Pigs in a blanket from scratch are a delicious and easy appetizer or snack to make for your next party or gathering. Juicy hot dogs are topped with cheese and wrapped in flaky, buttery, pastry dough and baked to perfection. These mini crescent dogs are a family favorite enjoyed by all ages. The best part? They are ready in just 25 minutes, can easily be made ahead, and are freezer-friendly. They are the perfect last-minute appy.
Why You’ll Love Pigs in a Blanket
- They’re quick and easy to prep. These pigs in a blanket are easier and faster to make thank your traditional version because we take a shortcut to speed up the prep time in half but gives the same delicious results. Instead of wrapping lil smokies individually, we wrap an entire hot dog and cut it into smaller pieces before baking.
- It’s salty, cheesy, meaty goodness. What’s not to love? A salty, savory hot dog meets melted cheddar cheese, and it’s all wrapped up in a flaky, soft pastry dough. These mini smokies with cheese are loved by kids and adults alike.
- A handheld appetizer that is fun to eat. Bite-sized appys are always so much more fun to snack on, and easy to serve. They are one of my favorite snacks when hosting a party along with some of my other handheld favorites such as: Fried Mac and Cheese Balls, Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts, and Antipasto Skewers.
- Easy to make ahead. You can easily assemble your franks in a blanket and store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, or longer in the freezer. Serve them any time of the day — not only as an appetizer or snack, but even for breakfast, lunch (kids love these for school lunch!), or dinner.
Ingredient Notes
Pigs in a blanket are made with just 2 ingredients: mini smokies and pastry dough (or crescent rolls). We add some cheese which is completely optional (full quantities in recipe card below):
- pastry dough - feel free to use store-bought crescent rolls or a homemade pastry dough. We used our puff pastry pie dough.
- hot dogs - we use full size hot dogs and cut them after rolling. You can use cocktail smokies if you prefer, and wrap the rolls individually.
- cheese - adding cheese is optional. We stuffed these pigs in a blanket with cheddar cheese. You can use any kind of melty cheese that you like such as a Tex Mex blend, mozzarella, or Gruyere.
- egg - we also use a beaten egg for the egg wash on top to give the pastry an extra golden color.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons (or a kitchen scale) and a half sheet baking pan.
How to Make the Best Pigs in a Blanket
- Divide pastry dough. Divide the pastry dough sheet evenly into 6 pieces (approximately 3x6-inch rectangles). If you are using homemade pie dough, roll it into a 10x12-inch rectangle and slice into 6 even pieces.
- Assemble and cut. Sprinkle cheese evenly on each piece of dough and place a hot dog on top. Gently roll up the dough tightly around the hot dog into a log and pinch the end edges to seal. Cut each roll into 3 even pieces using a knife or bench scraper, each about 2 inches long.
- Bake. Arrange the hot dog rolls on a parchment lined baking sheet and apply egg wash on top. Bake in a 400F preheated oven until golden brown and flaky, about 15-20 minutes. Serve immediately with ketchup for dipping.
Storing and Freezing Instructions
- How to store: Allow any leftover pigs in a blanket cool to room temperature first. Then, place them in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- How to reheat: Reheat pigs in a blanket the same way you that cooked them — in a 400F preheated oven for 15 minutes. You can also reheat them in the air fryer for 5-10 minutes until warmed through.
- How to freeze: You can freeze these pigs in a blanket both before and after cooking. Either way, wrap the pigs in a blanket tightly in plastic wrap (allow them to cool first if baked). Then, place in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. They will keep for up to 2 months in the freezer.
- How to cook or reheat from frozen: When ready to make or reheat, allow the frozen pigs in a blanket to thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Then, follow cooking or reheating instructions. You can also bake them from frozen, but increase the cook time by 20-25 minutes.
More Bite-Sized Appetizers
- 30 New Year’s Eve Appetizers
- Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites
- Mashed Potato Balls
- Sticky Honey Garlic Meatballs
- Deviled Eggs
- Fried Mac and Cheese Balls
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Recipe
Pigs in a Blanket
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 18 pieces
Description
Pigs in a blanket from scratch are a delicious and easy appetizer or snack to make for your next party or gathering — juicy, cheesy, flaky, and buttery.
Ingredients
- 1 (250 gram) sheet pastry dough (homemade or store-bought), thawed
- 1 + ½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 6 hot dogs
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 F.
- Divide the pastry dough sheet evenly into 6 pieces (approximately 3x6-inch rectangles). If you are using homemade pie dough, roll it into a 10x12-inch rectangle and slice into 6 even pieces.
- Sprinkle 3 tablespoons cheese evenly on each piece of dough and place a hot dog on top. Gently roll up the dough tightly around the hot dog into a log and pinch the end edges to seal.
- Cut each roll into 3 even pieces using a knife or bench scraper, each about 2 inches long.
- Arrange the hot dog rolls on a parchment lined baking sheet and apply egg wash on top.
- Bake until golden brown and flaky, about 15-20 minutes. Serve immediately with ketchup for dipping.
Notes
How to store: Allow any leftover pigs in a blanket cool to room temperature first. Then, place them in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
How to reheat: Reheat pigs in a blanket the same way you that cooked them — in a 400F preheated oven for 15 minutes. You can also reheat them in the air fryer for 5-10 minutes until warmed through.
How to freeze: You can freeze these pigs in a blanket both before and after cooking. Either way, wrap the pigs in a blanket tightly in plastic wrap (allow them to cool first if baked). Then, place in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. They will keep for up to 2 months in the freezer.
How to cook or reheat from frozen: When ready to make or reheat, allow the frozen pigs in a blanket to thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Then, follow cooking or reheating instructions. You can also bake them from frozen, but increase the cook time by 20-25 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: pigs in a blanket, franks in a blanket, pigs in a blanket with cheese, cheesy pigs in a blanket, how to make pig in a blanket
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