By Gabriella V., last updated on January 3, 2022
Everyone loves cheesecake, right? But have you tried the cheesecake with crescent roll crust? The crescent roll has brought new meaning to the world of cheesecake. Whoever decided to use this dough as a base was ingenious. Not only is it very easy and convenient, but it adds a different dimension to the classic cheesecake. The crescent roll cheesecake reminds me of a custard slice, only better because who wouldn’t prefer a cheesecake filling. If you have not given this Crescent roll cheesecake a version a try, you absolutely should!
What Is Crescent Dough?
It is an enriched pastry dough found in most major retail shops. The dough itself is a cross between puff pastry and croissant dough; it’s not as enriched as croissant dough with fewer folds than puff pastry.
You will find it in the frozen food section with all other pastries and doughs.
What Makes The Crescent Roll Crust So Good?
The fact that crescent dough is enriched with layers of butter is the key to the flavor and crispiness of the dough. Like the French said, ‘butter makes everything better.’ Combine this with the creamy, sweet, and slightly tangy cheesecake filling, and you have a real winner of a cheesecake recipe.
How To Prepare The Crescent Roll Cheesecake
The crescent roll dough is unrolled and not cut into its usual roll portions but instead kept whole like a sheet of pastry. The pastry is then placed in the bottom of the ovenproof dish, followed by the cheesecake mixture, and then topped with another layer of crescent roll dough. Place the crescent roll cheesecake in the oven for 15 minutes, and the result is a delicious golden brown crescent roll crust sandwich with a delicious cheesecake filling.
Cheesecake Crescent Rolls
Another option is to create these cute little cheesecake crescent rolls. These bite-sized morsels are created by taking the crescent roll dough, cutting it into the pre-marked triangle shapes. Then place a spoonful of cheesecake filling in the center and roll them up. So you basically end up with a croissant-looking roll. These are then brushed with melted butter and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. Bake the sweet bites until crisp and golden.
These create the perfect bite-size dessert and the perfect sweet ending to any meal or as a teatime treat.
So here is the recipe below, be sure to give it a try.
What You Will Need To Make A Crescent Roll Cheesecake
Ingredients:
- 2 cans of crescent dough
2 tubs smooth full fat cream cheese
1 cup castor sugar
1 whole egg
5ml vanilla essence
1 orange, zest
¼ cup butter
cinnamon
2 tbsp brown sugar or honey
Equipment:
- Ovenproof dish
- Electric mixer
- Paddle attachment
- Deep roasting tray
Step-By-Step Instructions:
Step 1: Prepare the Oven
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure the oven racks are in the middle oven for baking the crescent roll cheesecake.
Step 2: Lightly Grease and Line the Ovenproof Dish with Crescent Roll Dough
Lightly grease your dish with a bit of butter.
Remove the crescent roll dough from the packing, and roll the dough out directly into the base of the ovenproof dish. Cut the dough if need be to fit perfectly in the bottom of the dish.
Place the dish in the fridge so the crescent dough can chill down and rest.
Step 3: Prepare the cheesecake filling
Use the electric mixer with a paddle attachment to mix together until smooth, the cream cheese, sugar, eggs, vanilla essence, and orange zest. Do not over mix the mixture, and you do not want to incorporate too much air.
Pour the cheesecake mixture on top of the crescent dough. Use the spatula to scrape all the mixture out.
Level out the filling with the spatula to create a smooth, even layer.
Step 4: Top with a layer of crescent dough and brush with melted butter
Roll out the second roll of crescent dough directly onto the layer of cheesecake filling. In a small bowl, melt the butter, and using a pastry brush, lightly brush the crescent dough with butter.
Give a generous dusting of cinnamon and sprinkle over evenly with the brown sugar.
Step 5: Bake the Crescent Roll Cheesecake
Fill the deep roasting tray with hot water. Place the cheesecake in the water bath, and then pop it into the oven. Bake the cheesecake for about 40 minutes until the cheesecake has set, and the crescent dough is crisp and golden.
Step 6: Garnish the cheesecake
Remove the cheesecake from the oven, and allow it to cool down before serving. Garnish with lashings of icing sugar and serve.
Servings And Preparation Time:
This crescent roll cheesecake could comfortably serve around 12 people and takes about 2 hours to prepare, but you might need some more time to allow the cheesecake to cool down slightly more.
TOP TIPS: If you want to make the bite-size cheesecake crescent rolls
- Roll out the crescent dough and cut it into its familiar triangular shapes, like you would if you were making traditional crescent rolls.
- Place a spoonful of filling in the center and roll up the crescent rolls. Place the croissant-looking rolls on a baking sheet.
- Finish off the same way by brushing the rolls with melted butter and sprinkling with cinnamon and brown sugar.
- Bake the cheesecake crescent rolls for about 12-15 mins, until golden.
- Leave the cheese-caked-filled crescent rolls to cool down and then dust generously with icing sugar.
This recipe is to die for, and it’s no wonder some people eat this cheesecake for breakfast. It is almost like a breakfast pastry; after all, it is just a cheesecake-filled pastry! I could eat these for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that’s how delicious these are!
Be sure to give this recipe a try!
Crescent Roll Cheesecake
Equipment
- Ovenproof dish
- Electric mixer
- Paddle attachment
- Deep roasting tray
Ingredients
- 2 cans of crescent dough
- 2 tubs smooth full fat cream cheese
- 1 cup castor sugar
- 1 whole egg
- 5 ml vanilla essence
- 1 orange zest
- ¼ cup butter
- cinnamon
- 2 tbsp brown sugar or honey
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure the oven racks are in the middle oven for baking the crescent roll cheesecake.
- Lightly grease your dish with a bit of butter.
- Remove the crescent roll dough from the packing, and roll the dough out directly into the base of the ovenproof dish. Cut the dough if need be to fit perfectly in the bottom of the dish.
- Place the dish in the fridge so the crescent dough can chill down and rest.
- Use the electric mixer with a paddle attachment to mix together until smooth, the cream cheese, sugar, eggs, vanilla essence, and orange zest. Do not over mix the mixture, and you do not want to incorporate too much air.
- Pour the cheesecake mixture on top of the crescent dough. Use the spatula to scrape all the mixture out.
- Level out the filling with the spatula to create a smooth, even layer.
- Roll out the second roll of crescent dough directly onto the layer of cheesecake filling. In a small bowl, melt the butter, and using a pastry brush, lightly brush the crescent dough with butter.
- Give a generous dusting of cinnamon and sprinkle over evenly with the brown sugar.
- Fill the deep roasting tray with hot water. Place the cheesecake in the water bath, and then pop it into the oven. Bake the cheesecake for about 40 minutes until the cheesecake has set, and the crescent dough is crisp and golden.
- Remove the cheesecake from the oven, and allow it to cool down before serving. Garnish with lashings of icing sugar and serve.
Notes
- Roll out the crescent dough and cut it into its familiar triangular shapes, like you would if you were making traditional crescent rolls.
- Place a spoonful of filling in the center and roll up the crescent rolls. Place the croissant-looking rolls on a baking sheet.
- Finish off the same way by brushing the rolls with melted butter and sprinkling with cinnamon and brown sugar.
- Bake the cheesecake crescent rolls for about 12-15 mins, until golden.
- Leave the cheese-caked-filled crescent rolls to cool down and then dust generously with icing sugar.
