It's pretty hard not to love breakfast. The first bites of your day set the tone for the rest of it, and what's more, you can eat just about anything in the morning and call it breakfast. But if you're going to think outside the box for your morning munchies, you might as well start by thinking inside the tin. The Pillsbury dough tin, that is. The classic Pillsbury crescent roll is known to most as a flaky, delectable pastry. But to breakfast enthusiasts and entrepreneurs, this savory dough acts as the perfect base for whatever the fatigued, hungry heart desires. For all you breakfast beginners, here are the 15 best crescent roll breakfast recipes.
1. Nutella Crescent Rolls
I feel compelled to begin this list with the crescent roll breakfast recipe that I'm most excited to try out. This Nutella crescent roll ring appears intricate, but it's deceptively easy to make. First, make sure to buy a Pillsbury crescent sheet (not the rolls). Then all you need to do is roll out your dough, spread Nutella over the entire surface, roll it up, and slice your roll in half. Next, twist the two halves together, form your twist into a circle, and bake. The hardest part of this Nutella novelty is probably waiting 20 minutes for it to cook.
#SpoonTip: Nuts for Nutella but trying to stay healthy? Try substituting with this vegan, homemade Nutella that's healthier but just as delicious as the store-bought stuff.
2. S'mores Crescent Rolls
During the summer, s'mores are most closely associated with beach bonfires and summer camp closing ceremonies. But don't be fooled—you can enjoy these delicious, gooey treats first thing in the morning with no need for an open flame. With these s'mores crescent rolls, you can enjoy your chocolate and marshmallow fix with your morning coffee (or chocolate milk, no sugar shame).
3. Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Crescent Rolls
Bacon, egg, and cheese are the Holy Trinity of ingredients in breakfast sandwiches. Most days I can down one of those breakfast bad boys like it's nothing, but for mornings where I'm looking for more of a nibble than a full stack, I reach for these dainty, snack-sized bacon, egg, and cheese crescent rolls. They're great as an on-the-go option or an hors d'oeuvres for brunch.
4. Churro Crescent Rolls
Costco's churros are one of the best things on their menu. It's practically sinful not to get one after a tiring bulk-shopping trip. However, as a college student without my own Costco membership, I've had to source other ways to get my churro fix. An easy substitute I've found combines the light, flaky texture of Pillsbury dough with the chewy, sugary flavor of churros. These churro crescent rolls are an impressive dupe to Costco's massive, warm, and crunchy churros.
5. Birthday Cake Crescent Rolls
"It's someone's birthday somewhere," is a saying used when justifying eating cake, but once you try out birthday cake crescent rolls, you'll be using that excuse even more. The sprinkles make these rolls look super festive, but the addition of mascarpone cheese is what makes these crescent rolls really taste like Funfetti.
6. Blueberry Cream Cheese Danish with Crescent Rolls
Contrary to popular belief, breakfast Danishes did not originate in Denmark. Regardless, these pastries, with a flaky, crunchy base and decadent cream cheese filling tempt me every time I go to a bakery. My suggestion? Make your own so you don't end up coming home with half the pastry case from your local bakery.
7. Cinnamon Apple Crescent Rolls
One of my favorite Vines (#tbt, I know) says, "You're my cinnamon apple," but that isn't the main reason why I included a cinnamon apple crescent roll recipe on the list. The cinnamon offers a cozy scent and flavor and the flaky crescent roll is buttery enough to fill you up. These pastries only take 25 minutes to make, so they're sure to become your go-to potluck contribution this holiday season.
8. Sausage Crescent Rolls
A more classic recipe comes in the form of sausage crescent rolls, known to most as pigs in a blanket. These bad boys only require five ingredients—sausage, Pillsbury dough, eggs, milk, and cheddar cheese—and they're packed with protein to fuel you for hours. Roll these up the next time you're serving a crowd or when you're limited on ingredients and need a quick breakfast fix.
9. Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Crescent Rolls
For three months straight, I exclusively ate peanut butter banana sandwiches for lunch in the seventh grade. That streak might have been prolonged had I encountered this chocolate peanut butter banana crescent rolls recipe. These gooey, sweet rolls are so addictive and simple you may find yourself making this recipe for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert.
10. Pumpkin Pie Twist Crescent Rolls
Fall is my favorite time of the year, so naturally I begin preparing for the season early by finding and storing recipes before it's time to cuddle up by the fire. These pumpkin pie twist crescent rolls are kind of like churros (I seriously need a Costco membership), but filled with pumpkin and topped with a sweet cream cheese frosting. They're a perfect way to start your morning as you watch the autumn leaves fall outside.
11. Crescent Roll Beignets
If you've never had a beignet, it's basically NOLA's version of a doughnut, except fluffier and without the hole. Unfortunately, if you're not from the Bayou State, you probably don't have easy access to these delicious, doughy treats (you can buy beignet baking mix from Cafe Du Monde, but it won't taste as amazing as the real thing). Luckily, with a can of crescent rolls, frying oil, and a little more than 10 minutes, you can make your own spin on the classic, with homemade crescent roll beignets for breakfast.
12. Strawberry Crescent Sweet Rolls
Strawberries, in my opinion, are the best fruit. They're juicy, not too sweet, and pair well with everything from guacamole to chocolate. It's time to put strawberries at the forefront of cuisine, or at least at the forefront of your day. What better place for this strawberry movement to start than with strawberry sweet rolls? They're basically a cinnamon roll with strawberry filling, but they're oh so delicious.
#SpoonTip: Bake your sweet rolls in a muffin tin to make this recipe even easier!
13. Quiche Crescent Cups
Quiche is one of my favorite brunch foods, but it can be time-consuming and difficult to make. Ease the process by making quiche crescent cups; portable, small, and simple bites filled with egg, cheese, and bacon that are almost indiscernible from a slice of your favorite quiche. When baked, the crescent rolls become even flakier than a typical quiche crust.
14. Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Crescent Rolls
You don't gotta fight with me at Cheesecake about this recipe; these lemon cheesecake crescent rolls are so good they'll make you consider adding some sour flavor to all your favorite sweet breakfast treats. The zesty lemon provides the perfect balance for the rich cheesecake blend, so you can indulge in more than one roll without feeling weighed down.
15. Crescent Role Cinnamon Buns
Sundays are designated cinnamon roll day in my sorority. Every Sunday morning, like clockwork, my sorority sisters and I awake to the scent of warm, freshly-baked buns, which leads to a groggy sprint downstairs to grab a spot in the breakfast line. Unfortunately for all you home cooks out there, cinnamon rolls are notorious for being labor and time-intensive. These mini crescent roll cinnamon buns speed up the baking process, giving Cinnabon a run for its money.
Crescent rolls might be the newer kids on the breakfast block, but with so many ways to enjoy them, they'll be a morning staple soon enough. Bookmark these delicious recipes as inspiration or make them today if you're already craving quick and easy pastries. Nothin' says lovin' like something from the oven.