Holidays & Occasions Easter Easter Recipes Resurrection Rolls 4.5 (2) 2 Reviews Resurrection rolls are a sweet way to teach your kids about the real meaning of Easter. By Southern Living Test Kitchen Southern Living Test Kitchen The Southern Living Test Kitchen has been publishing recipes since 1970, four years after the first issue of Southern Living Magazine appeared on newsstands. The Southern Living Test Kitchen team includes a team of professionals with deep expertise in recipe development, from pastry chefs and grilling experts to nutritionists and dietitians. Together, the team tests and retests, produces, styles, and photographs thousands of recipes each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen facility located in Birmingham, Alabama. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on April 21, 2024 Rate PRINT Share Prep Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 12 mins Total Time: 32 mins Yield: 16 rolls Resurrection rolls are a fun and memorable way to teach your kids the story of Jesus' burial and resurrection. This recipe is deliciously simple, and it brings with it the ultimate meaning of Easter Sunday. Plus, it wouldn't be a Southern holiday without a few bread recipes on the kitchen table. Why not enjoy your green beans and glazed ham, or your Easter breakfast alongside a dish that tells a story? Complete with sugar, cinnamon, marshmallows, and hot-from-the-oven crescent rolls, this recipe is an instant crowd-pleaser. Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell Why Are These Called Resurrection Rolls? Before going into the oven, each crescent roll is stuffed with a large marshmallow. Throughout the baking process, it disappears! Sound familiar? The fluffy treat vanishing from the bread symbolizes the way Jesus vanished from the tomb. However, while Christ paid for the sins of humanity and ascended into heaven, the marshmallow simply leaves a sugary finish on the cinnamon-infused crescent roll. It's enough to excite even the pickiest kids! Don't miss out on this meaningful appetizer when Easter rolls around. It's significant, tasty, and easy to make. Ingredients for Resurrection Rolls Just five ingredients are needed to whip up these tender rolls, with crescent roll dough and marshmallows making up the bulk of the recipe. To make resurrection rolls, you'll need: Large marshmallows: Represents the body of Jesus. The marshmallows melt as the rolls bake, leaving a hollow cavity symbolizing Jesus' empty tomb after resurrection.Unsalted butter: Helps the cinnamon-sugar stick to the marshmallows before baking and the rolls after baking.Granulated sugar and ground cinnamon: Combine to form a cinnamon-sugar coating for the marshmallows and rolls, adding sweetness and warmth.Canned crescent roll dough: A soft, flaky dough that provides the base for the rolls. Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell How To Make Resurrection Rolls With store-bought crescent dough as the easy-to-assemble base of these delicious rolls, making them can easily become a family affair. Full instructions are below, but here's a brief recap before you get started: Step 1. Prepare oven: Preheat oven to 350°F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.Step 2. Make cinnamon-sugar mixture: Stir to combine sugar and cinnamon.Step 3. Prepare crescent rolls: Unroll and separate crescent dough along perforations.Step 4. Coat marshmallows in cinnamon-sugar mixture: Roll marshmallows in melted butter and coat with cinnamon-sugar.Step 5. Roll marshmallows in dough: Place a marshmallow in the middle of each triangle of dough. Seal in marshmallow, pinching closed. Transfer to baking sheet.Step 6. Bake rolls: Bake at 350°F for about 12 minutes.Step 7. Brush with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture: Brush hot rolls with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar. Resurrection Rolls Variations To add some variety to these resurrection rolls for even more visual interest and flavor, consider these variation ideas: Spice: Swap the cinnamon with ground cardamom for a unique spin.Zest: Sprinkle in orange or lemon zest before wrapping the marshmallows for a bright, citrusy flavor.Fillings: Place a spoonful of fruit preserves or Nutella onto the dough before topping with marshmallows.Stuffed marshmallows: Used stuffed or fruity marshmallows for a festive touch.Nuts: Sprinkle in chopped pecans, almonds, or walnuts before sealing up the rolls.Toppings: Dip or drizzle the finished rolls with melted white, milk, or dark chocolate, colorful candy melts, or a cream cheese glaze for a decadent touch.Minis: Cut the crescent dough segments and marshmallows in half before assembling for a mini version. Adjust bake time as needed. The Best Way To Store Resurrection Rolls For the freshest results, serve the resurrection rolls on the day of baking. To store leftover rolls, transfer to an airtight container or plastic zip-top bag, and store at room temperature for up to three days or freeze for up to two months. If desired, reheat in a preheated 350°F oven to warm through and crisp up the texture before serving. What To Serve With Resurrection Rolls Whether you serve these sweet rolls for brunch or dessert, pair with other Easter favorites for a festive way to celebrate the holiday. More Easter-Themed Bread Recipes You'll Love It just wouldn't be Easter without holiday-themed, comforting bread recipes on the table. These festive loaves and rolls will be kid and adult-approved: Easter Egg Bread Cinnamon Roll Bunnies Hot Cross Buns Carrot Cake Quick Bread Citrus Pull-Apart Bread Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls Hummingbird Bread Editorial contributions by Katie Rosenhouse. Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell Ingredients 16 large marshmallows 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted 1/4 cup granulated sugar 2 Tbsp. ground cinnamon 2 (8-oz.) cans crescent roll dough Directions Prepare oven and baking sheet: Preheat oven to 350°F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Make cinnamon-sugar mixture: Combine sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell Prepare crescent rolls: Unroll crescent roll dough, and separate each roll along perforations. Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell Coat marshmallows in cinnamon-sugar mixture: Roll marshmallows in melted butter, and then in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell Roll marshmallows in dough: Place one coated marshmallow in the middle of an unrolled crescent dough segment, and roll the marshmallow until completely covered by the dough, pushing in sides as you go. Pinch seams on either end to seal each roll. Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell Place each rolls, evenly spaced, on prepared baking sheet. Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell Bake rolls: Bake at 350°F for about 12 minutes. Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell Brush with butter, and sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture: Immediately after removing rolls from the oven, brush with remaining melted butter, and then sprinkle with remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture. Serve warm. Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell Frequently Asked Questions Can I use a different type of dough for resurrection rolls? If you don't have crescent roll dough on hand, swap with store-bought biscuit dough for a similar result. Are resurrection rolls only made during Easter? While these rolls are delicious enough to make year-round, they're traditionally associated with Easter. Rate It Print Additional reporting by Katie Rosenhouse Katie Rosenhouse Follow us Katie Rosenhouse is a pastry chef and food writer with over 15 years of experience in the culinary arts. She's worked as a pastry chef in some of the finest restaurants in New York City, as a culinary instructor, and as a recipe developer. learn more