Very Best Gluten-Free Pizza Rolls

I am so excited to share this Gluten-Free Pizza Rolls recipe! Soft pizza texture, lightly crusty on the outside, pizza sauce, two types of cheese and thinly sliced pepperoni..perfect pizza rolls! These pizza rolls are just the best for lunch boxes, party food and snacks.

What is a pizza roll?

A good question. Think of it as pinwheel pizza filled with your favourite pizza toppings. In this recipe, I used the classics; pizza sauce, pepperoni and plenty of cheese.

If you are looking for a delicious gluten-free pizza sauce check out our Gluten-Free (Yeast-Free) Thin Crust Pizza recipe that includes an easy pizza sauce recipe.

What makes a good gluten-free dough for pizza rolls?

A good pizza crust should be pillow-like soft on the inside, and lightly crispy on the outside. And this is what this pizza roll texture is. Something we dream about when following a gluten-free diet. You will love it, I promise!

If you are looking for a basic pizza dough recipe, check out our popular Gluten-Free, Yeast Free Pizza Dough Recipe.

Are gluten-free pizza rolls hard to make?

There isn’t much difference between making a gluten-free pizza and a gluten-free pizza roll. The only thing that changes is that the dough is rolled into a rectangle, layered with toppings, rolled into a log, and sliced into even pieces.

What is better for baking pizza rolls, a muffin pan or a baking pan?

I used a muffin pan for baking these pizza rolls. The reason is, I wanted a crispy crust all around the roll. You can use a baking pan, but only the tops will have that crispy pizza crust.

What makes this pizza dough so good?

I will confess it took me many tries (8) to make this perfect gluten-free pizza roll dough. First, the dough had to have the right consistency to be able to roll it. So it couldn’t be too dry or too sticky.

The other thing, I needed the dough to be light and soft but still keep the outside crust lightly crispy. So here are the ingredients that played a big part in this gluten-free pizza roll dough and why.

But, before you start, it is vital to measure the flour correctly! This means scoop out the flour with a spoon into your measuring cup, then use a knife to level the flour across the measuring cup.

Gluten-free flour blend – I used a basic gluten-free flour blend that included xanthan gum. The flour doesn’t need to be complicated because the other ingredients will make a basic gluten-free flour blend work.

The egg whites – adding egg whites to gluten-free pizza dough will yield a softer texture, add to lightness and greater volume.

Powdered milk – It’s helpful in gluten-free baking because it acts as an emulsifier, which contributes to structure by helping proteins and starches hydrate more readily, keeping the crust soft on the inside

Olive oil – the oil is what adds a slight crispness to the crust.

Baking soda – the only way I can explain this is the baking soda is like insurance. It adds volume in addition to the yeast keeping the pizza rolls pillowy and light.

The sweetener – Yeast needs sugar to produce carbon dioxide – the leavening gas that causes the dough to rise. If there is not enough sweetener available or too much, the dough will rise slowly or not at all.

How to make pizza rolls step by step instructions…

1) mix the dry ingredients

2) Mix wet ingredients without the egg whites

3) Add wet mixture, then egg whites to the flour mixture and mix to combine

4) Rest the dough for 20 minutes. This will make it easier to roll out the dough

5) Dollop pizza sauce over the dough. Do not spread it over the dough, or the roll will become soggy on the inside

6) Layer with cheeses and pepperoni

7) Roll into a log 

8) cut into even pieces

9) Place rolls into a muffin pan lined with parchment paper circles and bake. By using parchment paper, the pizza rolls pop out easily

favourite fillings for pizza rolls…

• Pizza sauce, cooked ground beef with Italian herbs and cheddar cheese
• Alfredo sauce, steamed spinach and Havarti cheese
• Pizza sauce, sauteed onions with mushrooms and smoked gouda cheese

I hope you give this Gluten-Free Pizza Rolls recipe a try. I know kids, and grown ups will enjoy them alike. And don’t shy away from making them. You may think the recipe is too complicated. But honestly, it is a lot easier than you know. Enjoy!