Dinner rolls get a delicious twist with these super easy Cheddar Ranch Cruffins made with refrigerator dough. Just 5 ingredients and a few minutes are all you need.
Cheesy cruffins are a savory variation of the classic croissant-muffin hybrid. They are made with a buttery croissant dough that’s rolled out, filled with a savory cheese mixture, and baked in a muffin tin.
The cheese filling can be made with a variety of cheeses, such as cheddar, Parmesan, Gouda, or blue cheese, depending on your preference.
When I first made my Easy Cruffin Recipe they were such a HUGE HIT with everyone that tried them. They were one of the most requested breakfast/treat recipes that we make around here and with good reason.
Not only are they super easy to make but incredibly tasty too. So it is no surprise that this savory version packed with cheddar cheese and ranch seasoning is making an appearance just as frequently now too.
savory cruffin recipe
Commonly Asked Questions About Cheddar Ranch Cruffins
What is a Cruffin?
A cruffin is a pastry that combines the flaky texture of a croissant with the shape and size of a muffin. It is a hybrid pastry that is baked in a muffin tin and has a flaky, buttery texture similar to that of a croissant.
The cruffin is typically filled with various sweet or savory fillings, such as jam, cream, chocolate, or cheese. The pastry was created in San Francisco in 2014 by a bakery called Mr. Holmes Bakehouse and has since become a popular pastry around the world.
How to Store Cheddar Ranch Cruffins
To store cheddar ranch cruffins, you should follow these steps:
- Let the cruffins cool to room temperature before storing them. This will prevent moisture from building up inside the storage container.
- Place the cruffins in a container or wrap them in plastic wrap. This will help keep the cruffins fresh and prevent them from drying out.
- Store the cruffins in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Cheddar ranch cruffins should be kept in the refrigerator to prevent the cheese and ranch from spoiling.
- If you want to freeze the cruffins, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and then place them in a freezer-safe container. Cruffins can be frozen for up to 2-3 months.
- When you’re ready to eat the cruffins, remove them from the refrigerator or freezer and let them come to room temperature. You can reheat them in the oven for a few minutes at a low temperature (around 300°F/150°C) to restore their flaky texture. Enjoy!
Cheddar Ranch Cruffin Ingredients
- crescent roll dough
- butter – room temperature
- ranch seasoning
- sharp cheddar cheese
- parsley
What If I Don’t Have Ranch Seasoning?
No problem! If you can’t find ranch seasoning or you don’t keep ranch seasoning in the house – you can make your own with my ranch seasoning recipe. Just make the seasoning and don’t complete the process and add the liquid to make the dressing.
Kitchen Items Needed
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Rolling pin
- Pastry brush
- Muffin tin
- Plastic wrap or an airtight container for storage
- Oven mitts or pot holders
- Cooling rack
- Dough Scraper
How to Make Cheddar Ranch Cruffins
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Lightly grease 8 well os a muffin tin. Set aside.
- Using a small rolling pin, roll out each sheet of the crescent roll dough until you have 2 larger rectangles that are slightly larger than what you started with and the perforated portions are pushed together.
- Next, spread most of the softened butter onto the sheets. Reserve a little for brushing onto the hot cruffins after baking.
- Sprinkle the ranch seasoning over the rolled-out dough.
- Top with the cheese and then the parsley.
Rolling
- First, starting on the long end of the rectangle, roll up the dough into a log.
- Then cut the dough in half, giving you shorter logs.
- Then cut each of those logs in half, lengthwise – exposing the inner layers of the logs.
- Repeat with the second sheet. When you are finished – you should have 4 pieces out of each sheet.
- Take each piece and wrap it around your fingers to form the shape of a muffin, with the layered side out. This will give the best chance of all those layers being visible when they are baked. You can gently stretch the dough during this process.
- Place each rolled piece in the greased muffin tin.
Bake
- Bake for 17-20 minutes – rotating halfway through.
- Remove from the oven and immediately remove the baked cruffins from the pan, one by one, by gently releasing any parts that are stuck using a butter knife or thin object.
- Store at room temperature in a container that is not completely airtight to prevent the cruffins from getting moist.
What to Serve with Cheddar Ranch Cruffins
Cheddar ranch cruffins can be served as a savory breakfast or brunch item, or as a snack or appetizer. Here are some ideas for what to serve with cheddar ranch cruffins:
- Fresh fruit salad or fruit skewers for a sweet and refreshing contrast to the savory cruffins.
- Scrambled eggs or a frittata to round out the meal.
- A side salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber for a fresh and healthy option.
- Bacon or sausage links for a hearty breakfast or brunch.
- A side of roasted potatoes or sweet potato fries to add some crunch and texture to the meal.
- A dipping sauce such as salsa, guacamole, or ranch dressing to complement the cheddar ranch flavor of the cruffins.
- A cup of coffee or tea to enjoy with the cruffins.
Do I use the dressing or just the seasoning?
For this recipe, please just use the powdered seasoning mix. Don’t spread dressing on the dough. The result will not be great.
Can you reheat cruffins?
