Cream Cheese Filled Crescent Roll Pastries
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Cream Cheese Filled Crescent Roll Pastries are made with convenient, refrigerated crescent rolls filled with sweetened cream cheese. So quick and easy!
Even though I enjoy cooking, I’m really not much of a baker. Baking is too precise with all the measuring. It’s just…”fiddly.” And I’m not a fiddly cook.
That’s why this recipe for Cream Cheese Filled Crescent Roll Pastries is perfect for me!
Not only are cream cheese crescent rolls quick and hassle-free, they are versatile! You can make them for an indulgent breakfast for birthdays and holidays, or surprise the family after dinner with a cheesecake-like dessert that will have them singing your praises.
They’re so easy! All you have to do is roll out some crescent rolls, fill them with sweetened cream cheese, then bake and you’re done. Now you have a heavenly cheesecake crescent roll that is light, flaky, and oh so scrumptious. I personally believe refrigerated crescent roll dough to be one of the greatest inventions of mankind.
Refrigerated Crescent Rolls Are a Baker’s Best Friend
In my opinion, pre-made crescent roll dough is one of the most versatile “convenience” products in the grocery store. They can go either savory or sweet and can be used as a substitute for many types of dough — pie crust, puff pastry, and even pizza dough!
You can use them in all sorts of recipes and they will save you hours of mixing, kneading, and rising. There have even been entire cookbooks written about using refrigerated crescent roll dough. For me, they’re more than convenient – they’re essential.
I once heard someone say “give a southern girl a can of crescent rolls and she’ll make a party!” Darn right.
I have quite a few go-to recipes that use them: Crescent Roll Breakfasts Stacks, Prosciutto Ricotta Pinwheels, Italian Style Hand Pies, Sausage Swirls, and Sausage-Pineapple Rollups, to name a few.
This one, with its sweetened cream cheese filling, is very much like a cheese danish pastry or a cheesecake filled croissant. Tender, melt in your mouth, flaky dough with a lovely sweet filling.
Next time you’re looking for a crowd-wowing dessert to bring to a pot luck or family get together, these cream cheese filled crescent rolls are the way to go. I hope you enjoy them. I know my friends and family love them!
- Quick and Easy (10 minutes to prep; 20 minutes to bake)
- Kid Friendly (Kids love these pastries!)
- You can serve it for breakfast or dessert
About the Ingredients
- Vanilla extract
- Refrigerated crescent rolls (I like the Pillsbury brand, but honestly any will work just fine)
- Cream cheese (Plain, unflavored, nothing fancy)
- Sugar
- Cinnamon
- Butter
There’s nothing fancy in these ingredients. They’re so simple you probably already have most of them in your refrigerator and pantry.
You’ll find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Cream Cheese Filled Crescent Roll Pastries
Let’s Go Step-by-Step
I always like to show you the photos and step-by-step instructions for my recipes to help you picture how to make them in your own kitchen. If you just want to print out a copy, you can skip to the bottom of the post where you’ll find the recipe card.
Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare the Crescent Rolls
Unroll half a package (4 rolls) of crescent rolls. Press the seams together and place on the bottom of an 8×8 baking pan.
Make the Filling
In a medium bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Stir with a wooden spoon until thoroughly combined.
Spread Filling in Pan
Spread over crescent rolls in baking dish.
Add More Crescent Rolls
Unroll remaining crescent rolls, press seams together and place on top of cream cheese layer in baking dish.
Pour over the Butter
Top with melted butter.
Top with Sugar and Cinnamon
Sprinkle top evenly with sugar and cinnamon.
Bake
Bake for 20-30 minutes, until bubbly and slightly browned. Allow to cool, then slice and serve. May be topped with a drizzle of honey, if desired.
TIP: How to Store and Reheat Your Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls
On the off chance that you have any leftovers, you’ll need to store them in an airtight container or resealable bag (make sure to gently squeeze out any excess air) in the refrigerator. They should keep for 3-5 days.
To reheat, I recommend using your regular or toaster oven at 300 degrees for 5 to 10 minutes. Make sure to keep an eye on them, checking them frequently to avoid burning the crescent dough.
I don’t recommend microwaving these pastries as you’ll lose that flaky, crisp texture of the dough that makes this recipe so amazing.
FAQs
If you don’t have any crescent rolls on hand, you can use pie dough or even frozen puff pastry. Note that the cooking time will vary for each type of dough — make sure to check the baking instructions for the dough you’re using.
