Ingredients (and Why They Matter)
- 1 can (8-count) crescent roll dough
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
- Optional: chopped pecans or orange zest for topping
One can of crescent dough stretches into 16 mini muffin cups, giving you flaky, buttery shells that bake golden—the same shortcut used in countless stuffed crescent recipes. Softened cream cheese beaten with powdered sugar creates a smooth, dippable filling; powdered sugar dissolves cleanly without graininess. Vanilla extract rounds out the sweetness, while whole berry cranberry sauce adds festive red color, tartness, and texture from the berries.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease or line a mini muffin tin with nonstick spray or paper liners. In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract with a hand mixer or whisk until completely smooth and fluffy, about 1–2 minutes; scraping the bowl ensures no lumps remain.
Unroll the crescent dough and separate into 8 triangles, then cut each triangle in half lengthwise to make 16 smaller pieces—this matches how mini crescent recipes divide the dough for muffin tins. Press each piece into a mini muffin cup, pushing the dough up the sides to form a little shell; the dough should come about halfway up the cup sides.
Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese filling into each dough cup, filling them about halfway. Top each with about 1 teaspoon of whole berry cranberry sauce, letting some berries show for color; don’t overfill to prevent overflow during baking.
If using, sprinkle a few chopped pecans or a pinch of orange zest over the cranberry tops for crunch and brightness. Bake for 11–13 minutes, until the dough turns golden brown around the edges and feels firm to the touch when gently pressed. The filling may bubble slightly, which is normal.
Let the bites cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely; cooling helps them firm up and release easily from the pan.