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Thanksgiving rolls
Thanksgiving rolls
Lifestyle

21 Unconventional Thanksgiving Rolls to Make For Your Family

This article is written by a student writer from the Spoon University at Texas chapter.

Thanksgiving is undoubtedly one of the best holidays there is. An entire holiday dedicated to eating amazing food and spending time with family and friends honestly makes it the best day of the year. While the classics like mashed potatoes, turkey, and cranberry sauce are always satisfying, it’s always fun to switch things up a little bit. This year find some new favorites by making these unconventional Thanksgiving rolls.

Dinner Rolls

1. Chicken Parmesan Pizza Rolls

thanksgiving rolls pastry dough
Austin Lai

Everyone loves pizza, so why not eat it on Thanksgiving? These pizza rolls may not be conventional, but they will definitely not disappoint. Now that you’re probably craving pizza, check out these recipes also. 

2. Homemade Spring Rolls

copycat panda express recipes pastry meat
Jessica Chu

Add a little Asian flair to up your dinner game. These spring rolls are tasty, easy to make, and are certain to be a new crowd favorite. For more Asian fusion, look here. 

3. Everything Bagel Roll-Ups

thanksgiving rolls bun poppy seed roll
Noelle Funtanilla

Because c’mon, who can deny that bagels make everything better? Save yourself some extra leftovers of these bagel rollups for the perfect post-holiday brunch addition. Not looking to make more rolls?  Make this everything bagel pull-apart bread instead.

4. Vegan Carrot, Zucchini, and Walnut Rolls

thanksgiving rolls herb meat
Emily Stamp

With a table filled of carbs, adding a few veggie filled dishes to the mix can only help.These flavorful rolls are the perfect healthy addition to your Thanksgiving spread. Plus, they will definitely make the vegans at the table very happy. 

5. Brie and Jam Roll-Ups

thanksgiving rolls bacon chocolate
Hui Lin

Baked brie is a great Thanksgiving appetizer, but brie and jam roll-ups will take this to the next level. Here’s some more proof that brie and jam are the perfect combo if you’re not already convinced.

6. Grilled Cheese Roll-Ups

thanksgiving rolls sweet bread
Stephanie Cozza

Grilled cheese is always satisfying and delicious. It may not be the usual Thanksgiving food, but it will undoubtedly be a crowd pleaser. Next time you are looking to make a grilled cheese, switch it up with these suggestions

7. Brie, Apple, and Pecan Roll-Up

thanksgiving rolls bun jam
Hannah Cooper

Even if you’re not a fan of jam, you can still enjoy the tastiness of brie with these roll-ups. The pecan will add a nice crunch that goes perfectly with the warm bread and melted cheese — this recipe will be your new holiday tradition. Apples are a fall favorite, so check this out also.

8. Cinnamon Sausage Rolls

thanksgiving rolls
Thomas Sireci

Like pigs in a blanket, but so much better. These are the perfect next-level appetizer that will be devoured within minutes. Just look at that icing….

9. Mini Pork Buns

Side Dishes bread dough
Helena Lin

Think that turkey has to be the only Thanksgiving day meat? These mini pork buns are sure to change your mind . They are delicious and only take 30 minutes to make, so it’s a great dish idea in case you need a last minute menu addition. 

10. Melon Basil Summer Roll

thanksgiving rolls mango
Anya Kassoff

These melon basil summer rolls are the perfect appetizer for your Thanksgiving dinner. They are refreshing, tasty, and the perfect supplement to dips and cheeses. If you want to turn them into more of an entree, be adventurous and add in the protein of your choice.

11. Sweet Buns Filled with Purple Yams

thanksgiving rolls cake pastry
Catherine Vo

Yams are a consistent Thanksgiving favorite, but these colorful buns are a sure way to upgrade them. Also, the purple yam is so pretty that it will be a beautiful addition to your Thanksgiving spread. If you’re looking for other ways to use yams, check this out. 

12. Bacon Jalapeño Cream Cheese Rolls

thanksgiving rolls dairy product cheese
Celeste Holben

These bacon jalapeño cream cheese poppers are delicious and super easy. They take less than 15 minutes to make, in case you want to add any last minute appetizers or entrees to your Thanksgiving feast. If you have any extra cream cheese from making these poppers, here’s 5 ways to use your leftover cream cheese

13. Baked Ham and Cheese Roll-Up

thanksgiving rolls croissant sweet
Annalee Flaherty

It’s time to get nostalgic with these baked ham and cheese roll-ups. They will remind everyone of the old days of bagged lunches in the best way possible. The sauce in these roll-ups put a sophisticated spin on this  childhood classic

14. Vegetarian Fried Egg Rolls Using Thanksgiving Leftovers

thanksgiving rolls vegetable pastry
Hana Brannigan

Everyone knows that one of the best parts about Thanksgiving is the leftovers. These  homemade egg rolls are a delicious and easy way to make use of your Thanksgiving extras. If you need more vegetarian Thanksgiving inspiration, check out these recipes.

Sweet Rolls

15. Nutella Crescent Rolls

breakfast at tiffany's croissant pastry
Hannah Cooper

Everyone loves Nutella, so why not make a Thanksgiving roll out of it? If you wanna get fancy, sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top before baking. Now that you have Nutella on your mind, try this.

16. Cinnamon Rolls

thanksgiving rolls bread jam
Hannah Cooper

These cinnamon rolls may not be as traditional as the peel and bake ones, but they are definitely equally, if not more, delicious. The flaky pastry dough adds the perfect touch. Make sure you add these to the menu this Thanksgiving.

17. Nutella Strawberry French Toast Roll-Up

thanksgiving rolls sauce toast
Kassie McIntyre

 Nutella Strawberry French Toast Roll-ups is essentially a brunch recipe turned into a Thanksgiving roll. If you are looking for some extra decadence this holiday season, this should definitely be your go-to. Plus it’s super easy so you really can’t go wrong.  

18. Lemon Raspberry Strudel Crescent Rolls

thanksgiving rolls cream jam
Shalayne Pulia

These may be the fanciest crescent roll recipe that ever created.  Any leftovers of this dessert game changer will make for the perfect breakfast treat, but I would be surprised if these aren’t devoured immediately. 

19. Pumpkin Pie Spring Rolls

thanksgiving rolls pastry sweet
Helena Lin

Pumpkin pie is a classic Thanksgiving dessert, so you might as well switch it up with these pumpkin pie spring rolls. The crunchy outside with the soft pumpkin inside is guaranteed to taste like a dream. If you are looking for other pumpkin pie related recipes, check these out

20. Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls

The O.C. cinnamon cinnamon roll
Maddie Cole

A hybrid between banana bread and cinnamon rolls, what more could you ask for? These tasty rolls will be everyone’s new favorite dessert and everyone will want the recipe. If you’re looking for something more traditional, try this recipe.

21. Pumpkin Butter Pecan Gingersnap Roll

thanksgiving rolls meat pie
Anthony Wan

Since pumpkin season is almost over, you might as well take full advantage of orange squashes while they’re still around. These dessert rolls are practically screaming fall favorite. You can even make your own pumpkin butter using this recipe.

Now its time to get unconventional and make the best day of the year even better.

Sasha Kran

Texas '18