This delightful Cranberry Cream Cheese Crescent Bites recipe comes together in about 30 minutes and requires no mess, no fuss baking for a quick and easy appetizer that your family will absolutely love! You can easily switch up the toppings or fillings to suit your taste, got leftover chicken or some spinach in the fridge? Toss ’em in! These little bites are the ultimate excuse to clean out your fridge while wowing your guests!
Ingredients Breakdown
Let’s gather our ingredients and get to know them a bit better!
- Crescent Roll Dough
- Cream Cheese
- Powdered Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
- Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
Optional Toppings
This is where we can get creative! Chopped pecans or a bit of orange zest lends a beautiful finish that adds sophistication and crunch. I love the idea of mixing textures and flavors, try both if you can! If you’ve got walnuts or even slivered almonds, those will work well in this recipe, too.
Let’s Get Cooking!
Ready to bring these delicious bites to life? Let’s get started!
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Don’t you just love the smell of a warm oven? It really sets the mood for cooking! While that’s heating up, you can grease or line a mini muffin tin for easy clean-up later.
In a medium bowl, mix together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until it’s smooth and creamy. Seriously, this step smells heavenly! Just take a moment to appreciate the waft of vanilla as you stir.
Unroll the crescent roll dough and cut each triangle in half. You should have two smaller triangles from each larger one. Now, press these into the muffin cups, shaping them gently to form a cute little cup. Make sure to really press down to ensure they hold up during baking!
Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese filling into each dough cup… and yes, lick the spoon afterward! Then add another teaspoon of the whole berry cranberry sauce on top. You want to get that lovely balance of flavors just right!
If you’re feeling fancy, top with nuts or a sprinkle of orange zest for that extra pop! Seriously, these bites will be the showstopper at any gathering.
Bake in your preheated oven for about 11-13 minutes or until the crescent dough is golden and slightly puffed. The best part? During this time, your kitchen is going to smell absolutely amazing!
Let them cool slightly before serving. If you can resist diving in right away, maybe line up a selection of other appetizers and drinks to impress your guests even more!
Why I Love This Recipe
This is my go-to recipe when I need something quick, easy, and yet crowd-pleasing! I mean, who doesn’t love a little bit of creamy goodness in flaky dough? It always makes me think of family gatherings and celebratory parties, and the best part is our friends and family adore them! I’m a real sucker for appetizers that feel indulgent but are deceptively simple. Plus, you can really use whatever you’ve got on hand. Need to use up some cheese or cranberry sauce? Toss it in!
If you loved this easy recipe, be sure to check out my Easy Lemon Raspberry Cookies, my Purple Sweet Potato Pie, or my Classic Christmas Toffee! You won’t regret it!
Why This Recipe Works
Quick & Easy
These cranberry cream cheese crescent bites honestly come together in under 30 minutes! Perfect for those busy weeknights when you want something scrumptious but don’t want to work too hard for it. Just grab your ingredients, and you’re almost there!
Customizable
One of the best parts about these bites is that they are so incredibly versatile. Use whatever ingredients you have on hand! The cream cheese can be swapped for ricotta, and the cranberry can easily be exchanged for cherry preserves. Don’t limit yourself, go nuts!
Comfort Food
There’s something undeniably comforting about the combination of creamy cheese and buttery pastry, am I right? Every bite feels like a warm hug, loaded with tons of flavor that makes your taste buds dance.
Serving and Storage
How to Serve This
These little bites are perfect for holiday gatherings, potlucks, or just an everyday appetizer! I love serving them with a side of extra cranberry sauce for dipping. Honestly, they pair perfectly with a nice glass of bubbly or a simple white wine.
Storage Tips
Once these are baked and served, they’ll last in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days (if you can resist them that long!). Just keep them in an airtight container to maintain that wonderful flakiness.
Reheating Instructions
To reheat, simply pop them back in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 5-7 minutes, or until they’re warmed through. You could also give them a quick zap in the microwave, though they might lose a bit of that crispness.
Freezer Friendly
Yes! You can freeze these before baking. Just assemble everything in the muffin tin, cover tightly with plastic wrap or foil, and store in the freezer. When you’re ready to enjoy, just pop them directly into the oven (no need to thaw) and bake a little longer.
Food is really about bringing people together, you know? I’m excited for you to make these Cranberry Cream Cheese Crescent Bites. I know you’ll love them as much as I do! Enjoy every gooey, flaky bite, and happy cooking! Follow LunaChef on Pinterest for daily meal inspiration and air fryer cooking tips
Cranberry Cream Cheese Crescent Bites
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Grease or line a mini muffin tin.
- In a medium bowl, mix the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
- Unroll the crescent roll dough and cut each triangle in half.
- Press the smaller dough triangles into the muffin cups to form a cup shape.
- Spoon about 1 teaspoon of cream cheese filling into each dough cup, then top with another teaspoon of cranberry sauce.
- Add optional toppings such as nuts or orange zest if desired.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 11-13 minutes or until golden and slightly puffed.
- Let cool slightly before serving.