What to do when you’re given ten pounds of pepperoni? Make pepperoni rolls of course!
A friend of mine works in the food distribution industry, and occasionally has surplus of a food item that cannot be distributed for various reasons. I was pleasantly surprised when our family was gifted a ten-pound bag of pepperoni! The kids were delighted, as pepperoni is one of their favorite snacks as-is. After many a midnight raid (and mid-day raid), as well as sending pepperoni in their packed school lunches, there was still an over-abundance of this savory treat. What’s an Appalachian Mama to do? It’s a no-brainer–make pepperoni rolls of course!
What are West Virginia Pepperoni Rolls?
Pepperoni rolls are an Appalachian treat that share roots with the coal mining industry. According to state legend (and the department of tourism), pepperoni rolls may have originated with Italian immigrants who worked in the mines. It was commonplace for Italian workers to bring some basic bread and salami or pepperoni for a quick and easy lunch on-your-feet. According to the Department of Tourism, the first pepperoni roll can be traced back to one particular Italian coal miner in Fairmont, WV named Giuseppe Argiro from Calabria, Italy. He is credited with the idea of combining the two lunchtime staples (bread and pepperoni) into one portable, shelf stable snack that could be eaten with one hand. The idea was a hit, and West Virginia families have been making and passing down their favorite pepperoni roll recipes ever since! You can read more about the history of pepperoni rolls here.
What makes West Virginia Pepperoni Rolls so special?
West Virginians are fiercely proud of their heritage; the pepperoni roll is no exception. Its history is tightly woven into the history of our families and their struggles, and recipes are passed down through families. All of them will argue that their recipe is the “original” or the “best.”
In reality, the original and best pepperoni roll is all of them. They are all linked back to unique family histories and cultural heritage that blend together and merge to form the patchwork quilt that is West Virginia heritage.
Regional Variations
The variations on the main pepperoni roll is what makes it so unique. There are different variations from family to family, and even from region to region within the state. The pepperoni roll you may find in the mountain area of West Virginia may vary from the one you may find in the Mid-Ohio Valley region. They are all West Virginia Pepperoni rolls, and they all reflect the local heritage of the region and the families that live there.
The pepperoni roll is so celebrated in West Virginia that there are festivals devoted to this lunchtime treat. The most notable festival is in Ona, WV. You can read more about the Pepperoni Roll Festival here. The festival is complete with live music, a pepperoni roll eating contest, West Virginia Heritage activities, and of course, pepperoni rolls of all kinds.
You can find pepperoni rolls for sale in a number of West Virginia bakeries. Some of the most notable are JR’s Donut Castle in Parkersburg, WV; The Donut Shop in Buckhannon, WV; and my personal favorite, Tomaro’s Bakery in Clarksburg, WV. You can even try the very original pepperoni roll recipe from the original bakery that started it all with Giuseppe’s original idea, the Country Club Bakery.
What makes pepperoni rolls so special is that they are shelf-stable, easy-to-pack, easy-to-eat, and of course, delicious! They are a simple, frugal, and satisfying addition to any lunchbox. I make these 2-3 dozen at a time and freeze any leftovers (if there ever are any).
Where did this West Virginia Pepperoni Roll recipe come from?
I first discovered this recipe while on a labor strike (in classic West Virginia fashion) in Wirt County, West Virginia. While picketing, employees took turns making food for all the strikers. It was around February, so a piping hot pepperoni roll with its fluffy outside and gooey inside, really hit the spot. I took it upon myself to uncover whose delicious pepperoni rolls these were. Turns out, it was an older employee who we’ll simply identify as Vicki. I asked Vicki if I could get her recipe as this was one of the most amazing pepperoni rolls I’d ever had. She told me the basics of her method, which I tried at home and found that it yielded amazing results. This is the recipe I am sharing with you here.
How to Make West Virginia Pepperoni Rolls
Now before I give you the recipe, I want you to be advised that although they are shelf-stable, these pepperoni rolls do not last long–at least in my house! While in the oven, the mouth-watering aroma of baking pepperoni rolls alerts the entire family that something good is happening. Once they pop out, it’s a verified feeding frenzy. The rolls that survive the initial onslaught don’t usually make it to the next morning. I’m lucky if there are any left to send in the kids’ lunchboxes the next day!
Here’s How to Make Your Own West Virginia Pepperoni Rolls!
Just like so many aspects of Appalachian culture, this process is beautifully simple. All you need is some frozen rolls, some pepperoni, cheese, egg, and cooking spray.
1. Grease your pans.
I prefer to use cooking spray for this. Spray your pans well to prevent sticking of the dough.
2. Place frozen dough on pans; cover and leave to rise for about 3 hours.
This is why I love frozen dough. Sure, you can make your own dough for a more authentic experience. It’s just so easy to use these frozen rolls though. They’re cheap, they’re easy, and they taste just like you worked your tail off in the kitchen for hours. Look at you go, chef. I’ll never tell.
You’ll want to place these rolls about an inch apart. After placing, you’ll need to cover them with greased plastic wrap. The grease is very important! Otherwise you will have dough stuck to the plastic wrap later. Not fun. The easiest way to grease the plastic is to use your cooking spray again to lightly spray the underside of the plastic wrap.
3. Flatten rolls, fill with pepperoni and cheese.
After the dough rises, you’ll need to flatten them out and fill them with pepperoni to make a pepperoni roll.
Definitely, this is my 9-year old’s favorite part. He likes to Hulk Smash the dough before stretching it out.
Now, every family does this a little differently it seems. Here’s my method.
First, flatten the dough out and stretch it until it is roughly the size of your hand.
Next, place the pepperoni and cheese (if desired) on top in the middle of the dough. Think like a mini-pizza.
Now fold the sides up kind of like a burrito.
Last fold the other sides up so it’s like a little envelope. Pinch these ends down to keep in all the yumminess. That’s it!
If you like extra fluffy rolls, put the greased plastic wrap back on and let them rise a second time.
4. Place rolls back on pans; apply egg wash.
Place the filled rolls back onto the baking pan, seam side down, about 1-2″ apart. Beat an egg in a bowl and brush it over the top of all the rolls. For an extra bit of flavor, you can sprinkle some Italian seasoning and just a bit of mozzarella cheese on top.
5. Bake rolls for 15-20 minutes.
Pop the rolls into the oven and bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Let them cool for a few minutes, then enjoy! They are excellent warm, with all the savory gooey goodness. They are equally good the next day in a lunch box!
I’ll warn you, when you set them out to cool, they may disappear!
Have you tried it?
What do you think about this version of the West Virginia pepperoni roll? Have a suggestion of another method? Let me know by leaving a comment below! If you like this recipe, you may enjoy some of the other recipes featured on Mountain State Mama!
