Cranberry Cream Cheese Crescent Bites are delightful mini appetizers made with flaky crescent roll dough filled with a smooth cream cheese mixture and tangy whole berry cranberry sauce. Perfectly baked to golden perfection and optionally topped with chopped pecans or orange zest, these bites offer a deliciously festive treat ideal for holiday parties or snack time.
Total Time:28 minutes
Yield:24 servings
Ingredients
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
Topping (Optional)
chopped pecans
orange zest
Instructions
Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F and prepare a mini muffin tin by greasing it lightly or lining with paper liners to prevent sticking.
Make cream cheese filling: In a medium bowl, combine softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix well until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
Prepare dough cups: Unroll the crescent roll dough and cut each triangle in half to create smaller triangles. Press each small triangle gently into the bottom and up the sides of the mini muffin cups to form little dough cups.
Add fillings: Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture into each dough cup, followed by 1 teaspoon of the whole berry cranberry sauce on top of the cream cheese layer.
Add optional toppings: If desired, sprinkle chopped pecans or a bit of orange zest over each filled dough cup for added flavor and texture.
Bake: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 13 minutes or until the crescent dough is golden brown and cooked through.
Cool and serve: Allow the bites to cool slightly in the pan before removing them carefully. Serve warm or at room temperature for a tasty appetizer or snack.
Notes
You can substitute chopped walnuts or almonds for pecans if preferred.
For a zestier flavor, use fresh orange zest rather than dried.
If dough sticks, make sure to grease the muffin tin thoroughly or use paper liners.
These bites can be prepared ahead of time and baked just before serving for convenience.
Use room temperature cream cheese to ensure smooth mixing and easier spreading.
