Description

Delightful Cranberry Cream Cheese Crescent Bites combine flaky crescent roll dough with a luscious cream cheese filling and tangy whole berry cranberry sauce. These bite-sized treats are perfect for holiday parties or anytime you crave a sweet and tangy snack with a buttery crust.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Crescent Bites

1 can crescent roll dough (8-count)
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

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and prepare a mini muffin tin by greasing it or lining it with non-stick spray or parchment liners to ensure the bites don’t stick.
Make the Cream Cheese Filling: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy with no lumps.
Prepare the Dough: Unroll the crescent roll dough onto a clean surface. Cut each of the 8 triangles in half to make 16 smaller triangles. Press each small triangle firmly into the bottom and up the sides of the mini muffin cups to form a small dough cup.
Fill the Cups: Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture into each dough-lined muffin cup, spreading it evenly. Then top each with approximately 1 teaspoon of whole berry cranberry sauce.
Add Toppings (Optional): Sprinkle chopped pecans or a pinch of orange zest on top of each filled crescent bite for added texture and flavor, if desired.
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 the bites from the oven and allow them to cool slightly in the pan for about 5 minutes before carefully removing. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

Ensure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature to easily mix with powdered sugar and vanilla without lumps.
If you don’t have mini muffin tins, you can bake these in regular muffin tins but increase baking time slightly and expect larger bites.
Whole berry cranberry sauce adds texture and flavor; however, you can substitute with homemade cranberry relish for a fresher flavor.
Store leftover bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat gently before serving.
To make this recipe nut-free, simply omit the pecans or replace with a nut-free topping option.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: cranberry cream cheese bites, crescent roll appetizers, holiday snacks, mini crescent bites, cream cheese cranberry recipe