Raisin coffee rolls: pure enjoyment!

Fancy something sweet with your coffee? Raisin coffee rolls are soft, lightly sweet buns that taste delicious with a warm cup of coffee or tea. The raisins add a fruity bite and make the whole thing extra moist. You can easily bake them yourself with a few basic ingredients and a bit of patience. Fresh from the oven they’re at their best, but even cooled down they’re a treat.

Why do we call them coffee rolls?

Raisin coffee rolls get their name from the time they’re most often eaten, namely with coffee. They are soft, lightly sweet buns filled with raisins or custard that perfectly suit a coffee moment in the morning or afternoon.

They’re just sturdy enough to eat with your hands, but airy enough not to feel heavy. In the Netherlands, coffee rolls have been popular in bakeries and supermarkets for years, but homemade ones are truly irresistible.

Recipe info & Ingredients

Recipe info

• Preparation time: 45 minutes
• Rising time: 1 hour
• Baking time: 15–25 minutes
• Number of pieces: about 14–16 coffee rolls
• Category: Sweet pastry / coffee roll

Ingredients

For the dough

• 1 sheet of puff pastry

For the filling

• Custard
• 150 grams dark raisins
• 150 grams light raisins
• 80 ml almond liqueur

Other

• Flour, for the work surface
• 125 grams apricot jam
• 125 grams icing sugar
• 2½ tablespoons water

Optional:

• A dollop of whipped cream
• Chocolate flakes, cocoa or cinnamon for garnish

Preparation instructions

1. Put the dark and light raisins together in a bowl and pour over the almond liqueur. Let this stand for at least 30 minutes so the raisins become soft and full of flavour. Then drain and pat dry.
2. Dust your work surface with a little flour. Roll out the puff pastry to a rectangle about 4 mm thick.
3. Spread the custard evenly over the dough, leaving half a centimetre free at the edges. Then sprinkle the soaked raisins over the custard.
4. Roll the dough tightly from the long side into a long roll. Cut the roll into slices about 3 cm wide.
5. Place the slices on a baking tray lined with baking paper, cut side up. Loosely cover with foil or a cloth and let them rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
6. Preheat the oven to 200 °C (top and bottom heat). Bake the coffee rolls for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Then let cool slightly.
7. Warm the apricot jam in a small pan and brush it over the still warm coffee rolls for a nice shine.
8. Mix the icing sugar with the water to a smooth glaze. Drizzle this in thin lines over the cooled rolls with a spoon.

Serving tips and variations

Raisin coffee rolls taste best when still a little warm, straight from the oven or briefly reheated. Serve them with a cup of coffee or tea as a luxurious treat for yourself or as a treat for guests.

Fancy something different? Try replacing the raisins with pieces of dried apricot or cranberries. Also delicious: add a pinch of cinnamon to the custard for a warm twist. Got some glaze left? Use it to drizzle a few extra pretty stripes over your cappuccino for a festive effect.