crescent dough Archives - The Midnight Baker

Lemon Sopapilla

Judith Hannemann — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 00:00:25 +0000

Got some crescent roll dough, cream cheese and a lemon hanging around? Then you’ve got what you need to make this delicious lemon sopapilla.

Few Ingredients But Big Taste

This has been said here more times than I can count, but I’m always amazed at how a few basic ingredients result in something awesome. Since that’s the case here, it’s worth repeating.

This lemon sopapilla is another example. It’s full of bright tart lemon flavor and anyone would think you fussed. It uses stuff you probably already have on hand. There’s not many of us that don’t have a tube or two of crescent roll dough, some cream cheese and a lemon hanging around in the fridge. This is a great dessert to use them in.

Less Fat? Sure!

If you want to reduce some of the fat in this rather rich dessert, you certainly can.

The regular cream cheese can be replaced with Neufchatel cheese. Some companies market this as “low-fat cream cheese.” However it’s a bit inaccurate because Neufchatel is a cheese in itself. It has considerably less fat than cream cheese and it tastes almost exactly the same. Steer clear of fat-free products because they do not give good results in most things calling for cream cheese.

They also sell reduced-fat crescent roll dough, so that can be substitute safely with no loss in texture nor flavor. I recommend getting the dough in sheets rather than the perforated type that is used for rolls. The sheets are easier to work with.

No Soggy Crust

It takes a little extra time but par-baking the bottom layer of dough will prevent this dessert from getting too soggy. It will create a seal, of sorts, that won’t absorb liquid as rapidly as when you don’t pre-bake. The extra prep time is worth it especially if the sopapilla will have to be stored if it’s not all eaten when you first serve it.

The Recipe

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Lemon Sopapilla

A dessert with a bright lemony flavor

Prep Time15

Cook Time45

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: desserts made from crescent roll dough, lemon cheesecake, sopapilla with lemon

Servings: 12

Calories: 336kcal

Author: Judith Hannemann

Ingredients

16 oz refrigerated crescent roll dough 2-8 oz pckages, divided
2 lemons zested and juiced, divided
16 oz cream cheese (2-8 oz packages)softened
1/2 cup sugar
3 tbs butter melted
3 tbs sugar

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F/180C. Line the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish with aluminum foil--let the foil overhang on the sides-- and spray with cooking spray.
Press 1 can crescent roll dough into the bottom of the prepared baking dish, stretching to the edges. Bake for 10 minutes then remove from oven and cool slightly.
Mix the zest of 1 1/2 lemons and 2 tablespoons of the juice. Beat cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar into lemon zest mixture using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy; spread over crescent roll dough layer.
Layer the second sheet of crescent roll dough over cream cheese mixture, gently stretching dough to the edges. Brush melted butter over crescent roll dough layer. Mix remaining lemon zest and 3 tablespoons sugar together in a bowl; sprinkle over butter.
Bake about 30 minutes. Allow to cool for about 20 minutes. Lift dessert from baking dish using foil; transfer to a cutting board. Cut into squares, leaving on foil. Return dessert to the baking dish and refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour.

Nutrition

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Cheesecake Filled Roll Ups

Judith Hannemann — Sat, 20 Jul 2019 23:00:43 +0000

Simple cheesecake filled crescents. Such an easy dessert!

Cheesecake Crescents: Easy!!!

When you want a quick dessert or snack, there’s nothing better to have on hand than a tube or two of crescent roll dough.

So many treats are made with it that now it’s being offered in a solid sheet. This is a real boon because you now don’t have to seal all those pesky seams. Even better, the solid sheet is also available in store brands which cost less. I generally have a tube or two in my fridge at all times for emergency situations (mostly sweet snack attacks).

I love cheesecake and so do many others! So when I saw the original recipe on the Pillsbury website, I just had to make them!

Half Works Fine

The original recipe made quite a lot of these–from my standpoint since I’m a widow living alone. Therefore, I cut the recipe volume for these cheesecake crescents in half and it worked fine. It made enough for now and later!

But if you’ve got a family with hungry kiddos, then make the whole thing. They’ll disappear quickly–count on it.

It’s best to serve these warm or at room temperature. I don’t think these would be as good chilled.

Get Creative With Flavors

Even though it’s very good, this recipe is pretty generic.

