This post has been generously sponsored by Tyson Foods. All opinions, text, and photos are my own.
You guys. These little creamy bacon and sausage appetizers. I first had them at my husband’s family’s Christmas gathering in the form of a pinwheel many years ago, and have proceeded to make them in many ways, shapes and forms since then. They continue to be the favorite appetizer at his family’s meal! In fact, I made the recipe for a wedding shower this past week and the guests were raving over them! They are so simple and you can make them several ways.
This time, I decided to get a little creative and not only add Wright® Brand bacon to the mixture, but also to make the bites into a Christmas tree instead. I am not usually one to do stuff like this- I’m more of a “simpler is better” advocate at most times- but for some reason I just really, really wanted to make a Christmas tree! (Even though I was hosting a wedding shower in 4 hours and leaving on a missions trip to Kenya in 7 hours! Why not add a little more crazy to the mix?!)
To make the tree, I folded sheets of crescent roll dough in half and used a tree-shaped cookie cutter to cut shapes from the dough. I then just placed the shapes on a cookie sheet in the shape of a tree and a-la! A beautiful tree.
I thought it turned out super cute and so did the shower guests. My family had the “bites” version for breakfast that morning and they disappeared quickly as well.
One of the best parts of this recipe? Picking up groceries from Wal-mart so I don’t have to go in the store. Makes this mama’s life so much easier! If you are shopping in-store, you’ll find the Wright bacon and Jimmy Dean sausage in the refrigerated section. Wright bacon has quickly become our favorite bacon- it’s hand-trimmed and thicker than most bacon. Yum!
- 4 pkg crescent roll sheets
- 1 pound Jimmy Dean Sausage
- 4 slices wright bacon, cut into small pieces
- 1 8 oz pkg cream cheese
- 1 tsp. dried dill weed
- 1 Tbs. mustard
- ¼ tsp. crushed pepper (or more if you like things hot!)
- Bell pepper for garnish, optional
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Cook sausage and bacon together in a skillet until sausage is browned through.
- Turn heat to low and add cream cheese, seasonings and mustard just until cream cheese is completely melted and smooth.
- *For making the Christmas tree, fold two of the crescent roll sheets in half and cut out Christmas tree shapes from the dough. Arrange them in a Christmas tree shape on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Spread half of the mixture of the tree. Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes or until dough is baked through. Garnish with a star cut from yellow bell pepper, if desired.
- *For bites: pinch of pieces of crescent sheet dough and place in a mini muffin pan. Spoon about 1 .5 tsp of sausage/bacon mixture on each bite. Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes or until dough is baked through.
- This recipe makes just enough mixture for both the tree and 24 bites, or 48 bites, or two trees.
About Kelli Hays