Yes, you can reheat cruffins by placing them in the oven at a low temperature (around 300°F/150°C) for a few minutes to restore their flaky texture.
Can Cruffins be Made with Homemade Dough?
We like to use canned refrigerator crescent roll dough to save time. You can use homemade dough if you like.
We recommend trying these with our 2-ingredient Pizza Dough because it is also quite simple to make. When making that dough to use in this cruffin recipe, you will need to reduce the quantity of the ingredients. Make 1/4 of that recipe.
Can these be made ahead of time?
Yes, making this savory cruffin recipe ahead of time is possible and they will turn out just fine. It is best to make them earlier in the day, rather than making them the day before.
Should I use salted or unsalted butter?
This is really a personal preference. We really love using salted butter in most of our recipes – regardless of whether they are savory or sweet.
That being said, I usually use whatever I have on hand. I love that little bit of extra salt with every bite.
Expert Tips and Tricks
Here are some expert tips and tricks for making perfect cruffins:
- Use room-temperature butter to spread on the croissant dough. This will help keep it easy to spread without tearing the dough.
- Be patient when rolling out the dough. Roll the dough out slowly and evenly to ensure that it’s the right thickness and shape.
- Don’t be afraid to experiment with different fillings and flavors. Cruffins are versatile and can be filled with sweet or savory ingredients.
- Brush the cruffins with egg wash before baking if desired. This will give them a shiny, golden-brown finish.
- Let the cruffins cool on a wire rack before serving. You can brush them with additional melted butter before serving.
- Use high-quality ingredients, especially for the butter and cheese. This will make a big difference in the flavor and texture of the cruffins.
- Practice makes perfect! They don’t need to be perfect when wrapping the dough. They will be messy and that’s okay. With practice and patience, you’ll soon be making beautiful and delicious cruffins.
- Try making these with warm rolls with a variety of ingredients such as cream cheese, manchego cheese, feta cheese, hot sauce, goat cheese, buffalo chicken, white cheddar, garlic parm, herb snack spread, rotisserie chicken, or jack cheese.
- A prepared muffin tin is essential. Be sure to use nonstick cooking spray before adding the dough.
- These cruffins can be made with puff pastry rather than crescent roll sheets – it will result in a flakier texture rather than a house-made cheddar-chive biscuit.
Flavor Variations
Cruffins can be made in a variety of flavors and variations. Here are some ideas for different flavors you can try:
- Chocolate cruffins – filled with chocolate ganache or chocolate chips and dusted with powdered sugar.
- Cinnamon sugar cruffins – rolled in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar before baking.
- Fruit cruffins – filled with fresh berries, jam, or fruit compote. Try our Blueberry Cruffins.
- Nutella cruffins – filled with Nutella and topped with hazelnuts.
- Lemon cruffins – filled with lemon curd and topped with powdered sugar or a lemon glaze.
- Apple cruffins – filled with spiced apples and topped with a streusel topping.
- Savory cruffins – filled with cheese, herbs, or vegetables like spinach, tomato, or mushroom.
- Ham and cheese cruffins – filled with diced ham and shredded cheddar cheese.
- Pizza cruffins – filled with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and your favorite pizza toppings.
- Oreo Cruffins – packed full of crushed Oreo cookies and brown sugar.
If you love this easy Cheddar Ranch Cruffins recipe, you’re going to love these other cheesy recipes too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!
More Awesome Dinner Roll Ideas
Texas Roadhouse Rolls – Copycat
One-Hour Disappearing Fat Rolls
30-Minute Garlic Parmesan Dinner Rolls
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Cheddar Ranch Cruffins
Ingredients
- 2 tubes crescent roll dough
- 4 tbsp butter – room temperature – divided
- 4 tbsp ranch seasoning – divided
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese – divided
- 1 tbsp parsley – chopped – divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Lightly grease 8 well of a muffin tin. Set aside.
- Using a small rolling pin, roll out each sheet of the crescent roll dough until you have 2 larger rectangles that are slightly larger than what you started with and the perforated portions are pushed together.
- Spread most of the softened butter onto the sheets. Reserve a little for brushing onto the hot cruffins after baking.
- Sprinkle the ranch seasoning over the rolled-out dough.
- Top with the cheese and then the parsley.
- Starting on the long end of the rectangle, roll up the dough into a log.
- Cut the dough in half, giving you shorter logs.
- Then cut each of those logs in half, lengthwise – exposing the inner layers of the logs.
- Repeat with the second sheet. When you are finished – you should have 4 pieces out of each sheet.
- Take each piece and wrap it around your fingers to form the shape of a muffin, with the layered side out. This will give the best chance of all those layers being visible when they are baked. You can gently stretch the dough during this process.
- Place each rolled piece in the greased muffin tin.
- Bake for 17-20 minutes – rotating halfway through.
- Remove from the oven and immediately remove the baked cruffins from the pan, one by one, by gently releasing any parts that are stuck using a butter knife or thin object.
- Store at room temperature in a container that is not completely airtight to prevent the cruffins from getting moist.
Nutrition
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate. Please double-check with your own dietary calculator for the best accuracy. We at Yummi Haus cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
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