If you’re from West Virginia, you know how proud we are of our pepperoni rolls. I’ll share a little bit about the history of these savory treats – it all started in the coal mines. Then, you can make your own by following myWest Virginia pepperoni rolls recipe – it’s all homemade and actually pretty simple.
Pin this recipe so you can come back and make them again and again!
West Virginia Pepperoni Rolls
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As I share the in-process photos for how to make pepperoni rolls from scratch, I’ll also share a little backstory about where they came from.
First, you can see from the previous photo, there aren’t very many ingredients. These are simple to make and a fun way to create memories with your kids.
History Of Pepperoni Rolls
Pepperoni rolls are said to have originated in the early 20th century, when coal miners needed portable food that wouldn’t spoil. Rolls filled with pepperonis became one of their most-consumed lunches. Today, it’s a West Virginia tradition to bake pepperoni rolls for your family.
No, the coal miners in the 1920s and 30s didn’t have bread machines. That is where we are cheating a little bit. But it saves me so much time and sanity, so I give myself the break.
It is said that the first pepperoni roll to be sold commercially was sold byGiuseppe “Joseph” Argiro at the Country Club Bakery in Fairmont, West Virginia in 1927. After they started to be sold commercially, they became a huge hit across the state, with West Virginians proudly claiming them as their own.
How To Make WV Pepperoni Rolls
You can either make your dough by hand or use a bread machine. You can even buy frozen rolls and use those! If you are looking for a bread machine, I recommend the Hamilton Beach bread machine. It’s a low price and high quality.
Once you have your dough, the rest of the process is simple. Portion out small sections of dough. Then, place a few pieces of pepperoni on each roll.
Whether you put cheese in your roll is up to you. There is actually debate among West Virginians about whether cheese belongs in an authentic pepperoni roll. Some say the coal miners at just rolls and pepperoni. You’ll find it sold both ways in bakeries and shops in West Virginia.
Honestly, I like the cheese, When it cooks, it’s so gooey and melty.
Once you rolled up all your pepperoni rolls, they are ready to bake! Just bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes – until they are golden brown.
They make a fantastic lunch – make them for your kids! Some love them dipped in marinara sauce, others like them plain. Try out both ways and decided how you like them best. As you eat them, remember the hard-working coal miners that spent years in the dark mines, breathing in dust, so that we could have electricity.
Ready for the recipe?
Pepperoni Rolls Recipe
West Virginia Pepperoni Rolls
2018-03-11 05:47:59
Serves 4
An easy pepperoni rolls recipe that uses a bread machine. These pepperoni rolls have cheese and date back to the West Virginia coal miners.
In 1927, Giuseppe “Joseph” Argiro first offered the pepperoni roll as a lunch for local coal miners. He eventually started to sell them at the Country Club Bakery in Fairmont, West Virginia. These rolls were a perfect meal for the miners because they had protein and fat to keep them energized.
The largest pepperoni roll ever made being paraded through the streets of Wheeling in 1885. It required 13,653 pounds of dough; 8,800 pounds of cheese; and 6,496 pounds of pepperoni...and NO MAYONNAISE.
Yes, pepperoni rolls are famous in West Virginia. In fact, they're the official food of West Virginia. Italian immigrant and baker Giuseppe “Joseph” Argiro created pepperoni rolls around 1927 in Fairmont, West Virginia. They were eaten by coal miners who needed an easy lunch while they were in the mines.
It seems most likely that this was the inspiration behind rumors that it was banned, or that it still is in some states. However this simply isn't true -- in fact, Papa John's introduced a version of pepperoni rolls to their menus nationally back in 2016.
(WBOY) — At one point or another you may have heard that pepperoni rolls are illegal outside of West Virginia, whether it's because of their “raw” meat, closed face, or the fact that they can be kept unrefrigerated. But are these the real reasons pepperoni rolls are rarely seen outside West Virginia? Essentially, no.
The pepperoni roll is considered a cornerstone of culture in North Central West Virginia; an area with a large Italian population. Italian immigrant and coal miner, Giuseppe Argiro, created the beloved dish in 1927 by taking an already popular snack of pepperoni sticks and bread loaves one step further.
According to wvtourism.com, the pepperoni roll was developed by an Italian baker around the year 1930 as an easy meal for coal miners to carry in their lunch boxes, and it still remains popular today. It is so popular that it is West Virginia's official state food.
Let the customers know you are selling pepperoni rolls for your group, and explain the price of $2 per roll, or a case of 13 rolls for $26. Ask them to let you know, in the comments, how many rolls they would like (Promote Cases).
Pepperoni is America's favorite pizza topping! Pepperoni and sausage meats are made from hogs. The top three hog producing states are Iowa, North Carolina and Minnesota.
Pepperoni rolls are inexpensive and easy to make. They are an incredibly convenient snack, but they can easily be served for lunch, dinner, or party appetizers. You can eat them cold, at room temperature, or heated up.
So, for those traveling to Italy who want to sample an authentic Italian version of the American relative pepperoni, depending on where you are, you should ask for salame or salamino piccante, or salsiccia piccante (spicy salame or dried sausage), characteristic mostly of the South.
For more than 100 years, pepperoni has been a longtime American favorite and a well-known Hormel Foods specialty. Today, Hormel® pepperoni is the No. 1 selling brand of pepperoni in the United States, thanks to its great flavor and high quality.
In 1919, the pepperoni sausage first appeared in Lower Manhattan, New York City. It was developed by Italian immigrants who added paprika and a mix of other chili-pepper-based spice to dry salami (traditionally called “salsiccia,” “soppressata,” or “salame” in Italy).
In 1919, the pepperoni sausage first appeared in Lower Manhattan, New York City. It was developed by Italian immigrants who added paprika and a mix of other chili-pepper-based spice to dry salami (traditionally called “salsiccia,” “soppressata,” or “salame” in Italy).
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