Pepperoni Balls of Joy

By Ariel

A few weeks back my supervisor at work requested everyone on his team bring in something food or drink related to share with each other. Actually, he said he wanted everyone to bring in something, but requested that I bring "food." This is funny because I happen to be the only woman on our team, and I think he realized the most he would get out of the others was chips and pop. When previously asked to bring food, I showed up with these and I think everyone was looking for an edible encore. 

Well, it's a lot like showing up to two parties back-to-back wearing the same dress, knowing everyone saw it the first time around. We can't have that, so I thought I would try something new. I was already making little crescent pizza pockets, a crescent roll stuffed with cheese, peppers, pepperoni, sausage, etc, but I needed something a little bit less of a mess and, quite frankly, a little more frugal.

Success was mine; I came up with an office-party friendly snack that were gone well before the day was out.  These are crescent roll pepperoni balls, and they're made of magic.

Okay, they're not really made of magic, but they are made of:

2 cans refrigerated crescent rolls
1 package (6 oz.) sliced pepperoni, chopped into tiny pieces.
1 tub (8 oz.) whipped cream cheese
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1/2 cup butter, melted
1-2 tsp. garlic salt*, for sprinkling
1-2 tsp. parsley flakes, for sprinkling

I apparently have a slight obsession with crescent rolls. Most of my creations lately center around the delicious pre-packaged dough. Anyway, roll out the triangles and cut each in half (or if you want to be super frugal and spread these little appetizers out more, you can cut each triangle into three or four if you like).

Combine the pepperoni, cream cheese, mozerella, parmesan, and red pepper flakes. Spoon a small amount into each piece of the crescent dough, pinching the ends together to seal the mixture inside the dough.

Bake according to the instructions for the dough, until the dough starts to brown. Remove the pepperoni balls and use a pastry brush to coat the tops of each pepperoni ball with butter. Sprinkle the garlic salt and parsley on top and return to oven until the tops are all a very golden brown.

These guys are fantastic right out of the oven and the next day. (I prepped these for the night before, no way was I going to get up earlier for work just to cook!) They were also a big hit and I'm debating trying out their freezability (replace the Pizza Rolls!) It's graduation party season, think of these guys for the next party you attend, or for game day.

I'll bet these would make really great dessert balls as well, I think I'll try them again with strawberry flavored cream cheese and diced strawberries, with butter on top sprinkled with sugar.

As I said, I'm a crescent nut. I love the endless possibilities! 

What ingredient spotlights in your kitchen?

*Thanks to the pepperoni, these little bites are already on the salty side. If you're not a fan then substitute the garlic salt for garlic powder. 

{Photo taken by me}

Comments

[Jennie]

These sound so good.

[natalie]

I like cooking with crescent rolls too! Here is my favorite thing to make with crescent rolls:
http://hurricanekitchen.blogspot.com/2011/01/breakfast-of-champions.html

[Vendita Giubotti Belstaff]

Love those! I enjoy following your posts on facebook and rss!

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[Alex Staff]

These chewy and definitely tasty bite-sized pieces would be pretty easy to gobble down. I can imagine it now: the cheese oozing out of a ball after you bite onto it, and the pepperoni adding a dash of flavor to every bite.