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Savory Turkey and Cranberry Crescent Ring Recipe

★★★★★

4.5 from 92 reviews
  • Author: Zoe
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x

Description

This Savory Turkey and Cranberry Crescent Ring is a festive and delicious appetizer or meal centerpiece, perfect for holiday gatherings. Flaky crescent dough encases a creamy, flavorful filling of shredded turkey, tangy cranberry sauce, melty cheese, and aromatic herbs, baked to golden perfection. The ring shape makes it visually stunning and easy to slice and serve.

Ingredients

Scale

Crescent Dough

  • 2 cans (8 oz each) refrigerated crescent rolls (regular triangle-shaped)

Turkey Filling

  • 2 cups cooked turkey, chopped or shredded
  • 1 cup cranberry sauce (whole berry or jellied)
  • 1 cup shredded cheese (Mozzarella, Swiss, provolone, or mild cheddar)
  • ½ cup cream cheese, softened
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise (optional)
  • ½ cup chopped celery (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary or thyme (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

For Finishing

  • 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure even baking and a crisp crescent dough.
  2. Prepare Your Baking Surface: Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier. Alternatively, lightly grease the baking sheet if parchment is unavailable.
  3. Make the Turkey-Cranberry Filling: In a large mixing bowl, place the chopped or shredded cooked turkey. Add cranberry sauce and gently fold to coat the turkey evenly. Stir in shredded cheese, then add softened cream cheese, warming it slightly if needed for easier mixing. Optionally add mayonnaise for richness and chopped celery for crunch. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and fresh herbs if using. Mix thoroughly until creamy and well combined, ensuring the filling is moist but not runny.
  4. Prepare the Crescent Ring Base: Open both cans of crescent rolls and separate the dough into individual triangles. Arrange the triangles in a circle on the parchment-lined baking sheet, placing the wide ends toward the center and overlapping slightly to form a continuous ring. The pointed ends should radiate outward like sun rays. Press the overlapped wide ends gently to seal the ring with no gaps.
  5. Add the Filling to the Ring: Spoon the turkey-cranberry filling evenly in a thick circle over the wide ends of the dough, keeping about 1 to 2 inches away from the edges to prevent spilling during baking.
  6. Fold and Seal the Crescent Ring: Carefully lift each pointed end of dough and fold it over the filling, tucking the tips underneath the center of the ring to secure the shape. Continue folding around the ring until the entire filling is covered, forming a wreath-like or bundled ring appearance.
  7. Brush with Egg Wash: Lightly coat the top of the dough ring with the beaten egg using a pastry brush. This will give the crescent ring a shiny, golden-brown finish after baking.
  8. Bake the Ring: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the dough is fully cooked and deeply golden. If the top browns too fast, tent loosely with foil halfway through baking.
  9. Cool and Serve: Let the ring cool for about 5 minutes before slicing into wedges like a pizza. Serve warm, optionally with extra cranberry sauce or gravy on the side for dipping.

Notes

  • Use regular triangle-shaped crescent dough for easier ring formation, but crescent sheet dough can also be used.
  • Shredded turkey yields a softer texture, while chopped turkey provides a meatier bite.
  • Whole berry cranberry sauce adds texture, jellied sauce offers smoother sweetness.
  • Mayonnaise and celery are optional ingredients for additional moisture and crunch.
  • Fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme brighten the filling’s flavor and add a holiday aroma.
  • Adjust salt and pepper to taste depending on your cranberry sauce sweetness and turkey seasoning.
  • Let the ring rest briefly before slicing to help the filling set.
  • Serve with cranberry sauce or gravy for extra flavor.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: turkey crescent ring, cranberry crescent ring, holiday appetizer, turkey appetizer, crescent roll recipe, savory ring, festive appetizer

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Find it online: https://cookingwithzoe.com/savory-turkey-and-cranberry-crescent-ring-recipe/