Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Apple Pie Rolls

When it comes to food, I’m a big fan of balance.  As in, if I eat 8 ounces of veggies, I better eat 8 ounces of chocolate to balance it out.  So since I usually eat fairly healthy, on mornings when I want something decadent and easy, I don’t question it.  I go straight for the apple pie filling and cream cheese.

These apple pie rolls may not be terribly inventive, but they sure are good!  All you need is cream cheese, a can of apple pie filling, and a can of crescent rolls.  Vanilla, raisins and pecans are all optional. 

First, either set out your cream cheese ahead of time or zap it in the microwave 30 seconds or so, just until soft.  Work it around in a bowl until it is a spreadable consistency.  If you like, mix in a little vanilla.

Now, open your can of apple pie filling and grab a knife.  Make sure it is pie filling and not just sliced apples.  Take out the week’s aggression by sticking the knife down into the can and randomly raking it through the apples.  It is easier to make a nice neat apple pie roll if the apples are in small chunks, and by doing it this way, you won’t have to wash a cutting board later.  (yay!)

Set your apples and cream cheese to the side while you prepare your dough.

Throw some flour out on a nice clean patch of counter and peel off a crescent roll. 


A quick apology for the pictures - that's what I get trying to use my iphone, indoors, with flour covered fingers.

Through the blurriness, see how it’s an isosceles triangle?  That’s not okay with me.  I like it nice and even.  Pinch off the tip and add it to the right side to make it a sorta kinda equilateral triangle.  All even.  That’s better.  I hate for any of my filling to ooze out while they are baking, so this all goes toward making a very neat, tight little package.  (I’m sure there’s a joke in there, but I’ll resist.)


Sprinkle more flour on top of the dough, rub some on your rolling pin, and flatten that baby out.


As is painfully obvious from this picture, it does not need to be a perfect triangle or even a uniform thickness.  You’re basically just going for increased surface area.

Now smear some cream cheese near the bottom in the middle, leaving a good inch below and on either side plain.  Pile a spoonful or two of apples on top of your smear.  If you prefer, here is where you toss in raisins, pecans, caramel bits, whatever suits your fancy. 


mmmm looks good already.

Now fold the sides of the dough over the filling.  Grab the bottom edge and pull it up and all the way over the filling, sort of tucking it in on the other side – you don’t want to smoosh the apples out of the top.  Roll it the rest of the way up and you should have this…


Pop it in the oven on a baking sheet at 350 degrees until lightly golden brown on top.
Pull them out, let them cool as long as you can stand it, then eat them while they are still warm!  We devoured these before thinking to take pictures of the finished product; cream cheese and warm bread tend to muddle up my brain.  Yum!!

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