Vanilla Cream and Strawberry Jam Streusel Buns

Vanilla Cream and Strawberry Jam Streusel Buns

Vanilla Cream and Strawberry Jam Streusel Buns

Vanilla Cream & Strawberry Jam Streusel Buns

April 16, 2025 by Kimberly

Fluffy, golden buns filled with vanilla cream and strawberry jam, topped with buttery streusel. The kind of thing you’d bring out on Easter Sunday for coffee, cake, and quiet joy.

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TOTAL TIME

3 hrs + 30 min

SERVES

12 buns

DIET

vegetarian

EVERY RECIPE DESERVES

A Little Love Letter

These soft, pillowy buns are one of those things that somehow feel both nostalgic and wildly indulgent. We’re talking golden, fluffy dough, a silky vanilla filling, and a bright hit of strawberry jam, all topped with a delicate crumble of streusel. It’s giving cozy Sunday morning, messy counter, and a “just one more” situation. Whether you grew up with German-style sweet buns or not, this combo is the kind of thing that makes you pause mid-bite and just… smile.

These are lovely served warm, when the vanilla cream is still soft and the jam gently melts into the dough. But honestly? They’re just as dreamy cold. Straight from the fridge works, especially with a cup of coffee on a slow morning. Serve them stacked on a brunch platter or individually in cupcake liners for that little bakery moment. Optional, but highly recommended: a dusting of powdered sugar to make them feel extra special.

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 4.

Hi, I'm Kimberly!

Hi, I'm Kimberly.

A hopeless romantic when it comes to food. Every recipe I share is a love letter to food itself. I’m so glad you’re here. Make yourself at home and stay a while.

Love,
Kimberly

Kimberly the Zett Signature

If you want to get to know me better,
click here!

 

 

Vanilla Cream and Strawberry Jam Streusel Buns
Vanilla Cream and Strawberry Jam Streusel Buns
Vanilla Cream and Strawberry Jam Streusel Buns
Vanilla Cream and Strawberry Jam Streusel Buns

LET’S MAKE A PIECE OF HAPPINESS

Print
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Vanilla Cream and Strawberry Jam Streusel Buns

Vanilla Cream and Strawberry Jam Streusel Buns


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

  • Author: Kimberly
  • Total Time: 3 hrs + 30 min

Description

RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT

  • small saucepan
  • whisk
  • small bowl
  • stand mixer or electric hand mixer
  • plastic wrap
  • rectangular baking dish

Ingredients

Units Scale
DOUGH
  • 250 milliliters full-fat cow milk
  • 7 grams dry active yeast
  • 60 grams white sugar
  • 525 grams all-purpose flour (in Germany 550er)
  • 75 grams butter, soft
  • 1 egg
  • pinch of salt
VANILLA CREAM
  • 200 grams heavy cream
  • 90 milliliters full-fat cow milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 60 grams white sugar
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 20 grams cornstarch
STREUSEL
  • 100 grams all-purpose flour
  • 70 grams butter, soft
  • 70 grams white sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt
OTHER INGREDIENTS
  • 200 grams strawberry jam (homemade or store-bought)
  • confectioners sugar

Instructions

  1. In a small saucepan, heat the cream with the sugar, vanilla extract, and half of the milk until it comes to a boil. In a separate bowl, whisk together the cornstarch, egg yolk, and remaining milk. Slowly pour the starch mixture into the boiling cream while whisking constantly until it thickens into a smooth pudding. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Set aside for later.
  2. Gently warm the milk to 38°C / 100°F and stir in the yeast and 1 tablespoon of the sugar. Let it sit for a few minutes until slightly foamy. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, remaining sugar, egg, soft butter, and salt. Add the yeast mixture and knead for about 10 minutes until you get a smooth, soft dough that doesn’t stick. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm spot for 90 minutes.
  3. Combine the butter, sugar, flour, vanilla extract and a pinch of salt and mix until crumbly. Chill the streusel until ready to use.
  4. Once the dough has risen, knead it briefly and divide into 12 equal balls, about 80g / 3oz each. Line a rectangular baking dish with parchment paper and arrange the dough balls inside. Let them rest for 20 minutes.
  5. Use your thumbs and press in the middle of the dough ball to form kind of a bowl shape that is going to be filled each with 1 tablespoon of vanilla pudding and 1 heaping teaspoon of strawberry jam side by side.
  6. Preheat the oven to 180°C / 350°Ft. Sprinkle the chilled streusel generously over the buns and bake for about 55 minutes, or until golden. Serve slightly warm or fully cooled—both are delicious. Finish with a dusting of powdered sugar before serving.
  • Passive Time: 3 hours
  • Cook Time: 30 min

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Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon Rolls

October 2, 2024 by Kimberly

When the days get shorter and autumn rolls in, there’s nothing better than a tray of freshly baked cinnamon rolls. Soft yeast dough, cinnamon, sugar, and a creamy glaze make this recipe my ultimate comfort classic, one that has become a yearly tradition in our home. Cozy, indulgent, and just perfect for marking the start of fall. These cinnamon rolls are fluffy, sweet, and impossible to resist, filling your kitchen with the scent of warm spices. A bake that turns any chilly day into a cozy moment of pure comfort.

This website uses affiliate links which may earn commission for purchases made at no additional cost to you.

