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    Home » Appetizers » Homemade Havarti Cheese Pizza Dough Rolls

    Homemade Havarti Cheese Pizza Dough Rolls

    October 6, 2017 , Updated May 3, 2019 Maria 16 Comments

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    Homemade Havarti Cheese Pizza Dough Rolls

    This post is sponsored by Arla foods.

    This recipe for these Homemade Havarti Cheese Pizza Dough Rolls is perfect for when you are looking for a little snack to tie you over until your next meal.

    Homemade Havarti Cheese Pizza Dough Rolls

    It’s that time of year.

    It’s time to say so long to the backyard barbecues, the pool parties, the soccer games, summer camp and the endless flurry of summer activities. As much as I enjoy summer, I love fall and everything associated with it.

    It’s a magical time when Mother Nature takes the role of an artist and paints a canvas of colors for all to see, from scarlet reds to pale golds. It is as though she is encouraging us to take the time to reflect and appreciate all that she is offering – before she takes it away with her icy fingers of winter. One final encore before she settles down to rest …but only for a little while.

    Is it any surprise we celebrate Thanksgiving in the fall?  It is a time of gratitude. It is a time for reflection. It is also a time to s-l-o-w down the pace.

    The crisp autumn air feels comfortable as I return to my routine of taking daily brisk walks. My walking is rhythmic and therapeutic, and I immediately acknowledge how I missed this quiet time. It is during these walks that my mind wanders…

    From a distance I hear a school bell ringing, signaling the start of the new school year. And I think how, in many ways, fall is just as much a new beginning as it is an ending. It seems to me that there is no better way to mark the passing of time than through the growth of our kids. I am reminded once again how quickly it seems to go by, just like the changing of the seasons.

    And I think to myself, how wonderful to be able to experience and appreciate all these changes.

    As I continue my brisk walk, I come to the realization that the days have definitely become shorter, and the sun’s rays are not as hot. Sweater weather has returned and it feels good. I have a special relationship with October as it is my birth month.

    My “feeling good” thoughts turn to comfort foods and what they mean to me. The food that I ate growing up featured simple, fresh and flavorful ingredients – that is the essence of Italian cuisine. And the older I get, the more this philosophical approach to food resonates with me, not only as a dietitian, but also as a mother and soon to be grandmother.

    A couple of weeks ago, I was offered the opportunity to team up with Arla Foods to create a recipe using Arla Herbs & Spices Havarti slices.

    I was already familiar with Arla Foods and their philosophy of using no additives and natural ingredients. I will wait for you right here while you go check out their inspiring Instagram feed (just click on the highlighted text).

    The minute I tasted this perfectly spiced Havarti, I knew I wanted to use it with my mom’s pizza dough recipe. If you have never made your own pizza dough, it’s lots of fun and a lot easier than you can imagine. Just in case you are wondering, you do not need to originate from Naples to make pizza dough… although it is a plus 😉 Feel free to use store bought pizza dough, wouldn’t want you to miss out of this great snack!

    So, are you ready to make these little morsels of deliciousness? Let me show you how I make these Homemade Havarti Cheese Pizza Dough Rolls.

    Begin by preheating your oven to 450°F (230° C). We then need to line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set it aside while we cook the vegetables. Just a quick note: if you decide to make my mom’s pizza dough recipe, please follow scenario #2.

    Homemade Havarti Cheese Pizza Dough Rolls

    Over medium heat, add one tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet.
    Add the thinly sliced onions and cook for about 10-12 minutes or until softened. Make sure to stir frequently and to season with salt and pepper. Once cooked, remove the onions from the heat and set aside in a bowl to cool off.

    Homemade Havarti Cheese Pizza Dough Rolls
    In the same skillet, add one tablespoon of olive oil.
    Add the minced garlic and stir fry for about one minute.
    Add the spinach and a couple of tablespoons of water.
    Cover and increase heat to medium-high for about 1 minute.
    Remove cover, decrease the heat to medium and cook until spinach has wilted and most of the moisture has evaporated. Make sure to stir frequently.
    Remove from heat.

    Homemade Havarti Cheese Pizza Dough Rolls

    Squeeze out the excess moisture and add the spinach to the bowl of cooked onions. Chopped frozen spinach can be used instead of fresh. Just make sure to thaw and squeeze very dry before using.

    I tried two different methods of making these Havarti pizza dough rolls…

    Homemade Havarti Cheese Pizza Dough Rolls

    Method #1: I added four slices of Arla Havarti Herbs and Spices to the cooked vegetables.

    Homemade Havarti Cheese Pizza Dough Rolls

    I then proceeded to spread out a third of the mixture evenly over a third of the pizza dough. Remember, less is more as far as the filling is concerned. Also, the next time I prepare this filling, I will grab my scissors and give this vegetable mixture a rough “cut”.

