There are so many traditional, meaningful foods prepared at Easter that it’s hard to point to one that has the most meaning; however, it would be hard to top these gluten free Resurrection Rolls (sometimes called Empty Tombs).
The pure white marshmallows represent the Savior, anointed with spices and oils (butter and cinnamon/sugar), wrapped in linens (the dough) and placed inside the tomb with a large stone barring the entrance (the oven). The symbolism goes further once these rolls have baked and the marshmallow inside has disappeared, reminding us that our Savior was no longer in the tomb after 3 days, but had risen from the dead.
It’s a powerful message made easier to understand for younger ones when they participate in the making and eating of these Resurrection Rolls at Easter.
Be sure to use my award-winning gfJules Flour to make this dough, as it adds the stretch you’ll need to wrap this gluten free dough easily around the marshmallow inside. Its light texture also yields a fine crumb on these hollow rolls, making them even lighter and more delicate, just like you’d want them to be.
Simply follow the step-by-step directions in the recipe card, as well as the illustration of each step pictured below. Then place the rolls into muffin tins for baking, as pictured below.
After baking, they will have puffed up even further, and they will be very lightly browned.
If you’e ever made my gluten free crescent rolls, you’ll be familiar with this easy recipe that forms the basis of the dough itself.
Made with my award-winning gfJules Flour, the dough is very pliable and easy to work with — even for little hands. Double the recipe if you’d like to have more to share — as written, it makes 6 large rolls.
For more Gluten Free Easter Recipe ideas like gluten free Easter Lamb Cake and gluten free Hot Cross Buns, jump to my Gluten Free Easter Recipe Roundup Post!
Gluten Free Resurrection Rolls (Empty Tombs)
These meaningful gluten free Resurrection Rolls have a fine crumb, making them even lighter and more delicate, just like you'd want them to be.
Ingredients
- One recipe gfJules™ Gluten Free Crescent Rolls (makes 6 Resurrection Rolls)
- 6 fresh marshmallows (vegan, gluten free Dandies®)
- 2-3 Tbs. melted butter or non-dairy alternative (Earth Balance®)
- 2 Tbs. granulated sugar mixed with 1/2 Tbs. ground cinnamon
- white frosting to decorate with crosses (optional)
Instructions
Prepare one recipe of gfJules Gluten Free Crescent Rolls dough.
Preheat oven to 375° F.
Spray or oil large muffin pans and set aside.
Lightly flour a pastry mat or clean counter with gfJules™ Flour. Roll crescent dough to 1/8-inch thick and cut into 4x4-inch squares.
Dip one marshmallow into melted butter, then into a bowl with mixed sugar and cinnamon.
Follow how-to photo above the recipe card to see each step illustrated:
1- Place marshmallow into the center of one square of dough. Using your finger, lightly wet the edges of the dough square with water so the dough will stick together.
2- Pull up one corner of the dough and press together with opposite dough corner.
3- Repeat with the other remaining corners.
4 & 5 - Dip top of roll into melted butter and sugar and cinnamon mixture, then place seam-side-down into an oiled muffin cup. In the alternative, simply place roll, seam-side-down into oiled muffin cup then brush entire top with melted butter or oil.
Repeat with remaining dough, gathering up any dough scraps and re-rolling to use all the dough.
Bake in preheated oven for 11-13 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the dough comes out clean. Remove to cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes before removing from the pans to finish cooling.
The marshmallows should have melted completely, or have melted and pooled in the bottom of the cavity inside the rolls, leaving sugar and cinnamon behind.
Once cooled, ice with crosses on top, if desired.
Pin for later!
These Empty Tomb rolls turned out so yummy! Such a sweet way to celebrate the sacrifice and gift of our Savior. Thank you for sharing this yummy roll recipe. I love your gluten-free flour and use it cup for cup in my own recipes.
I love the photo of your gluten free Empty Tomb rolls, Derra! Thanks so much for sharing and I’m really glad to hear that the recipe turned out so well for you!
~jules
Made today on Easter Sunday and I must say…success!! These were awesome! Thank you!!
Oh Kathy, that is wonderful to hear! Easter Blessings!!!
~jules
Just made this recipe as a test for Easter Sunday and they are AMAZING! easy to put together and the dough is so light and flakey. I think this may be the best treat I have made since going gluten free 7 years ago!
Thank you Jule’s for putting so much thought into your recipes and ingredients. I know my whole family will enjoy these tomorrow morning 🙂
Oh Meghan, that makes me so happy to hear! What a surprise that these gluten free Resurrection Rolls would be the best treat you’ve made since going gluten free! Sounds like you need to go back and make those gluten free crescent rolls now, too!! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and let me know. May all your gluten free baking be happy from here on out! Oh, and Happy Easter!!!
~jules
Can these be made the day before?
Hi Shay, while they can be made the day before, because of the melted marshmallows and sugar in the middles, they get a little wet and goey and I’d hate to recommend that as the best presentation.
~jules
Can these be made yeast free?
HI Mimi, I think the easiest thing to do for this recipe is just to sub out my pie crust recipe instead. Use my pie gluten free pie crust recipe here: https://gfjules.com/recipes/gluten-free-pie-crust-recipe-and-tips/ and follow the directions to make the rolls in this post. They won’t be bread-like, but they’re really not that bready anyway, since they’re rolled so thin. The recipe is more about the concept of the empty tomb and the pie crust dough will work just fine to wrap around the marshmallow and bake in the muffin cup. It’s also yeast free and so it will work for you that way. I hope that satisfies your needs for this Easter and you can make this recipe! Blessings,
~jules
I need to remember to try these next year for Easter!
They are really fun for Easter, especially for the littler ones!
~jules
What an interesting and fun idea. The kids will get a kick out of them being empty. Thanks.
What a cute idea and perfect for Easter! Can’t wait to make them
Thanks, Noelle! Happy Easter!
~jules
These look incredible!! I usually don’t make sweets for Easter but I’m feeling really inspired by these. Would be the perfect after brunch treat!
They’re really small and because they’re hollow! they make a manageable treat. Hard to get any more poignant with messaging in food, too!
~jules
I am thrilled to know we can continue our resurrection roll tradition this way! I seem to be getting more sensitive to gluten as the years go by. Thank you for developing this recipe!
Oh that makes me so happy to hear, Julia! Enjoy the recipe and carrying on the tradition, gluten free!
~jules
Love this! Thank you for not taking Christ out of Easter! This is one of the many reasons I love this site, and of course, the products are fabulous! I will definitely be making these with my daughter this year.
Ditto!