Cheddar, Broccoli and Ham Breakfast Rolls

These hearty breakfast rolls might look like your favorite cinnamon roll, but they’re filled instead with savory ingredients for a twist on the classic. Similar to a quiche, you can substitute different meats and cheeses to make them your own, or omit the meat and add more vegetables to make them vegetarian. The rolls can be made ahead and baked in the morning for a delicious breakfast, brunch or even dinner treat any day of the week.

1/2 cup milk, heated to about 110 degrees

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

1 1/8 teaspoons instant yeast

2 eggs, divided

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened and divided

3/4 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup chopped, steamed broccoli

1/2 cup chopped ham

Place the milk, sugar and yeast in a small mixing bowl and let sit 5 minutes to proof.  Add 1 egg to the milk mixture and whisk to combine.

Add the flour and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add the milk mixture and 3 tablespoons butter.  Mix on low until well incorporated, about 3 minutes. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm area until almost doubled in size, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Use the remaining 1 tablespoon butter to grease a square baking dish. Once the dough has risen, roll it out onto a lightly floured surface, making a rectangle about 6 inches tall and 8 inches wide. Sprinkle half of the cheese onto the dough, followed by the broccoli, then the ham, then the remaining cheese.

Working from the long edge, roll the dough up from the bottom edge to make a tight roll. Cut the roll into 6 slices, about 1 inch each. Arrange the slices inside the baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm area until the rolls rise and fill up the dish, about 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Place the remaining egg and 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl. Whisk together to make an egg wash.  Brush the risen rolls with the egg wash.  Place in the preheated oven, uncovered, and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 25-30 minutes.