Looking for the perfect soft jam-filled buns recipe? These super soft, sweet buns are filled with your favourite jam, Nutella, or Turkish delight-ideal for breakfast, snacks, or dessert. With simple steps and minimal ingredients, this homemade Romanian treat will become a family favourite! Just like these easy air-fryer cherry muffins with pantry staples.
Even though you might think one recipe for soft jam-filled rolls is enough, I love trying different variations to find the perfect one. In Romania, these jam-filled buns are very popular and have been enjoyed for generations. They're soft and simply delicious-especially with homemade jams. I love the plum jam called magiun-my grandmother used to make it from scratch over a wooden fire, starting in the morning and finishing at sunset: slow cooking, no rush, just pure joy.
I adore working with flour, especially when baking. These jam-filled buns are a family favourite, and making them is always a joy. Having them on hand for a sweet craving is a real treat. If you're a fan of baking, you'll love traditional Romanian treats like these tender mini ricotta cakes, traditional Moldovan honey and walnut pastries, or a cosy rustic apple cake with cinnamon. Each is deeply rooted in tradition and perfect for sharing.
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💗 Why You'll Love This Recipe
✅ Easy to make - No fancy skills needed!
✅ Customizable fillings - Use jam, chocolate, or nuts.
✅ The Best jam-filled buns Dough for a soft, fluffy texture. - Perfectly baked every time.
✅ Great for any occasion - Breakfast, tea time, or dessert. If you love baking with jam, try these easy strawberry jam scones next!
🥧 Ingredients
*See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
- Jam: A thick jam or marmalade works best to prevent the filling from leaking. Traditional Romanian plum jam (magiun) is highly recommended for authenticity. This is what makes these jam-filled buns so special.
- Nuts: Toasting the walnuts or almonds before grating them will greatly enhance their flavour.
- Turkish Delight: For the best results, use a firm Turkish delight and cut it into small cubes to prevent it from melting completely.
💡 Have a specific food allergy?
Click the buttons below to ask AI how to alter it for your diet!
♻️ Substitutions
- Flour: You can use plain, whole wheat flour or a gluten-free flour blend.
- Lukewarm milk: Any type of milk (dairy or non-dairy) can be used as a substitute. You can also use water if you prefer.
- Oil: Melted butter or melted coconut oil.
- Egg yolks: You can use whole eggs instead of just yolks. Please note that using whole eggs may slightly alter the texture.
- Jam: You can also use fresh fruit slices or chocolate chips.
- Grated walnuts: Chopped almonds, pecans, or hazelnuts can be used.
- Turkish delight: Dried fruits like raisins, cranberries, or chopped apricots.
Dietary Swaps
- Gluten-free? Use a 1:1 GF flour blend.
- Vegan? Swap eggs for flax eggs, milk for almond milk.
📋 Variations
- 🍪 Biscoff Crunch: Biscoff + brown sugar + cookie crumbs
- 🧀 Feta Pesto: Feta + sun-dried tomatoes + pesto
- 🍵 Matcha White Choc: Matcha + white chocolate chips
- 🍎 Apple Cinnamon: Cinnamon apples + cream cheese
- 🌴 Tropical Mango: Mango jam + coconut flakes
Love these ideas? You'll adore our popular homemade donuts with a toppings bar with a toppings bar!
👩🍳 How To Make Jam-Filled Buns
Love sweet rolls with jam filling that stay pillowy and sweet? You've got to try my easy mini ricotta cakes with lemon zest next! They're easy to make, perfectly tender, and great for sharing with family. Find more cosy homemade bakes in my collection of traditional Romanian recipes!
Step 1: Mix warm milk, sweetener, egg yolks, oil, and dissolved fresh yeast in a large bowl.
Step 2: Make the Dough
Add the flour and salt, then knead until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms.
Step 3: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it, and let it rise in a warm spot until it has doubled in size. This is crucial for fluffy jam-filled buns.
Step 4: Cut the Turkish delight into small cubes to have it ready when filling the rolls.
Step 5: Mix the jam with the grated nuts to create your filling.
Step 6: Shape & Fill: Form dough into a circle. Add filling to one side, roll tightly over it, then roll over cut strips to finish.
Step 5: Bake: Brush the risen rolls with an egg wash. Bake in a preheated oven until they are golden brown.
Step 6: Glaze: Brush baked rolls with a simple syrup of honey and warm water. Serve warm.
*See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
💭 Expert Tips
Before you begin, make sure all ingredients like milk, eggs, and others from the fridge are at room temperature. This makes mixing easier and gives your This is crucial for fluffy jam-filled buns a better texture and bake.
For optimal results, let the yeast dough rise until it doubles in size in a warm, draft-free spot. This patience ensures lighter, fluffier croissants.
❓Soft Jam-Filled Rolls FAQs
Dense rolls are often due to the dough not rising properly. Ensure your yeast is fresh, the milk is lukewarm (not hot), and let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free spot until truly doubled in size.
Thick, high-quality jams like plum, apricot, or raspberry work best as they don't leak easily. For an authentic Romanian touch, I highly recommend using magiun (a dense plum jam).For homemade options:
✅ Easy Cranberry Jam
From my cranberry crumble bars recipe (use just the jam portion).
