Description
These Cranberry Cream Cheese Crescent Bites are a delightful holiday treat featuring flaky crescent dough filled with a smooth sweetened cream cheese mixture and topped with tangy whole berry cranberry sauce. Perfect as a festive appetizer or dessert, they offer a beautiful balance of creamy, sweet, and tart flavors baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Crescent Dough
- 1 can crescent roll dough (8-count)
Filling
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Topping
- ½ cup whole berry cranberry sauce
- Optional: chopped pecans or orange zest for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare a mini muffin tin by greasing it lightly or lining it with parchment to prevent sticking.
- Prepare cream cheese filling: In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Use a hand mixer or spoon to mix until the filling is smooth and creamy without lumps.
- Prepare dough cups: Unroll the crescent roll dough and cut each triangle in half to create smaller triangles. Press each small triangle firmly into the cups of the muffin tin, making sure the dough covers the bottom and sides evenly.
- Assemble bites: Spoon about one teaspoon of the cream cheese filling into each dough-lined muffin cup. Then, add about one teaspoon of whole berry cranberry sauce on top of the cream cheese layer to create a layered effect.
- Add toppings and bake: If desired, sprinkle chopped pecans or orange zest on top for extra flavor and texture. 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 the bites from the oven and allow them to cool slightly in the pan before carefully removing and serving warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- You can swap whole berry cranberry sauce with homemade cranberry relish or jelly for a different texture.
- Make sure the cream cheese is fully softened to achieve a silky filling.
- Use a mini muffin tin to get perfect bite-sized portions.
- Optional toppings like chopped pecans or orange zest add great flavor but can be omitted if preferred.
- These bites can be made a few hours ahead and stored covered in the fridge; rewarm briefly before serving if desired.
