Want to make your holiday party food more festive? I have 21 crescent roll Christmas appetizers that look fancy but are actually really easy to make. Best of all? The presentation will impress all of your guests.
21 Crescent Roll Christmas Appetizers that Look Fancy
1. Christmas Pull-Apart Tree
This pull-apart tree is a feast for the eyes and stomach. All you need are five ingredients: crescent rolls, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, butter and parsley.
Just unroll the dough, separate the rolls along the perforated lines and cut the triangle in half lengthwise. Place a spoonful of cream cheese on the wide end of the triangle and sprinkle on some Parmesan cheese. Roll and repeat.
Then, arrange all of your crescent roll balls onto a baking sheet in the shape of a Christmas tree and bake until golden brown. Garnish with more cheese and parsley.
Serve with marinara sauce.
2. Pigs in a Blanket Wreath
How pretty is this appetizer? It looks elegant and fancy, but it’s actually a classic party finger food: pigs in a blanket.
Grab some cocktail sausages and wrap them in crescent roll dough. Arrange them on a baking sheet in a two-layer circle, and brush the outside with butter. Bake until golden brown and flaky.
To make the presentation even more impressive, add a bowl of ketchup to the center for dipping and stick in some rosemary sprigs between the sausages to add some bright green color.
3. Crescent Roll Wreaths
This elegant appetizer takes just 20 minutes to prepare and a handful of ingredients. To make the pretty wreath shape, slice your crescent roll dough into wide strips, and then slice the strip lengthwise down the center, leaving just the end intact.
Twist the strips together until the end and bring them together to form a circle.
Place them on a lined baking sheet and brush with melted butter. Sprinkle on some garlic powder and Italian seasoning before baking.
To complete the presentation, use a star cookie cutter to cut cheese into stars to place on each wreath. Then, tuck a rosemary sprig underneath the star.
4. Cranberry Goat Cheese Bites
One of my favorite crescent roll Christmas appetizers on this list. The combination of tart and savory, paired with the flaky crescent roll dough, makes this appetizer a hit at our party every year.
For this recipe, you only need crescent roll dough and cranberry cinnamon goat cheese. You can also add sour cream (or creme fraiche) and minced parsley, but these are optional.
You’ll need to carefully roll out the dough to remove the perforated edges. Parchment paper and a rolling pin will help with this job. Then, slice the dough into squares and place a spoonful of goat cheese in the center.
Pull the four corners together to overlap, twist and seal the dough together.
Bake and serve immediately.
Related: 21+ Mouthwatering Christmas Eve Appetizers That Are Perfect for Sharing and Snacking
5. Cranberry Brie Bites
These little bite-sized appetizers are fancy-looking and filled with holiday flavor. You’ll fill cups of crescent rolls with a mix of brie cheese, cranberry sauce, orange zest, rosemary and nuts.
You’ll need a muffin tin to make the cups. The rest is easy.
If you’re not a big lover of brie, you could use camembert or goat cheese instead (don’t use cream cheese). You could also use a sweet jam instead of cranberry sauce or add a crunchy nut topping.
6. Christmas Wreath Appetizer
This pull-apart wreath appetizer features a flaky crust and a deliciously creamy filling with spinach, Parmesan cheese and red pepper.
To create this pretty presentation, separate the crescent roll triangles and form them into a circle. Add the filling to the thicker end of the triangle, and pull the other side up and over.
Brush with butter and bake until golden brown.
You can cut a red ribbon out of a red bell pepper to decorate your wreath.
7. Maple Sausage and Cream Cheese Crescents
This crescent Christmas tree is sweet and savory. Each little bite-sized piece is stuffed with sausage, cream cheese and maple syrup.
Slice your crescent roll triangles in half, add the filling, and roll them up into a ball.
Arrange your rolls onto a baking sheet in the shape of a Christmas tree and bake until golden brown.
8. Brie, Cranberry and Hazelnut Wreath
Crescent roll Christmas appetizers rarely look this festive and this recipe only requires:
- Crescent roll dough
- Brie
- Cranberry sauce
- Toasted hazelnuts
- Dried cranberries
- Egg
- Fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- Salt
- Honey
Fill the dough with the mixture and top with cranberries.
9. Cranberry Brie Bites
Lightly flour your work surface and roll out your crescent dough. Pinch the seams together and then grease the walls of a muffin pan. Use nonstick spray to do this and then add your squares to each of the muffin spaces in the pan.
Add a slice of brie to each and then top with cranberry sauce and a sprig of rosemary.
