Cranberry Cream Cheese Crescent Bites Recipe
These Cranberry Cream Cheese Crescent Bites are a delightful, bite-sized appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings or any festive occasion. Combining the flaky texture of crescent roll dough with a creamy, sweetened cream cheese filling and tangy whole berry cranberry sauce, these little treats balance flavors beautifully. Optional toppings like chopped pecans or orange zest add a lovely crunch and a citrusy aroma that elevate the snack further.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 13 minutes
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 24 bites 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Crescent Dough
- 1 can crescent roll dough (8-count)
Cream Cheese Filling
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Fruit Topping
- ½ cup whole berry cranberry sauce
Optional Toppings
- Chopped pecans
- Orange zest
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a mini muffin tin or line it with mini liners to prevent sticking.
- Make cream cheese filling: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and creamy without lumps.
- Prepare crescent dough cups: Unroll the crescent roll dough onto a clean surface. Cut each triangle in half to create smaller triangles suitable for mini muffin cups. Press each small triangle firmly into the bottom and up the sides of each mini muffin cup, forming a little dough cup.
- Fill dough cups: Add about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese filling into each dough-lined cup, spreading it evenly.
- Add cranberry topping: Spoon approximately 1 teaspoon of the whole berry cranberry sauce over the cream cheese layer in each cup.
- Add optional toppings: If desired, sprinkle chopped pecans or a pinch of orange zest on top of each filled cup for added texture and flavor.
- Bake: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 11 to 13 minutes, or until the crescent dough is golden brown and cooked through.
- Cool and serve: Remove from the oven and allow the bites to cool slightly in the pan before carefully removing them to serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Ensure cream cheese is softened to room temperature to achieve a smooth filling.
- Use whole berry cranberry sauce for texture; jellied cranberry sauce may not yield the same consistency.
- Customize toppings with chopped nuts or zest to add complementary flavors.
- Serve as a festive appetizer or sweet snack.
- If mini muffin tins are unavailable, standard muffin tins may be used but increase dough portion sizes accordingly.
Keywords: cranberry bites, cream cheese appetizers, crescent roll recipes, holiday appetizers, easy party snacks
