Pizza Rolls

I adore pizza - in pretty much every format.  I love the crust - thick or thin, white or whole wheat, baked or grilled.  I love the sauce - thick and tangy or thin and sweet.  I also love pizza flavored things - from pizza pancakes dipped in warmed pizza sauce to pizza seasonings on popcorn. 

I am a pizza fanatic.

So when I stumbled onto the idea of homemade pizza rolls, I was hooked.  Totino's Pizza Rolls are great for snacking or when we need a super quick dinner, but I thought I could probably make them healthier and I love making homemade versions of store bought foods.  These aren't quite the same as Totino's, they're more like pizza crust dinner rolls with the toppings all stuffed inside - delicious. 

Here's my "recipe" for pizza rolls...

For 48 rolls you'll need enough pizza crust for two pizzas (homemade or refrigerated roll-out crust); sauce (my recipe is here); cheese (moz or a blend); 2 Tbsp butter (melted); Italian seasoning, garlic powder or Garlic Bread Seasoning and whatever pizza toppings you like.  We used ham, pepperoni and onion, but the possibilities are virtually endless.

Preheat oven to whatever temperature your dough calls for.  If you're not sure, 400 or 425 is usually a good starting point.

Roll each crust into a 9X13 rectangle, trying to keep the thickness relatively even.  Use your pizza cutter to slice each crust into 24 small squares.  Top each square with a small amount of cheese and toppings - leave the sauce out - that's for dipping.  Fold up the edges and roll between your palms to seal the edges.  Arrange stuffed balls in a greased 9X13, just touching. 

When you have all the balls rolled and ready, give them a quick wipe down with the melted butter and sprinkle on the seasonings - how much you use is up to you.  I just eyeballed it, probably about a tablespoon, I think. 

Bake them for about 15 minutes, but check them after 10, just in case.  They should get a little golden and feel "crusty" when they're done.  While they're baking, heat up your sauce.  Allow the rolls to cool for a few moments before you bite into them - just trust me on this one - the hot cheese will burn your mouth. 

Dip rolls into warm sauce and devour.