Crescents with Cream Cheese Sausage are a delicious and easy-to-make appetizer or snack that combines the savory flavors of breakfast sausage with the creamy richness of cream cheese, all wrapped in flaky crescent dough. This dish is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or as a party appetizer that everyone will love.
🛒 Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground breakfast sausage (pork or turkey)
- 8 ounces of cream cheese, softened
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 rolls of crescent dough
Instructions:
1. Preheat the Oven
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s ready once your crescents are prepared.
2. Cook the Sausage
- In a large skillet, cook the ground breakfast sausage over medium heat. Break it up into small crumbles as it cooks, and continue until the sausage is fully browned and cooked through, about 7-10 minutes.
- If you’re using pork sausage, you may want to drain the excess fat. For turkey sausage, there’s typically less fat, so draining may not be necessary.
3. Combine with Cream Cheese
- Reduce the heat to low and add the softened cream cheese to the skillet with the cooked sausage. Stir until the cream cheese is fully melted and combined with the sausage.
- Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste. The cream cheese should become fully integrated with the sausage, forming a creamy, savory filling.
4. Prepare the Crescent Dough
- While the sausage mixture cools slightly, unroll the crescent dough on a flat surface. Separate the dough into individual triangles following the perforations.
- If you prefer smaller bites, you can cut each triangle in half to create mini crescents.
5. Fill and Roll the Crescents
- Place about a tablespoon of the sausage and cream cheese mixture onto the wide end of each crescent triangle.
- Roll up each triangle, starting from the wide end and rolling towards the tip. Ensure the filling is secure inside the dough.
- Place the filled crescents onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or lightly greased to prevent sticking.
6. Bake the Crescents
- Once all the crescents are filled and rolled, place the baking sheet in the preheated oven.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the crescents are golden brown and the dough is fully cooked.
- Keep an eye on them in the final minutes of baking to ensure they don’t overcook.
7. Serve Warm
- Remove the crescents from the oven and let them cool slightly before serving. They’re best enjoyed warm when the dough is flaky, and the filling is still gooey.
Tips and Variations:
- Cheese Addition: For extra cheesy goodness, consider adding a small amount of shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese to the filling before rolling up the crescents.
- Spice It Up: If you like a bit of heat, add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to the sausage and cream cheese mixture or use spicy breakfast sausage.
- Herb Infusion: Incorporate some fresh herbs like chopped chives, parsley, or rosemary into the cream cheese mixture for added flavor.
- Serve with Dipping Sauce: These crescents are delicious on their own, but you can serve them with a side of ranch dressing, spicy mustard, or a simple marinara sauce for dipping.
- Make-Ahead Tip: You can prepare the sausage and cream cheese filling in advance and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to assemble the crescents. This makes it easier to whip up a batch quickly.
- Leftover Ideas: If you have any leftovers (which is unlikely!), store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 5-7 minutes to regain some of the crispiness.
Crescents with Cream Cheese Sausage are a simple yet crowd-pleasing dish that combines savory and creamy flavors with the buttery, flaky goodness of crescent dough. Whether you’re making these for a holiday breakfast, a potluck, or a casual family meal, they’re sure to be a hit. Customize them with your favorite seasonings and cheeses, and enjoy this versatile, tasty treat!
