Description
These Cheesy Vegan Swirl Buns are pillowy-soft, loaded with gooey plant-based cheese, garlic, and zesty Italian herbs—all rolled up into irresistible, tear-and-share bites! Perfect as an appetizer, snack, or savory side, these dairy-free buns are crowd-pleasing and easy to make. Serve them warm straight from the oven for the ultimate comfort food experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm water (110°F)
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 1/2 to 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
Filling
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 cups shredded vegan cheese
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
Topping
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Fresh herbs (such as parsley or basil), for garnish
Instructions
- Activate the Yeast: In a large bowl, combine the warm water, maple syrup, and active dry yeast. Let the mixture sit for 5–10 minutes until it looks foamy—this tells you the yeast is alive and ready to go.
- Make the Dough: Add olive oil, salt, and 2 1/2 cups of flour to the yeast mixture. Mix until a shaggy dough comes together. Turn it out onto a floured surface and knead for 5–7 minutes, adding more flour as needed, until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Place the dough into a greased bowl, cover with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise somewhere warm for about 1 hour or until it’s doubled in size.
- Prepare to Fill: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Punch down the risen dough and roll it out on a floured surface into a large rectangle about 1/4 inch thick.
- Assemble the Filling: Brush the rolled-out dough with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Evenly sprinkle the minced garlic, shredded vegan cheese, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and black pepper across the surface.
- Form the Swirls: Starting from the long side, gently roll the dough up into a log. Slice the log into 12 even pieces to form your swirl buns.
- Second Rise: Arrange the buns, cut-side up, into the prepared baking dish. Cover and let them rise again for 20 minutes so that they puff up a bit more.
- Bake: Brush the tops of the buns with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the buns are golden brown and the cheese is melty and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Once out of the oven, sprinkle with fresh parsley, basil, or your favorite herbs. Serve the buns warm for maximum gooeyness!
Notes
- Swap the herbs for any blend you love, like herbes de Provence or dried oregano.
- For extra cheesiness, add dollops of vegan cream cheese inside the buns before rolling them up.
- These buns freeze beautifully—just reheat in a low oven to serve.
- Add a spoonful of sun-dried tomatoes or chopped olives to the filling for bonus flavor.
- Letting your dough rise in a slightly warmed (but turned off) oven speeds up proofing on cold days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bun
- Calories: 260 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 380 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg