Soft • Light • Naturally Sweet • Olive Oil Dough
🧾 Ingredients (Makes 10–12 Rolls)
For the Dough
2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup warm milk
3 tbsp olive oil (instead of butter)
3 tbsp honey
1 egg
2 ¼ tsp instant yeast (1 packet)
½ tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
Zest of 1 lemon or orange (optional but VERY Mediterranean)
For the Filling
3 tbsp olive oil or melted butter
½ cup honey (or ⅓ cup honey + 2 tbsp brown sugar)
2 tbsp cinnamon
¼ cup chopped walnuts or pistachios
2 tbsp raisins or chopped dates
1 tbsp sesame seeds (optional)
For Honey Glaze
3 tbsp honey
1 tbsp warm water
½ tsp cinnamon
Optional: a sprinkle of crushed pistachios or sesame seeds
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Make the Dough
Warm the milk until it’s lukewarm (not hot).
Add yeast and 1 tbsp honey — let it sit 5 minutes until frothy.
In a mixing bowl, whisk together:
egg
olive oil
remaining honey
vanilla
lemon/orange zest
Add the activated yeast mixture.
Slowly add flour and salt.
Knead for 5–7 minutes until soft and slightly sticky.
Cover and let rise for 1 hour until doubled.
2️⃣ Prepare the Filling
In a bowl, mix together:
olive oil (or butter)
honey
cinnamon
nuts
raisins/dates
sesame (optional)
The mixture will be sticky and fragrant.
3️⃣ Shape the Rolls
After dough has risen, roll it out into a rectangle (approx. 10×14 inches).
Spread the cinnamon-honey mixture all over the dough.
Roll tightly from the long side into a log.
Cut into 1-inch thick slices (10–12 rolls).
Place them in a greased baking dish.
Cover and let rise again for 25 minutes.
4️⃣ Bake
Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for 18–22 minutes or until lightly golden and fluffy.
5️⃣ Honey Glaze
Mix:
3 tbsp honey
1 tbsp warm water
pinch of cinnamon
Drizzle over warm rolls.
Top with pistachios or sesame for a Mediterranean finish.
🍽️ Serve Warm
These rolls are:
✔️ Soft
✔️ Light
✔️ Naturally sweet
✔️ Aromatic from cinnamon & citrus
✔️ Enhanced with heart-healthy olive oil
Perfect with:
mint tea
black coffee
Greek yogurt on the side
warm milk
💡 Variations
🍊 Orange Blossom Version
Add ½ tsp orange blossom water to the glaze.
🌰 Nut Lover’s Version
Use pistachios + walnuts + almonds.
🍫 Chocolate Honey Rolls
Add 2 tbsp cocoa powder to filling + chocolate chips.
🧘♀️ Weight-Loss Version
Use whole-wheat flour for 50% of the dough
Reduce honey in filling to ¼ cup
Add chia seeds
