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Cranberry Cream Cheese Crescent Bites Recipe

Cranberry Cream Cheese Crescent Bites Recipe
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★★★★★

4.9 from 8 reviews

Cranberry Cream Cheese Crescent Bites are flaky, buttery, and delightfully tangy little pastries perfect for breakfast, appetizers, or festive occasions. Made with crescent roll dough filled with a smooth cream cheese mixture and tangy whole berry cranberry sauce, these bite-sized treats offer a perfect balance of sweet and tart with optional crunchy pecan or bright orange zest toppings.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough

  • 1 can crescent roll dough (8-count)

Filling

  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened
  • ¼ cup powdered sugar
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ cup whole berry cranberry sauce

Optional Toppings

  • Chopped pecans
  • Orange zest
  • Powdered sugar for dusting
  • Fresh thyme sprigs

Instructions

  1. Preheat & Prep: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a mini muffin tin or line with parchment paper bits to ensure the bites don’t stick.
  2. Whip the Filling: In a mixing bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and fluffy, resembling a cloud-like texture. If you don’t have a mixer, use a fork to mash the cream cheese well and whisk in the sugar and vanilla.
  3. Dough Surgery: Unroll the crescent roll dough and separate it into triangles as indicated. Using a pizza cutter or a sharp knife, slice each triangle in half lengthwise, creating 16 skinny triangles in total. Don’t worry about being perfect; rustic shapes add charm.
  4. Cup Formation: Press each skinny dough triangle gently into the bottom and sides of the mini muffin tin cups, stretching the dough slightly to cover completely. If the dough is sticky, dust your fingers lightly with flour. Overlap the dough pieces slightly as they tend to shrink during baking.
  5. Layer the Love: Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture into each dough cup to create a barrier preventing sogginess. Top each with 1 teaspoon of whole berry cranberry sauce for bursts of tangy flavor.
  6. Top It Off: Sprinkle optional toppings such as chopped pecans or a pinch of orange zest on each filled crescent cup. For an elegant presentation, add a tiny sprig of fresh thyme.
  7. Bake to Golden Bliss: Bake the filled cups for 11-13 minutes until the edges are golden brown and the filling is bubbly. Keep an eye after 10 minutes as ovens vary; the aroma of buttery pastry signals they’re done.
  8. Cool and Serve: Allow the crescent bites to cool in the tin for about 5 minutes before gently lifting them out with a spoon. Dust with extra powdered sugar if desired and serve warm. Be careful, as the cranberry filling can be hot right out of the oven.

Notes

  • Use full-fat cream cheese for the richest texture; Neufchâtel or vegan cream cheese are lighter alternatives.
  • Room temperature ingredients blend more smoothly; plan ahead to soften cream cheese for 30 minutes before starting.
  • If unavailable, puff pastry sheets can be cut to size as a substitute for crescent dough.
  • For a different sweetness, replace powdered sugar with 2 tablespoons of maple syrup or honey, adding slowly to avoid runniness.
  • Store leftovers at room temperature for up to 24 hours or refrigerate for up to 3 days; reheat briefly to restore flakiness.
  • These bites are perfect for breakfast, party appetizers, or holiday treats and pair wonderfully with coffee or wine.

Nutrition

Keywords: crescent roll bites, cream cheese, cranberry sauce, holiday appetizers, easy snacks, flaky pastry, cream cheese filling

Find it online: https://hannahdelgado.com/cranberry-cream-cheese-crescent-bites-recipe/