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Lauren Nicole Jones

Food from scratch. Motherhood. Simple Living

Breads, Desserts, Food From Scratch · March 31, 2021

Easter Resurrection Rolls (Empty Tomb Rolls)

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Every year our family makes these sweet and delicious Easter Resurrection Rolls (AKA Empty Tomb Rolls). The marshmallow that represents the body of Jesus melts into a gooey caramel sauce which represents his exit from the tomb. This takes the cake for our all-time favorite Easter recipe for so many reasons! 

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Empty Tomb Rolls

I don’t know if this is something that we really should be feeding our children for breakfast, or any meal during the day either. It is however a fun Easter dessert for kids and a special once-a-year treat. I also enjoy them (more than the kids) let’s be honest! 

I love the symbolization each ingredient teaches when it comes to the resurrection of Jesus, and this historical holiday that we are proud to celebrate year after year. I love celebrating Easter because it promises new beginnings and hope for the future. We all could use that right about now! 

Enough talking! Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of making these sweet and delicious Resurrection Rolls!

Empty Tomb Rolls

The Symbolic Meaning of The Empty Tomb Rolls

Resurrection Rolls Ingredients

Marshmallow: This symbolizes the body of Jesus after he was crucified on the cross. 

Verse for reference: Luke 23:26-46

Melted Butter and Cinnamon Sugar: These two ingredients represent the anointing oil and the “spices” that the women were going to use on Jesus’ body after the Sabbath. 

Verse for reference: Luke 23:55-56, Luke 24:1

Dough: The linen that Jesus’ body was wrapped in after crucifixion

Verse for reference: Luke 23:47-54

Oven: Represents the tomb that Jesus was laid in after death 

Verse for reference: Luke 23:53, Mark 16:1-6

Empty Roll: The empty tomb. Jesus has risen! 

Verse for reference: John 20:3-7

These empty tomb rolls may seem like a simple sweet treat, but they are loaded with symbolism and a great story to tell your kids. This is one of the many reasons why I love to make them each year. It truly never gets old! I love how the rolls will transform before your eyes. It is one of my favorite Easter baking recipes by a mile!

*To see where I got my cute little spice jars click here!

Empty Tomb Roll Simple Ingredient List 

  • Rhodes rolls (thawed for about 30 minutes to 1 hour)
  • Marshmallows 
  • Sugar
  • Cinnamon
  • Melted salted butter

TOOLS YOU MAY NEED

Rhodes Rolls In Muffin Tin

  • Muffin Tin or Cookie Sheet
  • 2 Bowls (one for butter and one for the cinnamon sugar mixture)
  • Cupcake liners or parchment paper

TIPS FOR MAKING EMPTY TOMB ROLLS

  • When I made this empty tomb rolls recipe last year, I didn’t have any parchment paper or cupcake liners on hand. The melted marshmallow leaked out and formed a sticky caramel on the pan. It was really hard to scrape the rolls off. I like to make sure I have enough dough covering the marshmallow, so they do not break apart. 
  • Use a cupcake liner to catch any melted marshmallow simply by placing your dough ball inside and at the bottom of the liner.
  • Thaw your rolls about 30 minutes to an hour! No more or they will rise too large!
  • Dip the marshmallow in butter and cinnamon sugar and then wrap it in the dough. Re-roll the dough with butter and cinnamon sugar.

HOW TO MAKE EMPTY TOMB ROLLS

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. and layout your parchment paper or get your cupcake liners all set up in your pan.
  2. Get out your dough of choice. If you are using Rhodes rolls make sure they are thawed out. *If you are gluten sensitive and want to do a 24-hour ferment on sourdough biscuit dough that is a great substitute as well.
  3. Mix up the cinnamon sugar in the bowl if you are not buying a pre-made cinnamon sugar mix.
  4. Flatten your dough into a circle about the size of your palm. Roll a marshmallow in the butter and then into the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place it in the middle of the dough that you have flattened.
  5. Pinch the dough over the marshmallow and then roll the dough in butter and then again in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
  6. Place on your pan of choice and repeat until all of the dough is used up!
  7. Bake for around 15 minutes or until golden brown.
  8. Enjoy right away!

These easy resurrection rolls can be read with the scriptures above for a fun Bible story lesson. I hope you all enjoy this fun recipe as much as our family does! You can make any type of dough work for your rolls as I mentioned above a sourdough roll would also be delicious! I love fermenting grains and reaping the benefits from my sourdough starter that we love so dearly in our household! 

Happy Easter, everyone!

Xo

Lauren

Empty Tomb Rolls
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Easter Resurrection Rolls (Empty Tomb Rolls)

Easy cinnamon sugar rolls with a melting marshmallow inside. The perfect Easter treat.
Prep Time5 mins
Active Time15 mins
0 mins
Total Time20 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: easter baking, easter kids desserts, Empty tomb rolls, Resurrection Rolls,
Yield: 12 Rolls

Equipment

  • Muffin Tin
  • 2 Bowls
  • Muffin liners
  • Parchment paper
  • Meausuring Cups

Materials

  • 12 Rhodes Rolls
  • 1/4 cup Butter
  • 1/4 cup Sugar
  • 12 Tbsp. Cinnamon

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. and layout your parchment paper or get your cupcake liners all set up in your pan.
  • Get out your dough of choice. If you are using Rhodes rolls make sure they are thawed out. *If you are gluten sensitive and want to do a 24-hour ferment on sourdough biscuit dough that is a great substitute as well.
  • Mix up the cinnamon sugar in the bowl if you are not buying a pre-made cinnamon sugar mix.
  • Flatten your dough into a circle about the size of your palm. Roll a marshmallow in the butter and then into the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place it in the middle of the dough that you have flattened.
  • Pinch the dough over the marshmallow and then roll the dough in butter and then again in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
  • Place on your pan of choice and repeat until all of the dough is used up!
  • Bake for around 15 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

When I made these last year, I didn’t have any parchment paper or cupcake liners on hand. The melted marshmallow leaked out and formed a sticky caramel on the pan. It was really hard to scrape the rolls off. I like to make sure I have enough dough covering the marshmallow, so they do not break apart.
Use a cupcake liner to catch any melted marshmallow simply by placing your dough ball inside and at the bottom of the liner.
 

 

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

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