Description

These Cranberry Cream Cheese Crescent Bites are delightful, bite-sized appetizers featuring a flaky crescent roll crust filled with a smooth, sweetened cream cheese mixture and tangy whole berry cranberry sauce. Perfect for holiday parties or festive gatherings, they combine creamy and fruity flavors with an optional crunchy or citrusy topping for an elegant touch.

Ingredients

Scale

Crescent Roll Dough

1 can crescent roll dough (8-count)

Cream Cheese Filling

4 oz cream cheese, softened
¼ cup powdered sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract

Filling and Toppings

½ cup whole berry cranberry sauce
Optional: chopped pecans or orange zest for topping

Instructions

Preheat and Prepare Muffin Tin: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease or line a mini muffin tin to prevent sticking.
Make the Cream Cheese Filling: In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and creamy without any lumps.
Prepare the Dough Cups: Unroll the crescent roll dough and cut each large triangle in half, creating 16 smaller triangles. Press each triangle gently into the cups of the prepared mini muffin tin, forming little dough cups.
Assemble the Bites: Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese filling into each dough cup, followed by 1 teaspoon of whole berry cranberry sauce on top.
Add Optional Toppings: Sprinkle chopped pecans or a bit of orange zest on each bite if you desire added texture and flavor.
Bake: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 11 to 13 minutes, or until the crescent rolls are golden brown and cooked through.
Cool and Serve: Allow the bites to cool slightly before removing them from the muffin tin. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

For best results, use softened cream cheese to ensure a smooth filling.
These bites can be made a few hours ahead and stored covered at room temperature.
Substitute chopped walnuts or almonds if pecans are not available.
Can be served as a sweet appetizer or dessert at gatherings.
Adjust the amount of cranberry sauce to taste for more or less tartness.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 13 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: cranberry cream cheese bites, crescent roll appetizers, holiday appetizers, bite-sized desserts, cranberry appetizers