🔹 Key Tip: Must be completely cold before filling - chill 2+ hours.
✅ Quick Berry Sauce
My 5-minute berry sauce works too!
🔹 Key Tip: Simmer until extra thick, then cool fully before using.
A "simple jam roll" often refers to a quick sponge cake rolled with jam. This recipe is for a yeasted dough, which results in soft, fluffy buns rather than a cake-like texture.
After baking, let the rolls cool completely, then store them in an airtight container for 2-3 days at room temperature. For longer storage, freeze them wrapped in foil for 1-2 months. To enjoy later, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the oven or microwave.
If You Enjoyed This Recipe, You Will Love These Too
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📖 Recipe
Recipe for Sweet Rolls with Jam Filling
Equipment
- Rolling Pin
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mat
Ingredients
Dough:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free substitute)
- 0.7 ounces fresh yeast (or 1 sachet dry yeast)
- 1 cup lukewarm milk (dairy or plant-based)
- ⅓ cup oil (or melted butter)
- 2 egg yolks (or whole eggs for a lighter texture)
- 2 tablespoons agave syrup or sugar (honey or maple syrup works too!)
- ½ teaspoon salt
Filling:
- 4-5 tablespoons jam (plum - magiun, strawberry, apricot, quince) or marmelade
- ½ cup grated walnuts or almonds
- 10.5 ounces Turkish delight cubed
Egg Wash:
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon agave syrup
- 2-3 tablespoons milk
Syrup:
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 5 tablespoons warm water
Instructions
- If using fresh yeast, activate it with 3-4 tablespoon warm milk and a teaspoon of agave syrup. Let it double in volume for about 10 minutes. If using dry yeast, skip this step.0.7 ounces fresh yeast
- In a large bowl, add the milk, sweetener (agave syrup or sugar), activated yeast or dry yeast, egg yolks, and oil. Stir to combine. Add the flour and salt, then knead the dough for 5 minutes by hand or using a stand mixer until you get a sticky bread-like dough.4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup lukewarm milk, ⅓ cup oil, 2 egg yolks, 2 tablespoons agave syrup or sugar, ½ teaspoon salt
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with cling film and a clean towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about an hour until it doubles in volume. When the dough has doubled in volume, divide it into 12 equal parts. Using a rolling pin, shape each part into a rectangle about 3mm thick.
- Mix the jam with the grated walnuts to make the filling. Spread it over one half of each rectangle, then dot with cubes of Turkish delight. Cut the other half into strips about 1cm wide. Roll up the croissants and place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Cover with a clean towel and let them rise for another 15-30 minutes.4-5 tablespoons jam, ½ cup grated walnuts, 10.5 ounces Turkish delight
- For the egg wash, mix all ingredients in a small bowl. Grease the croissants with the egg wash and bake for about 20-25 minutes in a preheated oven at 200°C/392°F until golden brown.1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon agave syrup, 2-3 tablespoons milk
- Once baked, set aside to cool. In the meantime, make the syrup by mixing honey and warm water until the honey is dissolved.3 tablespoons honey, 5 tablespoons warm water
- Brush the croissants with the syrup and serve fresh with a cup of coffee or tea. Store any leftovers in a sealed container for up to 2-3 days in a cool place. Hope you enjoy!
Video
Notes
- After baking, allow the croissants to cool completely to room temperature. Then, store them in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag at room temperature for up to 2-3 days.
- For longer storage, you can freeze the croissants. Wrap them individually in plastic wrap or aluminium foil, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be frozen for up to 1-2 months.
- When ready to enjoy, thaw the frozen croissants in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat them in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5-10 minutes until warmed through. Alternatively, you can microwave them for a few seconds until heated.
Genevieve says
These jam rolls look incredible and so easy to make!
Nicole says
These jam filled rolls are amazing! Super tasty recipe and great dessert.
Jaleah Kendrick says
These rolls are amazing! Such a tasty dessert.
Matt says
These turned out so soft and delicious with the perfect balance of sweetness. Everyone kept reaching for seconds!
Ashley says
Delicious and a lot easier to make than I thought. Thanks for the great recipe!
Claudia Ciorteanu says
My family loved this!
Swathi says
These jam filled rolls are pefect for breakfast. I made it.
Juyali Nortman says
These rolls were fantastic. They were delicious and pretty, too. Next time, I will also try the other filling variations. So, so good. Thank you!
Tiffany says
These are really fun and really yummy! My kids love them.
Nicole says
These are delicious and look so impressive! I make to have out when we have guests!
Gloria says
What a fun recipe for brunch or dessert. Making the dough from scratch is always a nice feeling of accomplishment. I would love one right now with my morning coffee.
Sonja says
I made these filled rolls for Sunday breakfast and they were a hit with everyone. Mixed up the fillings, using Nutella and chocolate, some I rolled up with just cinnamon sugar and plum jam.
Sharon says
Wow, what a gorgeous recipe and looks very doable!! I tried making croissants when I was 8 and totally failed. Your recipe is inspiring me to try again, thank you for the inspiration!!