    Homemade Havarti Cheese Pizza Dough Rolls

    Roll the dough on the long side into a tight log. Make sure to pinch the bottom seam together. Please do not worry about the specific measurements of the rolled out pizza dough. I have only included them as a  guideline. As long as you have a rectangle shape, your rolls will turn out great. I will divide the pizza dough in thirds and make a 6 x 12 inch rectangle. The end result are rolls which are about two inches in diameter. If you want bigger rolls, make a larger rectangle. Experiment and have fun with this!

    Homemade Havarti Cheese Pizza Dough Rolls

    Once the dough is rolled up, I brushed about a half teaspoon of olive oil over the top followed by a sprinkle of oregano.

    I then proceeded to slice my log into 1-inch pieces.

    Homemade Havarti Cheese Pizza Dough Rolls

    IMPORTANT: Pinch the ends together before cutting each 1-inch roll. In this matter, the Arla Havarti Herbs and Spices stays inside the dough and doesn’t ooze out once it is baked. Ask me how I discovered this… if at first you don’t succeed 😉

    Homemade Havarti Cheese Pizza Dough Rolls

    Place your roll on the parchment paper and gently press down on the top. Continue with the rest of your pizza dough rolls. Allow the rolls to rest for about fifteen minutes before baking them.

    Homemade Havarti Cheese Pizza Dough Rolls

    Method #2: I left the slices of Arla Havarti Herbs and Spices intact and placed them on the stretched out pizza dough. The rest of the procedure was the same as method #1.

    Homemade Havarti Cheese Pizza Dough Rolls

    Once baked, I still preferred the first method.

    Homemade Havarti Cheese Pizza Dough Rolls

    These Homemade Havarti Cheese Pizza Dough Rolls can be served immediately or they can be frozen.

    After theses little nibbles have cooled down, place them on a sheet pan and place them in a freezer. Once frozen, transfer in plastic bag and store in freezer. Once the munchies hit, simply heat and enjoy!

    Be forewarned, these little Havarti bites are irresistible once they come out of the oven.

    I can’t wait to make a batch the next time “the boys” are watching the game. I bet they make the perfect half time snack!

    Homemade Havarti Cheese Pizza Dough Rolls

    Origins of the recipe for Homemade Havarti Cheese Pizza Dough Rolls:

    The concept of using pizza dough as a vehicle to showcase vegetables and cheese is a familiar one, especially in Italian cuisine. There truly are endless possibilities. My mom would often stuff her pizza dough rolls with different types of vegetable greens and cheese. A colleague of mine uses a mixture of sausage, onions and rapini.

    The combination of Arla Havarti Herbs and Spices with slightly sweet onions and spinach enclosed in a pizza dough have quickly become my family’s favorite snack food.

    I guarantee these Homemade Havarti Cheese Pizza Dough Rolls will also become a household hit in your homes. The perfect snack food no matter what season it is.

    Recipe

    Homemade Havarti Cheese Pizza Dough Rolls

    Homemade Havarti Cheese Pizza Dough Rolls

    This recipe for these Homemade Havarti Cheese Pizza Rolls is perfect for when you are looking for a little snack to tie you over until your next meal.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Save RecipeSaved! Pin Rate
    Course: Snack
    Cuisine: Canadian Italian
    Prep Time: 2 hours hours
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 2 hours hours 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 36 servings
    Calories: 49kcal
    Author: Maria Vannelli RD
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    Ingredients

    • 1 ball of pizza dough 15 - 20 ounces homemade or store bought
    • 3 tablespoons olive oil separated
    • 1 large onion sliced thinly
    • 1-2 garlic cloves minced or grated
    • 5-7 ounces 150- 200 grams spinach, fresh
    • salt and pepper to taste
    • 4 slices Arla Havarti Herbs and Spices cheese cut up
    • approximately ¼ cup of olive oil for brushing and stretching surface of dough
    • oregano