However, there’s lots of ways it can be taken to the next level. The first thing I think of here is adding some fresh fruit; especially berries. That way you can get an additional bang for your buck nutrition-wise. I would, in no way, classify these cheesecake filled roll ups as healthy, but if you can make them a little more so, then why not?

The next idea I have for these is schmeering a little jam or jelly on the dough before adding the cheesecake filling. If I did this, I’d cut the sugar in the filling in half. Otherwise it might be too sweet.

If you want to cut some fat out, then definitely use Neufchatel cheese and reduced-fat crescent dough.

The Recipe

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Cheesecake Filled Roll Ups

Easy and decadently delicious dessert or snack

Prep Time8

Cook Time2

Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cheesecake recipe, crescent roll dough recipe, snack recipe

Servings: 12

Calories: 107kcal

Author: Judith Hannemann

Ingredients

1 tbs ground cinnamon
2 tbs sugar
8 oz cream cheese softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 cans (8 oz each) refrigerated crescent dough sheets
Canola oil for frying

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Line large plate with paper towels. In small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon. Set aside.
In small bowl using handheld blender or mixer, beat 1 package (8 ocream cheese, softened, until creamy. Add 1/4 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla; blend until well combined. Set aside.
Lightly flour flat work surface. Unroll 2 cans (8 oz eacPillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations refrigerated seamless dough sheet on surface. Slightly roll out each sheet of dough until about 1/2 inch longer. Cut each sheet into 6 squares to make a total of 12 squares.
Place about 1 tablespoon cream cheese filling in center of each square; spread crosswise to form long line of filling. For each roll-up, roll side closest to you up over filling then roll to opposite side while slightly pulling edges to make roll longer. Use pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut off ragged edges of roll-ups. Pinch seam into dough to secure filling in roll-up.
In skillet, heat canola oil to 325°Carefully place roll-ups in hot oil; fry on one side 30 to 60 seconds. Turn roll-ups; fry until golden brown. Remove from oil; place on paper towel-lined plate.
Immediately sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place roll-ups on cooling rack or another plate; cool about 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

I made half this recipe.

Original recipe from Pillsbury.

Nutrition

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Air Fryer Mini Danish

Judith Hannemann — Sun, 03 Mar 2019 00:00:03 +0000

These danish are quick and easy made in the air fryer, but you can make them conventionally too.

Easy Peasy Pastry

I’ve seen lots of recipes for danish pastry using crescent roll dough and they all look fantastic!

Since I’ve been into my air fryer lately and many readers have requested more recipes for that appliance, I am very happy to oblige.

As mentioned, these use store-bought crescent roll dough as a base. I noticed the last time I was in the store that they are now selling a solid sheet of dough in addition to the regular kind that’s already cut. This is a boon to those that wish to use crescent roll dough for other things than rolls. It eliminates having to pinch and seal the seams.

For this recipe, I used the one you have to pinch and seal. The seam doesn’t really matter with this.

Shaping Is Easy

Lots of times I’m at a loss trying to describe a technique to someone else and even to understand it myself. All I can say is I’m glad there’s video!

I’ll have a video of these coming pretty soon, but I took photos of the steps involved and they’re pretty easy to follow. The only thing I couldn’t capture in the still photos was twisting the rope you make. All you have to do is grab the rope of dough at opposite ends and twist it a few times in opposing directions. Even if you didn’t do this, I don’t think it’d matter all that much but it does make them look better.

Conventional baking instructions are in the recipe notes.

Fillings To Suit You

I’ve pretty much only seen these with the cheese filling. The cheese is very good!

However, you can use any flavor that suits your fancy or even combine cheese with fruit. I did that with half of this batch I made. I combine cheese and raspberry and they were delicious!!

You can use regular jam or pastry filling (that’s different from pie filling. The brand I see is Solo and it’s sold in the baking aisle).

Instead of the white confectioner’s icing, I dusted these with confectioner’s sugar straight. If you want the icing, use a cup of confectioner’s sugar, 2-3 tbs milk or cream and a few drops of vanilla.

Watch The Video

The Recipe

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Air Fryer Mini Danish

These Danish pastry are quick and easy made in the air fryer, but you can make them conventionally too.