TOTAL TIME

100 min

SERVES

12 rolls

DIET

vegetarian

EVERY RECIPE DESERVES

A Little Love Letter

There are recipes that feel less like baking and more like holding onto a little piece of childhood. For me, that’s cinnamon rolls. As you might know, I was born and raised in Germany. And when I was a kid, American products were nowhere to be found in German stores. Reese’s? Never heard of them. Five Guys? Not a clue. We had amazing German bakeries, of course, where they offered raisin swirls, streusel buns, all sorts of cakes, breads, but never those soft, fluffy, cream-covered rolls I had only seen in American movies.

Even back then, I was already a little food enthusiast, but I couldn’t imagine what cinnamon rolls might taste like. Sweet and soft, for sure, but beyond that? So at some point, since they simply didn’t exist in Germany, I created my very own cinnamon roll recipe, exactly the way my childhood self would have dreamed them. Pillowy, fluffy, full of cinnamon and sugar, with a creamy glaze that melts into the warm rolls.

And maybe that’s why I love them so much to this day, because they carry that little spark of wonder with them. The rolls are delicious, of course, but they’re also a reminder that food can hold stories, dreams, and even a sense of belonging. It’s a recipe that turned from imagination into reality.

Today, they’ve become a tradition. Every autumn, I pull out this recipe again. The kitchen filling with the scent of cinnamon, everyone at home knowing that cinnamon roll season has officially begun. I love to enjoy them with a big latte or a German Eggnog, lit a cozy candle, and suddenly the world feels just a little more whole again.

Hi, I'm Kimberly!

Hi, I'm Kimberly.

A hopeless romantic when it comes to food. Every recipe I share is a love letter to food itself. I’m so glad you’re here. Make yourself at home and stay a while.

Love,
Kimberly

Kimberly the Zett Signature

If you want to get to know me better,
click here!

 

 

Cinnamon Rolls
Cinnamon Rolls
Cinnamon Rolls
Cinnamon Rolls

LET’S MAKE A PIECE OF HAPPINESS

Print
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Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon Rolls


5 from 1 review

  • Author: Kimberly
  • Total Time: 100 min
  • Yield: 12 rolls

Description

When the days get shorter and autumn rolls in, there’s nothing better than a tray of freshly baked cinnamon rolls. Soft yeast dough, cinnamon, sugar, and a creamy glaze make this recipe my ultimate comfort classic, one that has become a yearly tradition in our home. Cozy, indulgent, and just perfect for marking the start of fall. These cinnamon rolls are fluffy, sweet, and impossible to resist, filling your kitchen with the scent of warm spices. A bake that turns any chilly day into a cozy moment of pure comfort.

GOOD TO HAVE ON HAND

  • small bowl
  • small whisk
  • large bowl
  • plastic wrap
  • two medium bowls
  • rolling pin
  • sharp knife
  • baking dish
  • oven

Ingredients

Units Scale
DOUGH
  • 500 grams bread flour (in Germany that's Type 550)
  • 170 grams yogurt
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 egg
  • 130 milliliters full-fat milk
  • 1 tbsp white sugar
  • 21 grams fresh yeast
FILLING
  • 115 grams butter, room temperature
  • 150 grams brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 100 milliliters heavy cream
  • 50 milliliters cinnamon oil (optional)
FROSTING
  • 120 grams cream cheese
  • 120 grams powdered sugar
  • 50 grams butter, room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp lemon juice

Instructions

  1. First, we activate the fresh yeast. Heat 130ml full-fat milk to a temperature between 32°C and 38°C (90°F to 100°F). Add 1 tbsp white sugar and stir well. Crumble in 21g fresh yeast and whisk until fully dissolved. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes. You should see small bubbles forming on the surface by then.
  2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, add 500g bread flour (Type 550 in Germany), 1/2 tsp salt, 170g yogurt, and 1 egg. Pour in the yeast mixture and stir everything together with a wooden spoon. Transfer the dough to a clean work surface and knead by hand for about 10–15 minutes. The goal is to get a smooth and elastic dough. Using an electric mixer will cut the time in half. The dough is ready when you can stretch a piece thin enough to let light through without tearing. Place the dough back in the bowl and cover it with plastic wrap to keep it from drying out. Let it rise in a warm, draft-free spot for about an hour until it doubles in size.
  3. In the meantime, prepare the filling. Mix together 115g room-temperature butter, 150g brown sugar, 2 tbsp cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp salt into a creamy mixture. Set it aside at room temperature.
  4. Next, prepare the frosting. Mix together 120g cream cheese, 120g powdered sugar, 50g room-temperature butter, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 1 tsp lemon juice until smooth and creamy. Store in the fridge until ready to use.
  5. After the dough has risen for an hour, it should have doubled in size and is ready to work with. Prepare a large baking dish. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured, clean surface and roll it out to a 50×30 cm (about 20×12 inch) rectangle. Spread the butter-sugar-cinnamon mixture evenly over the dough. Then, cut the dough lengthwise into 12 equal strips. Roll each strip into a spiral and place them in the baking dish, forming 3 rows of 4 rolls. Let the rolls rise again for another 30 minutes.
  6. About 10 minutes before the rising time is up, preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F). Once the rolls have risen, pour 100ml heavy cream and, if you like, 50ml cinnamon oil in between the rolls. Bake for 20–25 minutes until the tops are golden brown. Be careful not to overbake them, as they may become dry.
  7. Remove the rolls from the oven and let them cool for about 10 minutes. Take the frosting out of the fridge and spread it evenly over the warm rolls. Enjoy!
  • Prep Time: 15 min
  • Passive Time: 60 min
  • Cook Time: 25 min

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Follow along here & don’t forget to subscribe to my substack!