cheesy garlic cruffin

Featured in Fresh From the Oven.

These savory cruffins start with store-bought crescent dough for easy prep. Mix softened butter with minced garlic, fresh chives, and plenty of shredded cheddar. Spread this flavorful mixture over the dough, roll it up tightly, and cut into sections. Nestle each piece into a muffin tin, and they bake up tall with beautifully flaky layers. Golden brown and bursting with garlic butter and melted cheese in every bite, these cruffins are like garlic bread meets croissant in the most delicious way. Perfect for brunch or as a savory snack!
A young woman with wavy hair is gazing down contemplatively in a warmly lit kitchen filled with plants.
Updated on Thu, 16 Jan 2025 00:00:05 GMT
A close-up of three golden, spiral-shaped pastries topped with chives, displayed in a dark bowl on a wooden surface. Pin it
A close-up of three golden, spiral-shaped pastries topped with chives, displayed in a dark bowl on a wooden surface. | cookingkeys.com

Let me tell you about these amazing cheesy garlic cruffins that have become our family's most requested bread! The first time I made them, my kitchen smelled so incredible the neighbors actually came knocking to see what was baking. They're like the perfect mix of a croissant and muffin stuffed with gooey cheese, garlic butter, and fresh chives. The outside gets all crispy and golden while the inside stays soft and fluffy—pure heaven in every bite!

Why Everyone Goes Crazy For These

These little beauties are my secret weapon for dinner parties! Even my sister, who claims she can't cook, makes these perfectly every time. The best part? They start with store-bought crescent dough but end up tasting totally homemade. Last Thanksgiving, I made a double batch and they disappeared before the turkey even made it to the table! My mother-in-law actually asked for the recipe—now that's saying something.

What You'll Need

  • The Basics: Tubes of fresh crescent roll dough, real butter (none of that margarine stuff), fresh garlic cloves, sharp cheddar cheese, fresh chives from your garden or produce section, and a pinch of salt to make everything pop.
  • Kitchen Tools: Your trusty muffin tin, a pastry brush for all that garlic butter, and a cheese grater (fresh grated melts better!).

Let's Get Baking

Setting Up Your Kitchen
First, grab your muffin tin and give it a quick spray. I learned the hard way—these cheesy beauties love to stick! Mix up your garlic butter first: crushed fresh garlic, melted butter, and a tiny pinch of salt. The smell alone will make your mouth water!
Rolling And Filling
Pop open those crescents and lay them out. Brush them with that amazing garlic butter, then sprinkle generous amounts of cheese and chives. Don't skimp here—more is definitely better! Roll them up and twist into cute little spirals. My kids call this part the 'snake dance!'
The Final Touch
Tuck each twisted roll into your muffin tin. Give them one last brush with garlic butter—this is what makes them extra golden and crispy. Sometimes I add a little extra cheese on top because, well, why not?
A tray of golden, flaky pastry rolls topped with herbs. Pin it
A tray of golden, flaky pastry rolls topped with herbs. | cookingkeys.com

My Kitchen Tricks

Want to know what makes these extra special? Always grate your own cheese—it melts so much better than the pre-shredded stuff. Make sure you twist those rolls nice and tight—loose ones tend to unwind while baking. And that final brush of garlic butter? Don't skip it! It's what gives them that gorgeous golden color and amazing flavor that keeps everyone coming back for more.

Perfect Pairings

These cruffins are amazing with just about everything! Dunk them in tomato soup, serve them alongside your favorite pasta, or just snack on them straight from the oven. At parties, I set out some marinara sauce for dipping. Last week, I served them with a big salad for dinner, and my usually picky eater cleaned his plate! They're perfect for holiday meals too—adds such a special touch to the bread basket.

Keeping Them Fresh

If you have any leftovers (and that's a big if in my house!), let them cool completely before storing in a container. They'll stay good for about three days, but honestly, they never last that long. Want to restore that fresh-baked crispiness? Pop them in the oven for a few minutes. The cheese gets all melty again—pure happiness!

Mix It Up

Sometimes I get creative and use different cheeses—Gruyere makes them taste super fancy! Adding some red pepper flakes gives them a nice kick. Once, I made mini versions in a small muffin tin—perfect for appetizers. My friend used puff pastry instead of crescents for her daughter's birthday party—talk about impressive!

A close-up of golden, flaky pastry cups filled with melted butter and topped with chopped herbs. Pin it
A close-up of golden, flaky pastry cups filled with melted butter and topped with chopped herbs. | cookingkeys.com

Your Special Touch

The fun part about these cruffins is making them your own! Try adding different herbs—I love fresh rosemary in mine. Sometimes I set up a little topping bar with different cheeses and seasonings when friends come over—everyone gets to create their perfect cruffin. They're so easy to customize and always turn out delicious. Just remember—the most important ingredient is sharing them with people you love!

Frequently Asked Questions

→ What is a cruffin?

A cruffin is a hybrid pastry that combines elements of a croissant and a muffin. In this recipe, it's made with crescent roll dough baked in a muffin tin.

→ What are the main ingredients in these cheesy garlic cruffins?

The main ingredients are crescent roll dough, butter, chives, garlic, and cheddar cheese.

→ How do you prepare the cruffins?

The crescent roll dough is rolled out, filled with a cheesy garlic butter mixture, rolled up, cut into sections, and then baked in a muffin tin.

→ Are these cruffins served with any topping?

Yes, after baking, the cruffins are brushed with a garlic butter topping made with melted butter, garlic, chives, and salt.

→ How many cruffins does this recipe make?

This recipe makes 12 cheesy garlic cruffins.

cheesy garlic cruffin

A savory cruffin recipe with crescent roll dough filled with cheesy garlic butter, chives, and baked in a muffin tin.

Prep Time
20 Minutes
Cook Time
25 Minutes
Total Time
45 Minutes

Category: Breads & Muffins

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 12 Servings (12 cruffins)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 3 tubes (8 ounces each) refrigerated crescent roll sheets.
02 1/2 cup (1 stick / 113 g) unsalted butter, softened.
03 1 tablespoon chives, finely chopped.
04 1 tablespoon garlic, minced.
05 3 cups (339 g) mild cheddar cheese, shredded.
06 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted.
07 1 teaspoon garlic, minced.
08 1 teaspoon chives, finely chopped.
09 1 teaspoon kosher salt.

Instructions

Step 01

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray and set it aside.

Step 02

On a lightly floured surface, roll out each tube of crescent roll dough into a 12x16-inch rectangle.

Step 03

In a bowl, combine the softened butter, chopped chives, and minced garlic.

Step 04

Spread about 1/3 of the butter mixture over one sheet of dough, then sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.

Step 05

Starting from the long end, tightly roll up the dough into a log. Cut the log in half, then cut each half lengthwise to create 4 sections.

Step 06

Repeat steps 4 and 5 with the remaining two sheets of dough, creating 12 sections in total.

Step 07

Working with one section at a time, roll it up tightly into a spiral shape and place it in the prepared muffin tin. Repeat with the remaining sections.

Step 08

Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Step 09

While the cruffins are baking, make the garlic butter by whisking together the melted butter, minced garlic, chopped chives, and salt.

Step 10

Once the cruffins are out of the oven, brush them with the garlic butter topping.

Tools You'll Need

  • 12-cup muffin tin.
  • Mixing bowls.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Milk.
  • Wheat.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 403
  • Total Fat: ~
  • Total Carbohydrate: ~
  • Protein: ~