Friday, December 25, 2015

How to Make 2 Types of Cinnamon Rolls Plus Pigs-in-a-Blanket from 1 Tube of Cresent Roll Dough

It's Christmas! Merry Christmas, everyone! I wanted to make a fun breakfast for my family out of cresent rolls. I had several ideas of what to do, but there's only me, my husband and our 1 year old, so I didn't want to make too much food. What did I do? I used 1 can of cresent roll dough to make 3 different breakfast treats, my husband's favorite pigs-in-a-blanket, and 2 types of cinnamon rolls! Yum! Best, easiest Christmas breakfast ever! Here's what I did. Enjoy!

Pigs-in-a-Blanket, Mini Cinnamon Rolls, Mini Cranberry Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients:
1 package Pillsbury cresent roll dough
12 little smokies
1 tbsp brown sugar
3 tbsp powdered sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp + 1 tsp butter
2 tbsp cranberry sauce (I use this recipe)
1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Method:

Preheat oven to 375.

For the Little Smokies...

Place parchment paper on half of a large baking sheet.
Place 10 mini muffin liners in a mini muffin pan. Set the muffin pan on the half of the baking sheet that is not covered with parchment paper.

Open the cresent roll package.
Separate the dough in half (there’s a seam in the center).
Open open half of the dough and cut the 4 triangles in 3rds lengthwise. You now have 12 very narrow triangles. (It's easiest to do this with a pizza cutter.)
Put a little smokie at the widest end of each triangle and roll up cresent roll style.
Place on parchment paper. Melt 1/2 tbsp butter in microwave and brush the butter on top of the dough (or you can spray the top of each with spray butter).

For the Cinnamon Rolls...

With remaining dough, separate into 2 rectangles and push the seams together to seal them. Now you don't have any triangles. You have 2 rectangles.

Mix 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp powdered sugar, ¼ tsp cinnamon and ½ tbsp. melted butter. Leave about half a tbsp. in the bowl. Spread the rest of the mixture onto one of the rectangles, evenly covering the surface.

Starting on the short end of the rectangle, roll up tightly to make a swirled log of dough. Using a serrated knife, cut the log of dough into 5 equal pieces.

For the Cranberry Cinnamon Rolls...

On the other rectangle, spread your favorite cranberry sauce. (I used my homemade one.) Sprinkle with remaining sugar mix.

Starting on the short end of the rectangle, roll up tightly to make a swirled log of dough. Using a serrated knife, cut the log of dough into 5 equal pieces.

Set each mini cinnamon roll into one of the mini muffin liners, cut side down. (This can be either end, but basically, you can see the swirls.)

before baking

after baking
Place the baked sheet in the preheated oven and set the timer for 10 minutes. Breakfast is ready when the cresents are slightly golden brown. It may take a couple minutes longer than 10 minutes, but it’s always best to check early so they don't burn. Add one minute at a time until done.

When they’re done, remove the pan from the oven. Let everything cool slightly while you make a glaze. Combine 2 tbsp powdered sugar with 1 tsp butter, ¼ tsp vanilla extract and a drop of water at a time until you have a glaze that’s about the thickness of maple syrup.

Remove the cinnamon rolls from the mini muffin liners and place on a serving place. Drizzle with glaze.

Set the pigs in a blanket on another servings plate. If desired, add your favorite dipping sauces, like BBQ sauce and mustard.


Breakfast is served! Merry Christmas!