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 450°F (230° C).
    • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
    • Over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet.
    • Add onions and cook for about 10-12 minutes or until softened. Stir frequently. Season with salt and pepper.
    • Remove from heat and set aside in a bowl to cool off.
    • In the same skillet, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
    • Add the minced garlic and stir fry for about one minute.
    • Add the spinach and 1-2 tablespoon of water.
    • Cover and increase heat to medium-high for about 1 minute.
    • Remove cover, decrease the heat to medium and cook until spinach has wilted, about 3 minutes. Stir frequently.
    • Remove from heat.
    • Squeeze excess moisture and add to onions.
    • Roughly "cut-up" the vegetables with scissors.
    • Add the cheese, and mix together.
    • Set aside to cool off slightly.
    • Divide pizza dough in thirds.
    • Place dough on a floured surface and stretch out dough with finger tips which have been dipped in olive oil to form a large rectangle, approximately 6 x 12 inches and ¼ inch thick. Allow to rest for about 10-15 minutes.
    • Spread about a third of the mixture and drizzle olive oil over the top.
    • Roll the dough on the long side into a tight log. Pinch the seam together.
    • Brush the top of the log with about half a teaspoon of olive oil followed by a sprinkle of dried oregano.
    • Pinch the ends together before cutting each 1-inch roll.
    • Place each roll on the parchment paper and gently press down on the top.
    • Continue in this manner until all of your pizza dough rolls are on your parchment paper.
    • Allow the rolls to rest for about 15- 20 minutes before baking them.
    • Bake in a 450°F (230° C) preheated oven for about 10 - 12 minutes.
    • Can be served hot or at room temperature.
    • Can also be frozen.
    Scroll UP for the STEP by STEP PhotosDon't miss the process shots and videos included in most posts. Simply scroll up the post to find them. Those were created especially for you so that you can make the recipe perfectly every single time you try it.

    Notes

    Chopped frozen spinach can be used instead of fresh. Make sure to thaw and squeeze very dry before using.
    Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 49kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 105mg | Potassium: 28mg | Vitamin A: 395IU | Vitamin C: 1.3mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 0.4mg
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    Thanks for dropping by,

    Ciao for now!

    Maria

    Disclosure: This post was created in partnership with Arla Foods. I received compensation and product in exchange for writing this review.  Although this post is sponsored, all opinions are my own. Thank-you for supporting the brands I love and use in my own kitchen.

     

     

     

     

     
     

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    Filed Under: Appetizers

    About Maria

    Maria Vannelli is a registered dietitian who lives in a suburb just outside Montreal, Canada. She's the founder of the food blog She Loves Biscotti. Maria hopes to inspire you and bring you and your loved ones closer together at meal times enabling you to create some memorable moments.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Paula Barbarito Levitt

      October 12, 2017 at 1:29 pm

      The only difficulty I would have with this particular recipe is consuming the entire lot! The look irresistible and the log method of rolling and cutting is perfect for me.

      Reply
      • Maria

        October 12, 2017 at 8:57 pm

        Thanks so much Paula! You are right… lots of willpower required. Appreciate your comment ♥♥♥

        Reply
    2. Bernice

      October 06, 2017 at 4:52 pm

      Great idea to include the directions for freezing although, to be honest I don’t think I would get a chance to squirrel any away!

      Reply
      • Maria

        October 07, 2017 at 7:37 am

        Lol… easier said than done. I can definitely vouch for that 🙂 Thanks for dropping by Bernice!

        Reply
    3. Jovina

      October 06, 2017 at 11:14 am

      This looks like a wonderful and tasty recipe.

      Reply
      • Maria

        October 06, 2017 at 11:20 am

        Thanks Jovina. Simplicity strikes again 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to comment ♥♥♥

        Reply
    4. Colleen

      October 06, 2017 at 11:07 am

      Isn’t it a shame that fall is such a short season? I love it too. I always make my own pizza dough, and these rolls are a must try, they look amazing! Thanks for the inspiration.

      Reply
      • Maria

        October 06, 2017 at 12:57 pm

        My pleasure Colleen. I just love working with pizza dough… it is so forgiving. Appreciate your comment 🙂

        Reply
    5. Denise from Urb'n'Spice

      October 06, 2017 at 10:43 am

      5 stars
      What a delicious looking snack, Maria. The combination of flavours is savoury and fragrant, I am sure. I have not yet tried this particular cheese – I will look for it. Thanks for the inspiration.

      Reply
      • Maria

        October 06, 2017 at 10:55 am

        Thanks Denise 🙂 You are right, the flavors work really well together. Hope you get a chance to try it. Appreciate your comment ♥♥♥

        Reply
    6. Sara

      October 06, 2017 at 9:26 am

      These look amazing! My hubby would LOVE these!

      Reply
      • Maria

        October 06, 2017 at 9:52 am

        Hope you get a chance to try this wonderful little snack. Thanks for dropping by Sara 🙂

        Reply
    7. Karen Ahmed

      October 06, 2017 at 8:24 am

      OMG … this looks so amazing … I wanted to reach into this post and grab one!

      Reply
      • Maria

        October 06, 2017 at 8:29 am

        These little rolls taste as good as they look… hope you get a chance to give them a try. Thanks for dropping by Karen 🙂

        Reply
    8. Alex Bielak

      October 06, 2017 at 8:22 am

      Excellent tip on pinching the dough first! Thanks

      Reply
      • Maria

        October 06, 2017 at 8:35 am

        Thanks Alex. Just wanted to make sure none of the tasty filling of this snack escaped my taste buds. Thanks for taking the time to comment 🙂

        Reply

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