I typically use Pillsbury crescent rolls, but you can use any brand that your local store carries. It doesn’t have any impact on the taste or recipe outcome. Just use any brand that you like. They’re all fairly high quality.
No, it isn’t. While puff pastry and refrigerated crescent rolls have a similar flaky texture, they are not the same. They’re prepared in different ways with the main difference being that crescent rolls contain yeast and baking powder where puff pastry is strictly flour, water, and butter.
You probably did nothing wrong. It could be that your oven isn’t calibrated correctly and the temperature is off. Just give them a few more minutes in the oven while keeping a close watch on them so that they don’t burn.
Have you tried this recipe? I’d love for you to give it a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card and/or in the comments section further down. You can always stay in touch on social media by following me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest and Sign Up to Get my Newsletter, too!
Recipe
Cream Cheese Filled Crescent Roll Pastries
Ingredients
- 8 ounces refrigerated crescent rolls (recommend: Pillsbury)
- 6 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ cup butter melted
Topping:
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- Honey, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Unroll half a package (4 rolls) of crescent rolls. Press the seams together and place on the bottom of an 8×8 baking pan.
- In a medium bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Stir with wooden spoon until thoroughly combined.
- Spread cream cheese mixture over crescent rolls in baking dish.
- Unroll remaining crescent rolls, press seams together and place on top of cream cheese layer in baking dish.
- Top with melted butter.
- Sprinkle top evenly with sugar and cinnamon.
- Bake for 20-30 minutes, until bubbly and slightly browned.
- Allow to cool, then slice and serve. May be topped with a drizzle of honey if desired.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your health care provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
— This post was originally published on August 23, 2016. It has been updated with new photos and additional information.
I happened to only have about 3 or 4 oz of neufchatel so I also halved the sugar and it still came out amazing. I didn’t bother putting much effort into squishing the dough into one smooth piece, instead I lined up the perforations of the bottom layer with those of the top so that when it was done it made 4 big easy to separate slices. Also, I always substitute almond extract for vanilla. It always makes treats more decadent in my opinion. This came out great, the family loved it.
I used an 8 oz package of cream cheese and it turned out really good. My husband and I liked it. I will make it again.
I question the amount of cream cheese…2-3 ounces? Or is is supposed to b 2. . 8ounce pkgs?
It’s two 3-ounce packages.
I made this last night. Not sure what I did wrong, but mine was not done at 30 minutes. I baked at 350 for 50 minutes and the middle still was not puffed up. Taste is good, but my results were off.
This is the same thing as Williamsburg bread
If you unroll 1 can you get 8 crescents… so should it be one can of the crescents? 4 on top + 4 on bottom is 8 meaning 1 can correct?
Yes, that’s correct.
I love this recipe. I went further and added 1egg and 2/3 cup ricotta, and 1/2 tsp. orange zest to the cream cheese. Delicious!
Do these need to be refrigerated?
I would refrigerate any leftovers.
Tried making this but I used 2 rolls of crescent rolls ( bottom-2 layers + top- 2 layers)… it came out looking like a cake ?. Not sure if I read the recipe right, or should I have used only 1 roll & spread out the first 4 triangles then topped it with the next 4?
It should be one layer on top and one layer on bottom. I went back and clarified the instructions to make it easier to understand.
Ok thanks. For the meantime, we’ll just enjoy our cream cheese crescent roll “cake” ?
I bet it still tastes good!
Made this with apples and extra Conn sugar. My husband are half in about an hour. Bad boy gotten a tummyache. Bet he learned to share. Darlene
This looks delicious and I want to try it soon,but this pan does not look like a 9×13 pan more like an 8×8 or 9×9 pan. Which is right? Thanks
You’re right, Brenda. That is an 8×8 pan in the photos. I’ll make a correction.
Is the butter 1/4 stick or 1/4 cup? I’m guessing 1/4 cup ’cause more butter is better in baked goods.
It’s 1/4 cup! So sorry – I’m correcting the recipe right now.
Move over. I don’t want to elbow you as I go for this treat.
Miss P
Avoiding the elbows! Try this with a little peach preserves spooned over the cream cheese layer. Yum!!
Sprinkle blueberries over the cheese. Delicious
I haven’t tried blueberries, Margaret. That sounds great!
My aunt does something similar and adds home-canned peaches. Simply delectable.
Sounds delicious! This basic recipe can be taken in so many directions – almost any kind of cooked or fresh fruit can be added with a drizzle of sugar frosting on top. Or you could drop in some chocolate chips on top of the cream cheese filling and top the finished dish with drizzled chocolate…so many options!