Macedonian Dinner Rolls with Feta Cheese – Kifli
Apr 20, 2011, Updated Aug 28, 2021
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Macedonian Dinner Rolls with Feta Cheese are buttery, soft dinner rolls filled with feta cheese and topped with sesame seeds. They’re the perfect side for any dinner!
AN EASY HOMEMADE DINNER ROLLS RECIPE
So you wanna boast about your domesticated self? In our culture, this is where it starts – with Kifli (Кифли). Say it with me: KEEF-LEE.
This is the stuff wives-to-be are supposed to know. Yeah right! bahaha The correct word is were supposed to know – baby boomers changed all that – phewww! Thanks guys!
But, in all honesty, if you’re going to bake in a Macedonian household, then it’s best to know how to make homemade bread first, then Kifli, then Maznik, and finally, the big star, Zelnik, which is a layered pastry dough stuffed with greens, cheese, meat, sauerkraut, and so on. Yep, all of that makes a good Macedonian housewife.
In time for big holidays, birthdays, Saint Patron Days, and so forth, Kifli, or Dinner Rolls with Sesame Seeds and Feta Cheese, are almost always the centerpiece on that table, or somewhere very near to it. What’s good about these rolls is that they are very versatile. You can stuff them with feta cheese, or even meat, have them plain, or dunk them in some homemade yogurt. They are enjoyed as a starter, with a salad, or as a dinner roll.
I prefer to snack on them… all day long. I think I ate one entire batch before they were finally done. Ana helped.
I have a total of nine different recipes for these. Everyone always has the “best” Kifli recipe – I just jot down their version and give it a go as soon as I get a moment. This particular one that I’m going to share with you is probably the easiest, and, in my opinion, the tastiest. The method of preparation may seem a bit off, but just follow the recipe and don’t question it. 
In the end, you will have about 40 soft, delicious Kifli filled to the rim with feta cheese! Make sure to share with your family.
ENJOY!
***For those that need the original recipe for my Kifli, you can grab it here.
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It
Kifli - Macedonian Dinner Rolls
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons + 1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 200 ml warm water
- 6 cups all purpose flour
- 250 ml warm milk
- 125 ml vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 whole eggs
- 8 tablespoons butter
Filling
- 1 cup crumbled Feta cheese
- 1 cup Ricotta Cheese
Glaze
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 tablespoon water
- sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a bowl, stir together yeast, sugar, and water; set in a warmer place to activate. Let sit until it gets thick and foamy - about 15 to 20 minutes.
- In the meantime, add flour to your mixer's bowl; make a well in the middle and add warm milk to the well, vegetable oil, salt, and eggs. Don't mix until you've added in the prepared yeast.
- Pour yeast mixture into the flour mixture; using a large spoon, mix it all together to combine.
- Then, attach the dough hook to your stand mixer and finish kneading for about 2 to 3 minutes, or until dough starts to separate from the bowl. If dough is too dry, add a tablespoon of milk, if it's too wet add more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. Dough shouldn't be too sticky, but you also don't want it to be dry.
- Spray a large mixing bowl with cooking spray and sprinkle it with a bit of flour to prevent sticking.
- Transfer prepared dough to the oiled bowl ; fold dough into a circle; add more flour to the bowl and a sprinkle of flour on top of the dough ball.
- Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 30 minutes. It's best (and faster) to let the dough rise in a warmer spot.
- Combine feta cheese and ricotta cheese in a bowl; set aside for later.
- Preheat oven to 400˚F.
- Turn the dough over to a flour dusted work area and fold it on all sides; then, cut in half. Cut each half in 3 parts so you have a total of 6 pieces. Fold all pieces into small balls. Keep them covered.
- Take a ball of dough and lightly punch it down to spread and then roll it out into a round circle the size of about a medium pizza. Make sure to flour your work area often so the dough does not stick.
- Cut into 8 to 12 slices, depending on the size of the dough’s diameter.
- Add a tablespoon of the ricotta/feta cheese mixture to each slice. Place the filling at the top of the slice, right in the center.
- Roll them up; pull the sides of the widest part at the top and tuck them inward, right over the filling, and continue to roll.
- Repeat with the rest of the dough.
- Transfer kifli/rolls to baking sheets; place a pat of butter on top of each roll.
- Bake for 5 minutes at 400˚F.
