Description
These Pizza Cupcakes are a fun and delicious twist on classic pizza, using dinner rolls as the base to create individual mini pizzas. Perfect for parties, snacks, or a kid-friendly meal, they feature a soft roll filled with marinara sauce, melted mozzarella cheese, and topped with pepperoni, baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 12 frozen unbaked dinner rolls (456 grams, thawed; Rhodes recommended, or any bake and serve rolls or pizza dough)
- ½ cup marinara sauce (114 grams, store-bought or homemade; plus more for serving, pizza sauce works well too)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (113 grams, mozzarella balls are also an option)
- 12 slices pepperoni (24 grams)
Instructions
- Prepare Rolls: Thaw the frozen dinner rolls fully and allow them to rise for approximately 2 hours at room temperature. To speed up the process, preheat your oven to 175°F, then turn it off and place the rolls inside. Spray a cupcake tin with nonstick spray and place one roll in each cupcake cup.
- Preheat Oven: Once the rolls have risen, preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking.
- Shape Rolls: Press down in the center of each risen roll to flatten and open it into a small cup shape, creating space for the fillings.
- Add Fillings: Spoon a large spoonful of marinara sauce into the center of each roll cup. Then, sprinkle a couple of tablespoons of shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce, and top each with one slice of pepperoni.
- Bake Pizza Cupcakes: Place the cupcake pan into the preheated oven and bake for about 15 minutes. After baking, lift one roll to check that the bottom is lightly browned and cooked through before removing the pan from the oven.
- Serve: Serve the pizza cupcakes warm alongside additional marinara sauce for dipping. Enjoy as a snack or meal!
Notes
- You can use any brand of bake-and-serve rolls or pizza dough if Rhodes rolls are unavailable.
- For a vegetarian option, omit pepperoni and add vegetables like sliced mushrooms or bell peppers.
- Check bottoms of rolls after baking to avoid undercooked dough.
- Additional toppings like olives, onions, or extra cheese can be added for variety.
- Leftover cupcakes can be reheated in the oven to retain crispness.
