Description
Indulge in the ultimate savory pull-apart bread with these Caramelized Onion Cheesy Rolls. Inspired by French onion soup, they feature sweet, slow-cooked caramelized onions, rich roasted garlic butter, and a gooey layer of melted cheese, all wrapped in a soft, homemade dough.
Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 130 g (½ cup) warm milk
- 1 tbsp (10 g) active dry yeast
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- 300 g (2 ½ cups) all-purpose flour
- 20 g ( 1 ½ tbsp) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 50 g (¼ cup) butter
- 1 large egg
For the Roasted Garlic:
- 2 whole heads of garlic
- 30 ml (2 tbsp) olive oil
- A generous pinch of salt
For the Caramelized Onions:
- 4-5 large onions
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- ½ tsp salt
For the Garlic Butter Spread:
- 50 g (¼ cup) butter
- All of the roasted garlic
- 1 tsp infused oil
- 2 tbsp freshly chopped parsley
- ½ tsp salt
For Assembly & Baking:
- 300 g (about 3 cups) mozzarella cheese
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
Instructions
Roast the Garlic
- Place peeled garlic cloves in a small dish. Drizzle generously with olive oil, add a pinch of salt, and cover tightly with foil.
- Roast in a preheated oven at 140°C (285°F) for 1.5 to 2 hours, until deeply golden and completely soft when pierced.
- Mash the cooled cloves into a paste. Set aside.
Caramelize the Onions
- Thinly slice the onions.
- Cook them slowly in a combination of butter and oil over medium-low heat. Once they begin to develop a golden color, add salt.
- Continue cooking, stirring frequently, for over 1 hour and 30 minutes, until they are deeply caramelized and sweet. Set aside to cool completely.
Prepare the Dough
- Mix warm milk with a pinch of sugar and the yeast. Let it activate for 5-10 minutes, until frothy.
- To the same bowl, add flour, sugar, salt, softened butter, and one egg. Knead the dough for 15 to 20 minutes, by hand or mixer, until smooth and elastic.
- Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm proofing environment at 28°C (82°F) for 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until doubled in size.
Make the Garlic Butter & Assemble
- Combine the softened butter with the roasted garlic paste, salt, oil, and chopped parsley. Mix until smooth.
- Punch down the risen dough and roll it out into a rectangle. Spread the garlic butter evenly over the surface, then sprinkle generously with grated cheese. Top evenly with the cooled caramelized onions.
- Cut the filled rectangle into 6 strips, roll each one individually into perfect rolls.
- Place the rolls in a prepared baking dish, cover, and let them proof again at 28°C (82°F) for 30 to 45 minutes, or until puffy. While they proof, preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
Bake
- Brush the proofed rolls with a beaten egg wash.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the tops are a deep golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Let the rolls cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll
- Calories: 580 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg