How To: 9 Crazily Creative Things to Make with Crescent Rolls

The buttery scent of crescent rolls bring me back to my childhood, but those tubes that open with such a satisfying pop are more than just retro reminders. Crescent rolls can morph and serve as the base for hundreds of creative and cool dishes.

You feel free to use frozen puff pastry sheets for these recipes; I used crescent rolls here because they're more widely available. If you have frozen puff pastry and want to use that instead, then go ahead. Just remember that the finished product will be puffier and more flaky than the end result with crescent rolls.

#1. Elvis Empanadas

One of Elvis's favorite meals was a bacon, peanut butter, and banana sandwich, and it's a really tasty mix. These empanadas take up the decadence a couple notches, and they are simple to make.

Ingredients:

• 2 slices of crisply cooked bacon (turkey bacon works, too)
• 1 banana, chopped
• ¼ c peanut butter
• 2 large crescent roll triangles

How to Make Them:

Crumble bacon slices and combine them with banana and peanut butter. Spread filling onto two large crescent roll triangles and top with two more triangles.

Press at the edges to close. Bake for 12-14 minutes in a 350°F/177°C oven or toaster oven, or until they are golden.

#2. Asparagus, Ham, & Cheese Bites

These have the just-right amount of savory flavor, creaminess, and freshness to make perfect little appetizers. Use an herbed or onion cream cheese for the best results.

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch asparagus, blanched
• 1 package, thinly sliced deli ham
• 1 package, herbed or onion-flavored cream cheese, softened
• 1 package, large crescent rolls

How to Make Them:

Cut asparagus into 2 or 3 inch sections. Cut ham slices and crescent roll triangles in half. Spread a very thin layer of cream cheese on a piece of ham, roll up the asparagus in the ham, and wrap the whole thing in the thin crescent roll triangle. Bake for 10-12 minutes in a 350°F/177°C oven or until the bread is golden.

#3. Chocolate Nutella Croissants

You only need some Nutella to make these inspired chocolate-hazelnut croissants. Spread a thin layer of Nutella down a crescent triangle roll before rolling it up. Make as many as desired. Bake these pastries for 12-14 minutes at 350°F/177°C degrees. You will never have leftovers if you serve these at your next brunch.

#4. Bacon Crack

It only takes some bacon, maple syrup, brown sugar, and a pinch of cayenne pepper layered on top of crescent rolls to make crazily addictive "bacon crack." It's sweet, it's salty, and it's crazy good.

You can also check out the how-to from Oh, Bite It! here.

#5. Cinnamon Crescent Twists

These crescent twists arise out of ordinary crescent roll dough. Instead of splitting them into separate triangles, you keep the dough in rectangles. Add a little manual manipulation and some big flavor from sugar, cinnamon, and butter, and voilà! Li'l Luna has a complete tutorial here.

#6. Bacon, Egg, & Parmesan Squares

This savory breakfast is baked on crescent roll dough joined together to form squares. Just pinch the sides to form the walls, and then fill with bacon, eggs, Parmesan, and basil for a gorgeous savory breakfast tart. Get the full lowdown from Tablespoon here.

#7. Taco Pops

These are probably the cutest use of crescent rolls out there, and they are not hard to execute. Stuff squares of crescent roll dough with taco filling, roll them into balls, bake in the oven, and then stick your taco pops onto lollipop sticks. Serve with salsa, guacamole, and sour cream for a fun appetizer. Get the recipe here.

#8. Apple Dumplings

The recipe for these amazing little bundles sort of takes your breath away (and might make your nutritionist feel a little faint), as it combines Granny Smith apples, a generous amount of butter and sugar, and a can of Mountain Dew. It's a special occasion treat that should be enjoyed straight out of the oven with some good vanilla ice cream. Full recipe here.

#9. Cranberry Brie Crescent Braid

I love the simplicity of this recipe; all you need is some brie, cranberry sauce, and crescent rolls to make this pretty pastry braid. Check out the easy-to-follow tutorial for how to create the braid on Wine and Glue.

If you've got a few creative uses for crescent rolls of your own, please share your pics/recipes with us in the comments below! The more the merrier.