Prep Time10

Cook Time12

Total Time22

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: air fryer, danish pastry

Servings: 8 people

Calories: 243kcal

Author: Judith Hannemann

Ingredients

2 cans crescent roll dough
confectioner’s sugar for dusting
seedless raspberry jam optional
sanding sugar optional

Cheese Filling

3 oz cream cheese at room temperature
1 tsp sour cream
2 tbs confectioner’s sugar
1/8 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp lemon juice

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Mix all filling ingredients in a small bowl; set aside.
Separate crescent roll dough into 4 rectangles for each can for a total of 8 rectangles.
Pinch the diagonal seam together so it doesn’t separate. Cut each rectangle in half lengthwise. Sprinkle with sanding sugar if using.
Roll up each strip and pinch seam. Roll to make a rope about 8-to 10-inches. Twist each end in opposite directions about 3-4 times. Roll up in a spiral shape and pinch the end of the rope underneath to seal. Press a depression in the center for the filling.
If you want raspberry ONLY, place about one teaspoon in each depression.
For raspberry cheese, place about 1/2 teaspoon in each depression then about 2 teaspoons of the cheese mixture on top.
If you want cheese ONLY then place about 1 1/2-2 tbs of the cheese mixture in the depression.
Place a parchment sheet in the bottom of an air fryer basket; spray lightly with oil.
You will have to cook these in shifts—so lay half the danish on the prepared basket, leaving about an inch in between.
Air fry at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes. Repeat with second batch.
Cool completely then dust with confectioner’s sugar.

Notes

Conventional cooking bake at 375 degrees F for 10-15 minutes. Brush with melted butter if desired (it's not necessary but nice)

Nutrition

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Cheeseburger Ring

Judith Hannemann — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 23:00:00 +0000

Cheeseburger Ring

All the taste of those fast-food superburgers, but half the price!

I think everyone is familiar with the famous taco ring that’s made with crescents. It’s time to think outside the taco ring!

Not being a fan of taco flavoring, I do these with other fillings. I’ve done chicken and broccoli and pizza too…I’ll get around to posting those in the future. Also did this for breakfast too with eggs, sausage & bacon! Very versatile.

Think outside the taco ring

You can skimp and use 1 roll of crescents–you’ll show a lot of filling, but sometimes that’s not all that bad, and if you use the larger crescents, 1 roll will do you.

These rings also are good for buffet-type parties. Sliced more thinly, they double as an appetizer as well.

I served this with a cheese sauce. I made my own but if you don’t want to fuss, microwaved Cheez Wiz will do in a pinch.

When I first made one of these, I have to admit I found the directions that were written a bit confusing as to how to form the ring. I found an absolutely great video on YouTube that demonstrated how to do it and the woman also gives you a recipe for a taco ring. Here it is:

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Cheeseburger Ring

All the taste of those fast-food superburgers, but half the price!

Prep Time25

Cook Time30

Total Time55

Course: beef, Brunch, Comfort Foods, Everyday Meals

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cheeseburger ring

Servings: 4

Calories: 482kcal

Author: Judith Hannemann

Ingredients

2 pkgs crescent roll dough
1 lb lean ground beef
1/2 cup ketchup
1 small onion chopped
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tbs pickle relish optional
1 egg yolk or egg white beaten
cheese sauce:
4 oz Velveeta
1 tbsp butter
1/4 cup milk or cream

Instructions

Brown ground beef in a heavy skillet over medium heat; drain.
Reduce heat and add ketchup, onion and pickle relish if using. Heat through. Remove from heat.
Add shredded cheese and stir until cheese melts and mixture will hold together. Cool slightly.
Cover a 12-inch pizza pan or similar-sized round baking dish with aluminum foil.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Open and unroll crescent dough, laying out as in video on prepared baking pan.
Distribute ground beef mixture evenly over the solid part of the ring formed by the large end of the triangles, leaving about 1/4-inch of just dough on the inside circle to anchor points of triangle on (see video, it's hard to put into words)
Pull points of each triangle over the meat mixture, sealing on the bare part of the inner circle in the center.
Brush ring with egg yolk/egg white.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes, or until crescent dough is golden brown.
For cheese sauce:
Cut Velveeta into 1-inch cubes and place in a small bowl. Add the butter, cover and microwave for 1 minute on HIGH. Remove and stir. Add cream and stir. Microwave for 20 seconds on HIGH, remove and stir until well blended.

Nutrition

Cheeseburger Ring

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