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Cranberry Cream Cheese Crescent Bites

Cranberry Cream Cheese Crescent Bites

The Crispy Chef
These cranberry cream cheese crescent bites are the ultimate low-effort, high-reward holiday appetizer: buttery crescent dough filled with sweet-tangy cream cheese and bursts of cranberry, topped with a cinnamon-sugar crunch. They come together in under 30 minutes but taste like you spent all afternoon baking.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American, Holiday
Servings 24 bites
Calories 95 kcal

Equipment

  • Large mixing bowl
  • Electric mixer
  • mini muffin tin (24-cup)
  • Cooking spray or butter
  • Small bowl
  • Pastry brush

Ingredients
  

  • 2 packages refrigerated crescent roll dough (8 oz / 225g each)
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened (225g)
  • 0.25 cup powdered sugar (30g)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 0.33 cup dried cranberries, chopped if large (40g)
  • 2 tbsp orange zest (from 1 large orange)
  • 2 tbsp fresh orange juice (30ml)
  • 0.25 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp butter, melted (30g)
  • 2 tbsp coarse sugar or granulated sugar (30g)
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • extra dried cranberries for garnish
  • 1 cup powdered sugar (for glaze) (120g)
  • 2-3 tbsp orange juice (30-45ml)
  • 1 tbsp butter, melted (15g)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 24-cup mini muffin tin with cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, beat softened cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, orange zest, orange juice, and salt. Mix until fully combined.
  • Fold in chopped dried cranberries and set mixture aside.
  • Unroll crescent dough and separate into triangles. Cut each triangle lengthwise to make 32 smaller triangles.
  • Press dough pieces into mini muffin cups to form cups for filling.
  • Spoon about 1 tsp of filling into each dough cup. Fold edges over and lightly pinch to hold shape.
  • Brush tops with melted butter.
  • Mix sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over tops and garnish with a few dried cranberries.
  • Bake for 12–15 minutes or until golden brown and set. Let cool in the pan for a few minutes.
  • While bites cool, whisk powdered sugar, orange juice, and melted butter into a glaze.
  • Drizzle glaze over cooled bites. Let set 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Make ahead up to 4 hours before baking. For extra flair, drizzle with orange glaze once cooled. Want to switch it up? Try chopped apples instead of cranberries, add mini chocolate chips, or go savory with herbs and garlic powder.

Nutrition

Calories: 95kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 2gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 125mgPotassium: 40mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 160IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 0.6mg
Keyword cranberry crescent bites, cream cheese bites, easy party food, holiday appetizers
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