This Is the Cutest Pillsbury Crescent Roll Trick I’ve Ever Seen (So Perfect for Spring!)
A quick search on TikTok for crescent roll recipes will yield a bunch of innovative approaches for taking this popular and nostalgic canned pastry to new heights. Cheese danishes! Guava and cheese pastelitos! Chicken pot pie! There’s no shortage of what you can do with this kitchen shortcut.
With spring in full bloom now, digital recipe creators are getting more creative than ever with this canned pastry, and one person went as far as to turn this crescent roll dough into the base of a nest that holds a bunch of charcuterie fixings.
Here’s how to make “charcuterie nests,” as digital creator Nicolle Laviolette, the founder of @convinoboard on Instagram, calls them. Start by laying the crescent roll dough flat (don’t disconnect it when it comes out of the can!), then use a pizza cutter to slice it into long strips. Next, crumple up a few balls of aluminum foil and wrap the dough around them to form a nest-like shape. Brush the dough with an egg wash, then place each nest on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake the nests for 15 to 20 minutes or until they turn golden brown. Let them cool for about five minutes, then gently remove the foil balls and fill the nests with your go-to charcuterie fixings.
If you’re looking for inspiration on what to stuff your crescent roll nests with, check out our ultimate guide to creating a charcuterie combination. Laviolette suggests starting with small ingredients like nuts or dried fruit because you don’t have to worry about those getting squished. Then, add cheeses with various textures, maturities, and colors. For cured meats, mix things up with options like salami, ham, or prosciutto. Don’t forget to include some fresh fruit, and for those necessary crunchy bites, add something bread-like, like crackers or pita chips, to complement all your fixings.
When people on social media caught wind of this genius canned crescent roll hack, they couldn’t contain their excitement on Laviolette’s Instagram tutorial post. One person said, “I’m obsessed with these,” while another commented, “What a great idea.” With Easter just around the corner, this is a fun, hands-on activity for kids in the kitchen. It’s not only adorable and innovative but also versatile — while you can stuff the nests with cured meats and cheese, you can also brush the dough with cinnamon sugar and fill them with sweet treats for a delicious dessert alternative.
This article originally published on The Kitchn. See it there: This Is the Cutest Pillsbury Crescent Roll Trick I’ve Ever Seen (So Perfect for Spring!)