Every year when Easter rolls around, I pull out a bag of frozen dinner rolls and a handful of marshmallows and turn them into something way bigger than a sweet treat! These Resurrection Rolls made with frozen roll dough are soft, golden dinner rolls baked around a marshmallow that melts away in the oven, leaving an empty center. A simple, visual way to share the Easter story with kids!
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Why this Easter dessert is a family tradition
If you're looking for an easy Easter dessert recipe, a meaningful Easter activity for children, or a church-friendly treat that ties faith and food together, this one checks every box. It's hands-on, memorable, and just the right mix of baking and symbolism and yes, they taste pretty incredible too!
Easter Ressurection Rolls Recipe
Equipment
- 1 baking sheet
Ingredients
- 12 frozen dinner rolls Rhodes-style or store brand
- 12 large marshmallows
- ¼ cup butter melted
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Place the frozen rolls on a lightly greased baking sheet or plate. Cover loosely with a tea cloth and place in the oven with the oven light turned on. This usually takes 3-4 hours. The dough should be thawed but not fully risen.
- In a small bowl, mix the sugar and cinnamon. Melt the butter in a separate bowl.
- Gently flatten each roll into a small circle using a rolling pin or even your fingers. You don't need perfection here-just wide enough to wrap around a marshmallow.
- Dip one marshmallow into the melted butter, then roll it in the cinnamon sugar until well coated.
- Place the marshmallow in the center of the dough. Pull the dough up and around it, pinching the seams very tightly at the top. This step is key-any gaps will let the marshmallow escape.
- Line a sheet pan with parchment paper, spritz with nonstick cooking spray. Place the rolls seam-side down on the sheet pan. Cover loosely and let rise until puffy (about another hour). Before baking, baste with leftover butter and sprinkle with a little of the leftover cinnamon sugar.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake for 13-16 minutes, until the rolls are golden brown and baked through.
- Let the rolls cool for a few minutes before serving. The centers will be warm, hollow, and lightly sweet.
Notes
Nutrition
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Ingredients
For exact measurements, see the printable recipe card.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ's)
You can assemble them and refrigerate overnight, covered tightly. Let them sit at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes before baking so the dough isn't ice cold going into the oven.
Absolutely! This soft dinner roll dough recipe would be amazing! Divide into equal portions and continue with the same wrapping method.
As the rolls bake, the marshmallow melts and combines with the sugar. The heat causes it to dissolve, leaving an empty center once cooled.
Story behind resurrections rolls
Resurrection Rolls tell the Easter story in a way kids can see and taste. A marshmallow is wrapped inside dough, symbolizing Jesus being placed in the tomb. The roll is sealed and baked, just as the tomb was closed. But when the rolls are broken open after baking, the marshmallow has melted away, leaving the center empty. That hollow space becomes a simple, powerful reminder of the empty tomb and the hope of the resurrection - all shared through a warm, sweet roll fresh from the oven.
Top tip when making
Seal the dough seams like you mean it. Any gaps = marshmallow jailbreak! Now having said that, the caramlized crispy marshmallow leak on the pan is completely delicious 😋... so there's that!
Keep the dough rolling
If you're already in a bread-baking mood, don't stop at one pan! My Easy Sandwich Bread is the loaf that makes you feel wildly accomplished when you slice into it and realize you just made actual bread like a capable adult.
Mom's Cinnamon Rolls are soft, gooey, and unapologetically nostalgic - the kind that make people wander into the kitchen asking what smells so good. And if you love a good shortcut (and who doesn't?), my Rolls from Frozen Bread Dough prove you can start with frozen dough and still pull warm, golden dinner rolls out of the oven like a baking rock star!
Whether it's Easter, Sunday dinner, or a random Tuesday that needs carbs, these recipes keep things simple and completely doable!
Serving suggestions
Serve Resurrection Rolls slightly warm so the centers are clearly hollow when broken open - that reveal is half the magic. Arrange them on a simple white platter and let everyone open their own. It becomes part dessert, part moment.
For Easter brunch, pair them with fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, and breakfast sausage for a balanced spread that feels celebratory without being fussy.
Hosting a church gathering? Place one roll in a small paper baking cup on each plate with a printed copy of the story. It turns into both a treat and a takeaway.
For a sweeter finish, lightly dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with a simple glaze made from powdered sugar and milk. It adds just enough shine without overpowering the meaning.
If kids are involved, let them open the first roll at the table and talk through what they see inside. That visual moment tends to stick.
Wrapping it up
Resurrection Rolls are one of those rare recipes that feed both the table and the heart. They're simple enough to make with kids, meaningful enough to share at church, and sweet enough that no one complains about dessert.
Whether you're starting a new Easter tradition or continuing one that's been passed down for years, these rolls turn an ordinary baking moment into something lasting - a reminder that sometimes the simplest recipes carry the biggest message.
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