Baking Porto's Cheese Rolls: The Perfect Timing Guide

Porto's Cheese Rolls are a popular bakery item, with millions sold each year. They are made of puff pastry filled with sweet cream cheese and topped with sugar. You can buy them frozen to bake at home, or attempt to make them yourself from scratch. The cooking time for Porto's Cheese Rolls is around 20 minutes in an oven preheated to 400°F.

Oven temperature

For baking Porto's cheese rolls, it is recommended to preheat your oven to 400°F. This temperature setting creates the ideal environment for the pastry to cook through and attain a crispy, flaky texture. The high heat ensures that the thin layers of butter in the puff pastry melt, creating the distinct layers and flakiness that characterise Porto's cheese rolls.

Allowing the oven to reach and maintain the desired temperature before baking is essential. It is advisable to let the oven heat up for an additional 5 to 10 minutes after it reaches 400°F. This step ensures that the oven's internal temperature is consistent and stabilised, creating a more predictable baking environment for your cheese rolls.

Once the oven has preheated sufficiently, you can place your prepared cheese rolls inside and maintain the temperature at 400°F throughout the baking process. Depending on your oven's characteristics and functionality, you may need to make slight adjustments to the temperature setting. Some ovens, for instance, may automatically reduce the temperature by a certain degree during baking.

It is important to keep a close eye on your cheese rolls during the baking process, especially towards the end of the recommended baking time. Ovens can vary, and your cheese rolls may be ready earlier or slightly later than the suggested baking time. Checking on them periodically, especially after the 15-minute mark, helps prevent over-baking or under-baking and ensures you achieve the perfect golden-brown colour and flaky texture that Porto's cheese rolls are known for.

Baking time

To make Porto's cheese rolls at home, you'll need to set aside some time for preparation and baking. The prep time is around 15 minutes, and the baking time is approximately 20 minutes. However, there are a few important steps to follow before and after baking to ensure the best results.

Firstly, prepare the cream cheese filling by mixing room-temperature cream cheese, granulated sugar, and a whisked egg until smooth. This forms the base of your cheese roll filling. Next, you'll need to work with the puff pastry. Dust your work surface and rolling pin with flour, and roll out the puff pastry sheet to a size of 12 inches by 12 inches. Cut the sheet into three even strips, each measuring 4 inches by 12 inches.

Now it's time to fill and shape the cheese rolls. Pipe the cream cheese filling onto each strip of pastry, lengthwise. Fold one side of the pastry over the filling, then add an egg wash along the edge of the other side and fold it over to seal. Flip the strip over and trim the ends diagonally. Finally, cut each strip in half diagonally, and you'll have six cheese rolls ready for baking!

Before baking, brush the tops of each cheese roll with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar crystals or granulated sugar. This step ensures a golden, crispy exterior. Place the cheese rolls in an oven preheated to 400°F, and bake for 20-25 minutes. Keep a close eye on them, as they should be baked until they are golden brown. The exact baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven, so it's important to monitor them closely to avoid over-baking.

Once the cheese rolls are baked to perfection, remove them from the oven and let them cool completely before serving. This final step ensures that the cheese rolls firm up and are easier to handle. Enjoy the flaky, buttery, and sweet Porto's cheese rolls as a perfect snack any time of the day!

Cream cheese filling

Porto's Cheese Rolls are a popular pastry from Porto's Bakery. They are made with puff pastry and filled with a signature cream cheese filling, which is then topped with sugar. The cream cheese filling is made with cream cheese, butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla extract.

To make the cream cheese filling, start by bringing the cream cheese to room temperature. Place the cream cheese in a mixing bowl and add the butter, sugar, and salt. Cream all the ingredients together until the mixture is smooth. Then, add the egg and vanilla extract and mix well until everything is combined.

You can adjust the amount of sugar in the cream cheese filling to your taste preferences. For a milder sweetness, use 1/2 cup of sugar, and for a sweeter filling, increase the amount to 3/4 cup.

Once the cream cheese filling is ready, place it in a pastry bag or a ziplock bag. This makes it easier to pipe the filling onto the puff pastry strips later in the assembly process. Refrigerate the cream cheese filling for 2-3 hours before using it to fill the cheese rolls.

Pastry preparation

The first step in making Porto's cheese rolls is to prepare the puff pastry. While you can make your own puff pastry from scratch, it is also perfectly acceptable to use store-bought puff pastry to save time. If you want to make your own, you'll need flour, butter, and a rolling pin. The key to a good puff pastry is creating thin, flaky layers by repetitively folding and rolling the dough. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Preparing the Dough:

• Combine flour and salt in a mixing bowl.
• Gradually add ice water to the flour mixture until a dough starts to form. Be careful not to add too much water.
• Shape the dough into a square and wrap it. Refrigerate for about an hour.

Incorporating the Butter:

• After chilling, dust your work surface and roll the dough out into a large rectangle, approximately 1/2 inch thick.
• Cut chilled butter sticks in half and place them in the center of the dough.
• Wrap the dough around the butter, forming a square envelope.
• Use a rolling pin to gently press down on the dough and butter layer.
• Roll the dough out again to a 12x12-inch square.
• Fold the dough into thirds, like a letter, and then again into thirds to create a square.
• Chill the dough in the fridge for another hour or two.

Laminating the Dough:

• Repeat the process of rolling and folding the dough two more times, chilling it in between each step.
• If you want even bigger puffs, you can repeat the chilling, rolling, and folding process a few more times and let the dough rest overnight before using it.

Once your puff pastry is ready, you can move on to preparing the cream cheese filling and assembling the cheese rolls.

Tips:

• Use a higher butterfat content butter, such as Kerrygold Irish butter, for a flakier crust.
• When adding water to the dough, add it gradually and be careful not to overwater.
• If you're short on time, using store-bought puff pastry is a convenient alternative.

Egg wash

Porto's Cheese Rolls are a popular pastry from Porto's Bakery. They are made with puff pastry, filled with sweet cream cheese, and baked until golden brown. The recipe for these cheese rolls includes an egg wash, which is applied to the pastry before baking.

An egg wash is a mixture of beaten egg and water that is brushed onto pastry dough before baking. It gives the pastry a glossy, golden-brown colour and helps to seal the edges of the pastry when shaping or decorating it. The egg wash also contributes to the flavour and texture of the baked good.

To make an egg wash, simply beat an egg and mix it with a small amount of water. The amount of water added can vary depending on the desired consistency of the egg wash. A more diluted egg wash will result in a softer, less glossy finish, while a thicker egg wash will produce a shinier, crispier crust.

When applying the egg wash to the cheese rolls, use a pastry brush to evenly coat the surface of the pastry. Be sure to get into any crevices or folds in the dough. After applying the egg wash, sprinkle the tops of the cheese rolls with sugar crystals or granulated sugar, if desired. This will give the rolls a sweet, crunchy topping.

Once the egg wash and sugar (if using) have been applied, the cheese rolls are ready to be baked. Bake them at 400°F for 20-25 minutes, or until they are golden brown. Let them cool completely before serving to enjoy the flaky, buttery, and savoury-sweet treat that Porto's Cheese Rolls are famous for.

Frequently asked questions