Bake for 15 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
10. Mushroom Crescent Rolls
Add canned mushrooms and cream cheese to a bowl and mix well. You want to combine the mixture well and then roll out your crescent rolls. Fill the middle of the dough with the mixture and cook at 375℉ on a baking sheet with parchment paper until golden brown.
11. Jalapeno and Bacon Crescent Rolls
Mix cream cheese in a bowl and beat until it’s smooth. Add bacon, cheddar, garlic and onion powders, and jalapeño. Combine well and spread the mixture onto your crescent roll dough. Allow an inch of space around the edges of the dough.
Roll the dough up, wrap in plastic and refrigerate.
In about an hour, remove from the refrigerator and slice into bite-sized pieces before baking and serving.
12. Spinach and Bacon Rolls
Unroll your crescent rolls on a baking sheet. Cook up some bacon in a skillet, along with some frozen spinach. Focus on making the bacon as crispy as possible and pat it dry on paper towels. Fill the dough center with bacon and spinach.
Roll the dough up tightly and bake as directed.
Be sure to brush the exterior with butter.
13. Spinach and Artichoke Crescent Rolls
Spinach and artichoke crescent roll Christmas appetizers are a delish addition to any menu, and I prefer marinated artichoke hearts because they add moisture to the filling. Frozen spinach supports the flavor and nutrient profile while sour cream adds creaminess to the filling.
You’ll also need some mayonnaise, garlic powder, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
The Endless Appetite explains how to mix all of the ingredients, fill the center of the crescent rolls and bake.
Related: 21 Christmas Wreath Appetizers and Snacks That Double as Decor
14. Chicken Bacon Ranch Crescent Ring
Cheesy and perfect for the holidays, these rings are filled with rotisserie chicken, bacon, cream cheese, shredded cheese and ranch dressing. You’ll mix the ingredients prior to spreading them and then baking. Right before the rolls are golden brown, be sure to put more cheese on top and allow it to melt.
Sprinkle some well-cooked bacon on top if you like, while the cheese is still melty.
15. Bourbon Bacon Jam
First, start by making your jam with bacon, shallots, onions, garlic, chili powder, bourbon, maple syrup, brown sugar and apple cider vinegar. For the rolls, buy organic crescent rolls and roll them out.
Top the rolls with Brie, toasted pecans, rosemary, salt and pepper.
Before baking, brush the exterior of the rolls with butter.
16. Jalapeno Crescent Rolls
Simple yet delish, you’ll start by preheating your oven to the temperature in the roll’s instructions and then roll out the dough. Fill the roll with cream cheese and chopped jalapeños. Roll up the rolls, put them on parchment paper and bake as directed.
17. Cranberry Feta Pinwheels
Roll out your premade crescent dough and then add the following into the middle: cream cheese, dried cranberries, crumbled feta, green onions, salt and pepper, and fresh parsley. Place a toothpick through the pinwheels and bake until done.
Note: The recipe recommends flour tortillas, but crescent rolls work just fine.
18. Cheddar Pizza Twists
You’ll need a mixing bowl for this recipe, along with:
- All-purpose flour
- Sugar
- Salt
- Baking powder
- Dry active yeast
- Butter
- Warm water
Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl, then add your butter and water before mixing well. Allow to rest for 30 minutes, until the dough is sticky.
Divide into two equal parts and make eight triangles out of each.
Then place your pasta sauce and mozzarella on the dough before rolling them up.
19. Philly Cheesesteak
Roll out your crescent roll and then add our thinly sliced steak, bell pepper, onion, banana peppers, mozzarella cheese and seasoning. Roll up and brush on your garlic, butter and herb seasoning.
Heat your meat on a griddle and then be ready to bake the rolls in the oven.
Related: 21 Cold Christmas Appetizers You Can Make Ahead
20. Ham and Swiss Crescent Ring
Crescent roll Christmas appetizers like these look complicated, but they’re really not. You’ll start by rolling out the dough and cutting it into long, thin, pizza-like slices. Place the points outward and make a circle with the slices so that there’s a hole in the middle.
Combine the edges, roll in your ham and Swiss, and then fold the point back to the base and brush some butter on.
Back and add your dip bowl in the middle like in the video.
21. Crab and Cheese Crescent Rolls
Buttery, cheesy crescent rolls like these are so easy to make that it’s like microwaving popcorn. Start by preheating your oven, and then mix the following in a bowl:
- Crab meat
- Cream cheese
- Shredded cheddar
- Green onion
- Garlic powder
- Salt and pepper
Unroll your crescent dough, add your filling, roll it back up and place it on a baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes at 375℉. Remove when golden brown and cool for two minutes. Be sure to allow the oven to preheat beforehand to get these rolls right.
