Name: Crispy Cheese and Ham Pizza Rolls for Little Bakers
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4

Baking together is a lot of fun for many children and offers a wonderful opportunity to practice fine motor skills in a playful way. Kneading the dough, rolling it out, and adding the toppings are exciting tasks for little hands. These savory cheese and ham pizza rolls, made from a simple quark and oil dough, are a great snack for little explorers aged three and older. They are perfectly suited for a cozy picnic, preschool lunchboxes, or as a warm evening meal. The dough is wonderfully soft, barely sticks, and is very easy to work with. This turns baking into a relaxed experience for the whole family.

Ingredients

For about 12 to 15 pizza rolls (equals 2 to 3 portions) you will need:

150 g low-fat quark or plain Greek yogurt (organic quality recommended)
4 tbsp mild canola oil
4 tbsp milk
300 g all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 pinch of salt
100 g cooked ham (finely diced)
100 g grated cheese (such as mild Gouda or butter cheese)
2 tbsp mild tomato paste
1 tsp dried herbs (like oregano, basil, or a mild herb mix)

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (standard bake) and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mix the quark, canola oil, milk, and a pinch of salt thoroughly in a large mixing bowl using a spoon or whisk until a smooth, creamy mixture forms.
Combine the flour with the baking powder and add it to the quark mixture. Knead everything vigorously until a smooth dough forms that no longer sticks to your hands.
Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface with a rolling pin into an even rectangle shape.
Spread the tomato paste evenly over the dough using the back of a spoon and sprinkle the dried herbs on top.
Distribute the finely diced ham and grated cheese evenly across the coated dough.
Roll the dough up tightly starting from the long side and cut the roll into slices about two centimeters thick using a sharp knife.
Place the rolls on the prepared baking sheet with a little space between them and bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes until golden brown.
Remove the baked pizza rolls from the oven and make absolutely sure to let them cool down well before eating. Please check the temperature inside the rolls before offering them to your child to prevent any burns.

Variations & Tips

Vegetarian option: The ham can easily be replaced with finely diced bell peppers, grated zucchini, or corn kernels. If using zucchini, make sure to squeeze out some of the liquid beforehand.
Fridge storage: Kept in an airtight container, the pizza rolls will stay fresh in the refrigerator for about two to three days.
Freezing made easy: You can easily freeze the baked rolls. It is best to freeze them lying flat first and then transfer them to a freezer bag, so they can be taken out individually.
Adapting the texture: For younger siblings, you can omit the ham or mix pureed vegetables into the tomato sauce to make the filling even softer.
For the whole family: Adults and older children can spice up their rolls with a little black pepper, chili flakes, or fresh diced onions before rolling them up.

Allergy & Safety Information

This recipe contains gluten from the wheat flour, as well as milk protein and lactose from the quark, milk, and cheese. These ingredients belong to the main allergens that require labeling.
Always introduce new foods and ingredients one at a time and in small amounts. This allows you to easily observe how your child reacts to them.
Make sure the ham is very finely diced to make chewing easier and to prevent any risk of choking.
If you have any uncertainties regarding the introduction of solid foods, your child's diet, or suspected intolerances, please always speak with your pediatrician.

Nutritional Information

This dish provides a great combination of various nutrients. The low-fat quark and cheese are valuable sources of calcium, which plays an important role in the growth of bones. The flour provides long-lasting energy in the form of carbohydrates, which are important for an active and busy day. The mild ham also brings a portion of protein to this savory snack, supporting muscle development.

Ingredients

For about 12 to 15 pizza rolls (equals 2 to 3 portions) you will need:

150 g low-fat quark or plain Greek yogurt (organic quality recommended)

4 tbsp mild canola oil

4 tbsp milk

300 g all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 pinch of salt

100 g cooked ham (finely diced)

100 g grated cheese (such as mild Gouda or butter cheese)

2 tbsp mild tomato paste

1 tsp dried herbs (like oregano, basil, or a mild herb mix)

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (standard bake) and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Mix the quark, canola oil, milk, and a pinch of salt thoroughly in a large mixing bowl using a spoon or whisk until a smooth, creamy mixture forms.

Combine the flour with the baking powder and add it to the quark mixture. Knead everything vigorously until a smooth dough forms that no longer sticks to your hands.

Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface with a rolling pin into an even rectangle shape.

Spread the tomato paste evenly over the dough using the back of a spoon and sprinkle the dried herbs on top.

Distribute the finely diced ham and grated cheese evenly across the coated dough.

Roll the dough up tightly starting from the long side and cut the roll into slices about two centimeters thick using a sharp knife.

Place the rolls on the prepared baking sheet with a little space between them and bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes until golden brown.

Remove the baked pizza rolls from the oven and make absolutely sure to let them cool down well before eating. Please check the temperature inside the rolls before offering them to your child to prevent any burns.

Variations & Tips

Vegetarian option: The ham can easily be replaced with finely diced bell peppers, grated zucchini, or corn kernels. If using zucchini, make sure to squeeze out some of the liquid beforehand.

Fridge storage: Kept in an airtight container, the pizza rolls will stay fresh in the refrigerator for about two to three days.

Freezing made easy: You can easily freeze the baked rolls. It is best to freeze them lying flat first and then transfer them to a freezer bag, so they can be taken out individually.

Adapting the texture: For younger siblings, you can omit the ham or mix pureed vegetables into the tomato sauce to make the filling even softer.

For the whole family: Adults and older children can spice up their rolls with a little black pepper, chili flakes, or fresh diced onions before rolling them up.

Allergy & Safety Information

This recipe contains gluten from the wheat flour, as well as milk protein and lactose from the quark, milk, and cheese. These ingredients belong to the main allergens that require labeling.

Always introduce new foods and ingredients one at a time and in small amounts. This allows you to easily observe how your child reacts to them.

Make sure the ham is very finely diced to make chewing easier and to prevent any risk of choking.

If you have any uncertainties regarding the introduction of solid foods, your child's diet, or suspected intolerances, please always speak with your pediatrician.

Nutritional Information