Southland Cheese Rolls (Toasted Cheese and Onion Bread Rolls)
In short: Bread slices rolled around a gooey cheese and onion filling, brushed with butter and baked until crisp, a Southland specialty. It takes about 45 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 45 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 400 kcal
Cheese rolls are a specialty of Southland, at the southern end of New Zealand's South Island, where they turn up at school fundraisers, rugby days and morning teas. A slice of white bread is spread with a thick cheese and onion filling, rolled up, brushed with butter and baked until golden and crunchy. They are best eaten warm, when the filling is gooey and the bread crisp.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 200°C (400°F) and line a baking tray with baking paper.
- Warm the evaporated milk and grated onion in a small pan over low heat for 3 minutes. Take it off the heat and stir in the cheese, onion powder, mustard powder and pepper until thick and gooey. Cool for 10 minutes.
- Cut the crusts off the bread. Flatten each slice with a rolling pin so it bends without cracking.
- Spread a heaped tablespoon of filling over each slice, right to the edges. Roll up tightly and place seam side down on the tray.
- Brush the rolls all over with melted butter. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until golden and crisp, turning the tray halfway through.
- Serve warm, while the filling is still soft.
Tips
- Flatten the bread thin and spread the filling to the edges. Press the seam closed with a dab of filling so the rolls do not open in the oven.
- Freeze the unbaked rolls on a tray, then bag them. Bake from frozen at 200°C (400°F) for about 20 minutes.
Questions and answers
Can I freeze cheese rolls?
Yes. Freeze the unbaked, buttered rolls on a tray and then pack them into a bag for up to 2 months. Bake straight from frozen.
Can I use fresh milk instead of evaporated milk?
Evaporated milk makes a thicker, creamier filling that does not run. With regular milk, simmer it with 1 tsp flour until thick before adding the cheese.
Why are they called Southland cheese rolls?
They are a favorite in Southland, the southernmost region of the South Island, where they are a fixture at fundraisers and in cafés.
How long does it take to make Southland Cheese Rolls (Toasted Cheese and Onion Bread Rolls)?
About 45 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Southland Cheese Rolls (Toasted Cheese and Onion Bread Rolls)?
About 400 kcal per serving, with 16 g of protein, 34 g of carbohydrates and 22 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 400 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 16 g |
| Carbohydrates | 34 g |
| Fat | 22 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 700 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
