5 Easy Christmas Jelly Roll Recipes

Christmas is just around the corner, and what better way to get into the holiday spirit than by baking some delicious treats? Jelly roll recipes are a classic Christmas favorite, and today we'll be sharing 5 easy recipes to make your holiday season even sweeter.

There's something special about a jelly roll that just screams Christmas. Maybe it's the festive colors, the sweet and tangy fillings, or the elegant presentation. Whatever the reason, jelly rolls are a must-have at any Christmas gathering. And the best part? They're incredibly easy to make!

In this article, we'll be sharing 5 easy Christmas jelly roll recipes that are perfect for beginners and experienced bakers alike. From classic flavors like strawberry and blueberry to more unique combinations like peppermint and chocolate, we've got you covered.

What is a Jelly Roll?

Before we dive into the recipes, let's quickly discuss what a jelly roll is. A jelly roll is a type of sweet bread that is made with a yeast dough and filled with a sweet or savory filling. The dough is rolled out into a large sheet, spread with the filling, and then rolled up into a tight cylinder. The resulting bread is soft, fluffy, and utterly delicious.

Jelly rolls can be made with a variety of fillings, from sweet treats like jam and Nutella to savory delights like spinach and feta. They're perfect for breakfast, brunch, or even as a snack.

Recipe 1: Classic Strawberry Jelly Roll

Our first recipe is a classic strawberry jelly roll that's sure to become a holiday favorite. This recipe uses a simple yeast dough and a sweet strawberry filling made with fresh strawberries and sugar.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup warm water
• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup strawberry jam
• 1 cup sliced strawberries

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until the yeast is activated.
3. Add the flour, salt, and melted butter to the bowl. Mix until a dough forms.
4. Knead the dough for 5-10 minutes until it's smooth and elastic.
5. Roll out the dough into a large sheet, about 1/4 inch thick.
6. Spread the strawberry jam over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges.
7. Top the jam with sliced strawberries.
8. Roll the dough into a tight cylinder and place it on the prepared baking sheet.
9. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the bread is golden brown.

Recipe 2: Blueberry Jelly Roll with Lemon Cream Cheese Filling

Our second recipe is a blueberry jelly roll with a tangy lemon cream cheese filling. This recipe uses a similar yeast dough to the first recipe, but with a delicious blueberry and lemon filling.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup warm water
• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup blueberry jam
• 1 cup cream cheese, softened
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 cup sliced blueberries

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until the yeast is activated.
3. Add the flour, salt, and melted butter to the bowl. Mix until a dough forms.
4. Knead the dough for 5-10 minutes until it's smooth and elastic.
5. Roll out the dough into a large sheet, about 1/4 inch thick.
6. Spread the blueberry jam over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges.
7. Top the jam with the cream cheese mixture (see below).
8. Roll the dough into a tight cylinder and place it on the prepared baking sheet.
9. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the bread is golden brown.

Cream Cheese Filling:

• 1 cup cream cheese, softened
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

Instructions:

1. Beat the cream cheese until it's smooth.
2. Add the lemon juice and granulated sugar. Mix until combined.

Recipe 3: Peppermint Jelly Roll with Chocolate Filling

Our third recipe is a peppermint jelly roll with a rich chocolate filling. This recipe uses a similar yeast dough to the first recipe, but with a delicious peppermint and chocolate filling.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup warm water
• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup peppermint extract
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 cup sliced peppermint candies

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until the yeast is activated.
3. Add the flour, salt, and melted butter to the bowl. Mix until a dough forms.
4. Knead the dough for 5-10 minutes until it's smooth and elastic.
5. Roll out the dough into a large sheet, about 1/4 inch thick.
6. Spread the peppermint extract over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges.
7. Top the peppermint extract with the chocolate chips.
8. Roll the dough into a tight cylinder and place it on the prepared baking sheet.
9. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the bread is golden brown.

Recipe 4: Cranberry Orange Jelly Roll with Cream Cheese Filling

Our fourth recipe is a cranberry orange jelly roll with a tangy cream cheese filling. This recipe uses a similar yeast dough to the first recipe, but with a delicious cranberry and orange filling.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup warm water
• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup cranberry jam
• 1 cup cream cheese, softened
• 1 tablespoon orange juice
• 1 cup sliced cranberries

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until the yeast is activated.
3. Add the flour, salt, and melted butter to the bowl. Mix until a dough forms.
4. Knead the dough for 5-10 minutes until it's smooth and elastic.
5. Roll out the dough into a large sheet, about 1/4 inch thick.
6. Spread the cranberry jam over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges.
7. Top the jam with the cream cheese mixture (see below).
8. Roll the dough into a tight cylinder and place it on the prepared baking sheet.
9. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the bread is golden brown.

Cream Cheese Filling:

• 1 cup cream cheese, softened
• 1 tablespoon orange juice
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

Instructions:

1. Beat the cream cheese until it's smooth.
2. Add the orange juice and granulated sugar. Mix until combined.

Recipe 5: Gingerbread Jelly Roll with Cream Cheese Filling

Our fifth and final recipe is a gingerbread jelly roll with a tangy cream cheese filling. This recipe uses a similar yeast dough to the first recipe, but with a delicious gingerbread and cream cheese filling.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup warm water
• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup gingerbread spice mix
• 1 cup cream cheese, softened
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 cup sliced crystallized ginger

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until the yeast is activated.
3. Add the flour, salt, and melted butter to the bowl. Mix until a dough forms.
4. Knead the dough for 5-10 minutes until it's smooth and elastic.
5. Roll out the dough into a large sheet, about 1/4 inch thick.
6. Spread the gingerbread spice mix over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges.
7. Top the spice mix with the cream cheese mixture (see below).
8. Roll the dough into a tight cylinder and place it on the prepared baking sheet.
9. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the bread is golden brown.

Cream Cheese Filling:

• 1 cup cream cheese, softened
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup crystallized ginger, chopped

Instructions:

1. Beat the cream cheese until it's smooth.
2. Add the granulated sugar and chopped crystallized ginger. Mix until combined.

And there you have it, 5 easy Christmas jelly roll recipes to make your holiday season even sweeter. Whether you're a fan of classic flavors like strawberry and blueberry or more unique combinations like peppermint and chocolate, we've got you covered.

So go ahead, get baking, and make this Christmas season one to remember!