A soft, golden crescent ring filled with rich vanilla cream cheese and juicy cherry pie filling, wrapped in a beautiful spiral and drizzled with a sweet glaze. This showstopper dessert is as easy to make as it is eye-catching—a perfect centerpiece for brunch, holidays, or cozy weekend treats.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

• No-fuss pastry: Uses store-bought crescent rolls for quick assembly.

• Creamy + fruity: The blend of tangy cream cheese and sweet cherries hits all the right notes.

• Crowd-pleasing design: Baked into a stunning ring that slices beautifully.

• Versatile treat: Great for breakfast, dessert, or even gifting.

Cherry Cream Cheese Crescent Ring

The humble crescent roll dough has long been the secret weapon of home bakers. It’s endlessly versatile, delightfully buttery, and bakes up golden with a satisfying flake. But perhaps its greatest transformation happens in this cherry cream cheese crescent twist—a classic American-inspired dessert that looks bakery-fancy but is secretly beginner-friendly.

This recipe is a gentle tribute to midwestern potlucks and holiday brunch tables. You know the ones: where someone’s grandma always pulls out a secret family recipe that’s simple yet unforgettable. Here, we take that heartwarming charm and elevate it just enough for modern kitchens without losing its comforting soul.

Crescent dough forms the base, but it’s the filling that steals the show. We’re working with a whipped vanilla cream cheese mixture—tangy, fluffy, and lightly sweet. It marries beautifully with glossy cherry pie filling, creating an irresistible combo of textures and flavors. Tart meets creamy. Sweet meets buttery. Soft meets crisp.

Instead of slapping it together, we’re layering it with a bit more care. The triangles are fanned in a circular pattern, overlapping to create a nest for the fillings. When the pointed ends fold back over the top, the result is an elegant ring that bakes into a braided, golden-brown centerpiece.

But don’t let the beauty fool you—this is one of the easiest impressive-looking desserts you’ll ever make. No special tools or skills required. If you can open a can of dough and stir a bowl of cream cheese, you’re already halfway there.

The glaze, a simple blend of powdered sugar and milk, adds just the right amount of sweetness and shine. It drizzles over the warm pastry like a glossy ribbon, tying the whole thing together in flavor and finish.

And here’s the beauty of it: you can customize it in so many ways. Swap cherries for blueberries or strawberries. Add a touch of lemon zest to the cream cheese. Sprinkle with chopped almonds. The possibilities are endless—but the original version is already a knockout.

This dessert has become a go-to for potlucks, Easter mornings, Christmas brunch, and Sunday coffee sessions. Guests always ask for the recipe, and they’re always shocked at how simple it is.

It’s not just a treat—it’s a conversation starter, a memory maker, and the kind of dish that says, “You’re welcome in my kitchen.” Warm, soft, slightly tangy, and delightfully sweet—this crescent twist tastes like a hug.

For those who love a balance between flaky pastry and creamy filling, this recipe delivers. And if you’re someone who appreciates shortcuts that don’t compromise taste or appearance, this is a dessert you’ll make again and again.

The texture, too, is a highlight: soft in the middle, with a gentle crunch at the edges, and that creamy-fruity bite in every mouthful. Serve it warm for ultimate melt-in-your-mouth goodness.

So whether you’re planning a brunch buffet or just want something cozy for the weekend, this Cherry Cream Cheese Crescent Twist checks all the boxes: beautiful, delicious, easy, and unforgettable.

SERVINGS

8 servings

TIME

• Prep Time: 15 minutes

• Cook Time: 20 minutes

• Total Time: 35 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cans refrigerated crescent roll dough

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• 1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 1 tablespoon milk

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a round pizza pan or baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese with granulated sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Set aside.

3. Unroll crescent dough and separate into triangles. On the prepared pan, arrange triangles in a circle with the wide ends overlapping in the center and the points facing outward. Leave about a 5–6 inch opening in the middle.

4. Gently press overlapping dough to seal the inner ring.

5. Spoon cherry pie filling over the sealed dough ring. Carefully place dollops of the cream cheese mixture on top of the cherries.

6. Fold the pointed ends of the dough triangles over the filling, tucking under the inner ring. Press gently to seal.

7. Bake for 18–20 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.

8. While the ring bakes, whisk powdered sugar and milk in a small bowl until a smooth glaze forms.

9. Remove the baked ring from the oven. Let cool slightly, then drizzle glaze over the top.

10. Slice and serve warm or at room temperature.

TIPS

• Let cream cheese come to room temperature before mixing for a smoother filling.

• Don’t overload with filling—use a gentle hand for neat folding and better baking.

• Try adding orange or lemon zest to the glaze for a citrus twist.

• Make it ahead: Assemble and chill the ring (unbaked) overnight, then bake fresh in the morning.