Recently Kate and I had the opportunity to test out several new products from Pillsbury (you know we didn’t hesitate to say yes to that offer!) One of the products is the new Crescent Recipe Creations. (Check out that link for tons of great recipes) Basically, it’s their well-known crescent dough, but without perforations. It’s just one big sheet. For years I’ve thought they should sell it in a sheet and wa-lah! Such a great product. It’s pretty much a blank canvas for anything you can dream up. It took me a long time to even use it because I couldn’t decide what to make!
It wasn’t until recently, when I need a yummy “special” breakfast for a morning event that I had the idea to make this braided pastry. (I won’t lie. I have a slight obsession with breakfast sandwiches so it didn’t take much for me to imagine this one up.) It looks fancy, but is SO easy, and with the crescent sheet, it comes together in minutes.
I’m going to show you step by step how to create the same thing, but it’s a method you can easily personalize in so many ways. I do this a lot with breads and I thought this crescent sheet would be perfect for it too. You’ll create a gorgeous filled braid that people will think you spent hours on! It’s seriously so easy- have I mentioned that? You could make a sweet braid filled with apple pie filling, or try a sweetened cream cheese with some fruit jam and put a glaze on top. Pizza fillings would be awesome too, or plain cheese and then dipped in marinara. I could go on and on… Just watch.
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Easy Breakfast Crescent Braid
Description
A yummy and easy breakfast braid, great to feed a crowd on a busy morning!
Ingredients
- 1 roll Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations
- scrambled eggs
- (I used 3 eggs + 1 egg white + 1 1/2 T milk + salt and pepper)
- 4–5 strips bacon (sausage would be great too)
- 1/2 C grated cheese , or more…
- optional: hot sauce
Instructions
- Scramble eggs in a skillet. Since this will cook again in the oven, under cook your eggs. You want them to be cooked enough to hold together, but leave them a bit wet. Cook bacon strips and set aside. (I bake my bacon in the oven. Just lay flat on a foil lined cookie sheet and bake at 400 for about 12 minutes or until crisp)
- Next, use a rolling pin and a lightly floured work surface to roll out the crescent dough to about 10 in x 12 in. Lay the eggs down the center of the rectangle, leaving room on both sides and the 2 ends. Top with bacon, cheese, and a couple shots of hot sauce if you want.
- Use a pizza cutter to slice even slits on the sides of your rectangle. Fold over both ends.
- Now starting on one end, bring the side pieces in and overlap them. You’ll want to alternate- one from the right, then one from the left and so on and so on. Keep doing it until you get all the way to the end. When you get to the end, just tuck where you can to make it pretty!
- Bake according to package instructions. I believe it’s 375 for about 15-20 minutes (but who knows, I threw away my package!) It might take a little longer than the package directs because of the way it’s braided. When it’s done, it should be golden brown on top. Remove from oven and let cool for about 5 minutes.
- Slice on a slight diagonal and eat immediately!
Notes
Great Tip
- If you want it shiny on top, give it a quick egg wash before you bake.
Other Notes
- One great thing about this is that it holds together really well. I thought when I cut it the filling might fall out, but the filling baked into the dough and it all stayed in there perfectly. So it’s great finger food for a mess-free breakfast/brunch buffet and great for little fingers. My toddler loved this- and so did his parents! Also, I didn’t try it, but I’m thinking you could easily make something like this the night before and just wrap it with plastic wrap so it’s all ready to just pop in the oven when you wake up.
Keep doing it until you get all the way to the end.
When you get to the end, just tuck where you can to make it pretty!
Bake according to package instructions. I believe it’s 375 for about 15-20 minutes (but who knows, I threw away my package!) It might take a little longer than the package directs because of the way it’s braided. And actually, if you want it shiny on top, give it a quick egg wash before you bake. When it’s done, it should be golden brown on top. Remove from oven and let cool for about 5 minutes. Slice on a slight diagonal and eat immediately!
One great thing about this is that it holds together really well. I thought when I cut it the filling might fall out, but the filling baked into the dough and it all stayed in there perfectly. So it’s great finger food for a mess-free breakfast/brunch buffet and great for little fingers. My toddler loved this- and so did his parents! Also, I didn’t try it, but I’m thinking you could easily make something like this the night before and just wrap it with plastic wrap so it’s all ready to just pop in the oven when you wake up.
Let me hear it!
Questions & Reviews
It will serve 6-8 small/medium pieces. If you've got other things to serve, one is probably fine, but if it's the main dish I'd make 2 (cuz everyone will want seconds!)
How many would one of these serve? I'm trying to figure out how many I would need to make to feed 6-8 adults. 🙂 Thanks!
I am thinking sausage and egg….then dipped in gravy, nummy.
