Description

This Savory Turkey and Cranberry Crescent Ring is a festive, crowd-pleasing dish perfect for holiday gatherings or comforting dinners. Flaky crescent dough encases a creamy, flavorful filling of shredded turkey, tangy cranberry sauce, melted cheese, and seasonings, baked into a beautiful wreath shape that’s as eye-catching as it is delicious.

Ingredients

Scale

Crescent Dough

2 cans (8 oz each) refrigerated crescent rolls (regular triangle-shaped dough recommended)

Turkey Filling

2 cups cooked turkey, chopped or shredded
1 cup cranberry sauce (whole berry or jellied)
1 cup shredded cheese (mozzarella, Swiss, provolone, or mild cheddar)
½ cup cream cheese, softened
¼ cup mayonnaise (optional)
½ cup chopped celery (optional)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary or thyme (optional)
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
¼ teaspoon black pepper

For Finishing

1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)

Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure even baking and a crispy crescent dough.
Prepare Your Baking Surface: Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ease cleanup. Alternatively, lightly grease the sheet.
Make the Turkey-Cranberry Filling: In a large bowl, combine the chopped or shredded turkey with cranberry sauce, mixing gently to coat. Add shredded cheese, softened cream cheese (soften in microwave for 10 seconds if needed), and optional mayonnaise and celery. Sprinkle in garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and fresh herbs if using. Mix thoroughly until creamy and evenly blended, moist but not runny.
Prepare the Crescent Ring Base: Open both cans of crescent rolls and separate into individual triangles. Arrange them on the parchment paper in a circle, placing wide ends toward the center and overlapping slightly to form a continuous ring. The pointed ends should extend outward like sun rays. Press overlapping edges gently to seal.
Add the Filling to the Ring: Spoon the turkey-cranberry mixture evenly over the wide ends of the dough, keeping filling 1–2 inches from outer edges to prevent spilling.
Fold and Seal the Crescent Ring: Lift each pointed dough end and fold it over the filling, tucking the tips underneath the ring center to secure. Work around the ring until all filling is covered, forming a wreath shape.
Brush with Egg Wash: Lightly brush the top of the dough with beaten egg using a pastry brush to achieve a glossy, golden-brown finish when baked.
Bake the Ring: Bake in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes, until dough is fully cooked and deep golden. Tent loosely with foil halfway through if browning occurs too quickly.
Cool and Serve: Let the ring cool for about 5 minutes. Slice into wedges like pizza and serve warm, optionally with extra cranberry sauce or gravy on the side.

Notes

You can use either shredded or chopped turkey depending on your texture preference—shredded yields a softer bite while chopped gives more texture.
Whole berry cranberry sauce adds texture, whereas jellied cranberry sauce offers a smoother sweetness.
Mayonnaise and celery are optional but add extra creaminess and crunch respectively.
If cream cheese is hard to mix, warm it briefly in the microwave until softened.
Adjust herbs and seasoning to your taste for personalized flavor.
If the ring browns too fast during baking, loosely cover with foil to prevent burning.
Serve with extra cranberry sauce or gravy as a delicious accompaniment.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: turkey crescent ring, cranberry crescent ring, savory holiday ring, turkey cranberry crescent recipe, crescent dough ring, turkey appetizer, holiday appetizer