- Prepare the glaze; combine eggs and water in a small bowl and beat to combine.
- Remove Kifli from oven and brush with egg glaze; sprinkle with sesame seeds and continue to bake for 11 to 13 more minutes, or until golden.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
I’m also thinking it changed. I recall using only egg whites in the dough. Fluffy perfection that hubby said were better than my Macedonian mom’s. Has this post changed?
Can you please explain the need for using baking powder at the same time as using yeast?
I don’t see the need or use of baking powder in this recipe…..or am i missing something??
Did this recipe change? I used to make it often now it’s different
Yes I think it did. I thought u was going crazy
Did it change
HI THERE, MADE THESE TWICE AND MINE ARE MORE LIKE PASTRY AND NOT BREAD. I MUST BE DOING SOMETHING WRONG. Do you have measurements in ML & GRAMS PLS
I’ve made this twice now and each time the dough comes out really wet and sticky. I added a lot more flour than 6 cups but the dough gets a little tough to roll into a medium pizza. Is the dough supposed to be on the wet side?
Hi!
I’ve made these loads upon loads of times. I’m half Macedonian, half Belgian(weird combo, right?) and my husband is 100% Macedonian(he came over from the old country about ten years ago). Now that’s it’s Christmas time, he wants them and I am happy to oblige. There’s only one problem. They didn’t have the little packets of yeast at the store so I got the jar. Do you know how many teaspoons/tablespoons of yeast it is?
ะะธะต ะธ ััะตัะตะฝ ะะพะถะธั ะฑะปะฐะณะพะดะฐัะธะผะต!
HI Alice!! What a combo! Lucky girl! You must be gorgeous!!
I am on your hubby’s side – Kifli are a must for Christmas. ๐
I had to call my mom for this one because she uses the jars, only. ๐ So, 1 package of yeast is exactly 2-1/4 teaspoons.
ะกัะตัะตะฝ ะะพะถะธั ะธ ะะฐ ะะฝะพะณั ะะพะดะธะฝะธ! ะะพะปะตะผ ะฟะพะทะดัะฐะฒ ะดะพ ัะธัะต ะฒะฐั!
Hi, how do I prevent from the bottom of the croissants to cook faster than the top? I have the oven set at 375 and the bottom gets brown faster and hard
Hi! So sorry you’re having issues with this. I can’t wait for kifli to get done, but hard bottoms are a no-go! ๐
Couple things could be happening… your oven may not heat evenly and the hot spots are affecting the kifli. Or the baking sheets you are using may be too thin. Hard to tell, but you can try to bake on a higher positioned rack, or I would start with placing the baking sheet on a lower positioned rack and then move it up to a higher position half-way through baking time.
In your ingredients list you wrote 2 tbsp and 1/4 tsp of yeast. I’m assuming you mean 2tsp and 1/4 tsp’s correct?
No, it really is 2 tablespoons + 1/4 teaspoon yeast. ๐
they were beautiful we made them but took long
How do I keep the feta from drying out? My family loved them, but the Feta ended up kinda of drying instead of melting!
Hi Kate!
SO happy to hear that you enjoyed them!!
To answer your question;
You can combine the feta with one egg; mix until it’s well incorporated and then sprinkle the feta cheese over the dough. That should do the trick. ๐
These look great and cant wait to try and make them. But I dont see in your directions where to use the 1 stick of butter….can you pls clarify?
Thanks!
Never mind I see it now:)
I just found your recipe, and I am definitely going to make KIFLICE tomorrow. I have already made “Varazdinski klipcici”, which are similar to you version of kiflice. Thanks a lot! XO
Klipcici sounds so much cuter than Kifli! ๐ I hope you enjoy them!
Katerina, they are FANTASTIC! I made them today. We all love them! I do not need to mention that they are already gone. :)) Really excellent recipe. And, excellent blog. I am your new fan. :))
Sara, I am so happy to know that you enjoyed them!! Thank you for coming back and letting me know! Have a great day!!
Oh this is older post…i just saw it on the pinterest, like just now ๐ I wish i have 2-3 right now..ok maybe I would saddle with 5 haha
Kifle with buttermilk were my breakfast almost every morning before school at the local bakery…and you did an amazing job!
OMG! I KNOW! The best with buttermilk!!! I can’t wait for Easter because my mom and I always make dozens upon dozens for the big day… I am going to dive into them like never before!! ๐