I've read/stalked your blog for quite a few months now always wanting to make something but for some reason never did. Today I made this! YUMMY. We all agree (except my husband who hasn't eaten his yet). I'm still eating my second piece as I type.
Oh, I must be so behind in the cooking scene… but I am so happy to hear there is a sheet of this dough! I just use the perforated ones, and well, ya know… it can be a pain sometimes. I make taco braids, or cheeseburger "pie" braids, chicken… there really are tons of things!
Oh baby… I made this, this morning and all I have to say is WOAH! It is SO delish… TOTALLY SO not fat free, but worth EVERY BITE! I used maple flavored bacon and sharp cheddar. I also put a pad of butter in the eggs and some season salt… YUMMMMMY! You guys saved me SO much time and money. I was ready to do a WHOLE breakfast casserole! Thanks a TON… Your TOTALLY going on my blog roll!
Shelley Smith
I’m making this in the morning and adding mushrooms!
This is so pretty! My in-laws are coming to town next weekend so I definitely have to try this to impress my mother-in-law 🙂
Does the talent ever end with you two? If only I could be a little more domesticated!
Meagan- I do the mini mummies with crescent dough wrapped around hotdogs. So fun!
We do one for Halloween and call it the Mummy Calzone. We add two eyes (sliced olives) to the “head” so it literally looks like a mummy all wrapped up. It’s super cute and fun for parties.
We also spread a cream cheese/sugar mixture on the bread and top with pie filling (hubby loves cherry). Sometimes I top it with a glaze. So delicious.
Ok, first off I hate breakfast foods but I can’t wait to try this one! My kids would love the braid with pizza sauce, pizza toppings and cheese too.
Yeah, my 21 month old will love this. Thank you, I will add some veggies also.
er…hold that thought. Just having some technical difficulties! I’ll try to get it fixed soon!
Jennifer- not a dumb question at all! The HP printing service we were using got switched up so I had to remove it. I just need to find the new code and apply it so you can print the posts again. I’ll go do it right now! Hopefully when I fix it, there will be a little printer icon at the end of the post and that should take care of it. Sorry to everyone for that glitch!
first time at your blog… I LOVE that your recipe has words like Pillsbury in it. 🙂 Looks fantastic. I bet it would be good with chicken, broccoli and cream cheese.
Sara,
Dumb question probably… (not related to this post) but is there a trick to printing out the posts?
Yum! When I first saw the picture I thought it was way too advance for my cooking skills, but I think I could totally pull this off! lol
I’ve done this type of thing filled with pizza fillings. It’s tastes great, I’ll have to try some new things.
I dont know about the braid but I am excited to see the sheet w/out perforations. We make a veggie pizza appetizer (finger food)that we basically just pressed out the cressant roll dough in a cookie sheet. Then we add a ranch packet to cream cheese schmear that over the top then top with broccilli cut small and grated cheddar cheese sliced gray tomatoes, sliced black olives and chopped chives. People love it and so we do it all the time so it is nice to know that it will be easier now.
I have made something similar called “Brunch Bread”. You mix softened (not melted) butter with a ranch dip packet and spread it around on the dough. Then add bacon, cheese, ham, turkey, whatever your fancy. Wrap it up like you did and then add more of the butter and ranch mixture to the top. It is SO good! I’ll have to try it breakfast style!
the pre-made dough sheets look revolutionary! i make this braid with homemade dough and fill it with blueberry or cherry pie filling, and drizzle a glaze and slivered almonds over the top. its a cute holiday gift, but it ends up being a bit time consuming. this looks yum and quick and easy!
you had me at breakfast sandwich.
This looks very good. Maybe it could become a new conference morning tradition…in six months!
Or that filling made with almond paste from that ‘cookie’ recipe you make with puff pastry. The possibilities are ENDLESS!!!
Ooh I second Eric’s idea- but add cream cheese frosting! I am also imagining something involving cinnamon and honey butter…
My other idea is to fill it with the ingredients from our overnight sticky rolls caramel sauce.
Ooh or cranberries and orange zest with a sugary glaze.
Ok, I’m gonna go buy some now…
Love this!
Great stuff…would be good as a giant cinnamon roll.
Well, doesn’t that just make the cheerios with bananas that I just ate look rather…wanting?! But, I bet YOUR breakfast doesn’t lower your cholesterol (or whatever it is Cheerios claims to lower).
That braid comes together nicely. I admit I had my doubts at the beginning of the post when you said it was easy, but that really does look easy.
Stuff it with:
Lunch meat
Bear Claw filling
Pie Fillings
Cheese
Pizza fixings
Chocolate
Cream Cheese
Veggies N Cheese
I am a little hungry and wish I had this dough in the fridge right now!