
Ingredients
- 1 tube refrigerated pizza dough - 13.8 oz
- ½ cup pizza sauce - Plus more for dipping
- 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese - Shredded
- ½ cup pepperoni - Slices
- 2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese - Grated
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter - Melted
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder - Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley - Or Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Unroll dough into a rectangle on a floured surface.
- Spread pizza sauce thinly over dough; top with mozzarella, parmesan, and pepperoni.
- Roll dough tightly into a log; slice into 12 even rolls using a serrated knife.
- Place rolls on a baking sheet. Bake for 15–18 minutes until golden brown.
- Mix melted butter, garlic powder, and herbs; brush over hot rolls before serving.
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