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Close-up of delicious Christmas Cranberry Roll Ups, a festive holiday treat.

Irresistible Christmas Cranberry Roll Ups

These Christmas Cranberry Roll Ups are a delightful holiday treat, combining tart cranberries, warm cinnamon, and flaky crescent roll dough. They are perfect for breakfast, dessert, or a festive snack, and are sure to become a new holiday tradition.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 12
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 250
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar for filling
  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon for filling
  • Pinch of ground cloves optional
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar for coating
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon for coating
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar for glaze
  • 1-2 tablespoons milk or orange juice for glaze
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract optional, for glaze

Equipment

  • Medium saucepan
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Small bowls
  • Fork or whisk
  • Sharp knife
  • Wire rack

Method
 

  1. In a medium saucepan, combine the cranberries, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, orange juice, orange zest, cinnamon, and cloves (if using).
  2. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
  3. Reduce the heat to low and cook for about 8-10 minutes, or until the cranberries have softened and the sauce has thickened slightly. Remove from heat and let the cranberry filling cool completely.
  4. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  5. In a small bowl, combine the 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon for the coating. Set aside.
  6. Unroll the crescent roll dough on a lightly floured surface.
  7. Carefully spread the cooled cranberry filling evenly over the crescent roll dough.
  8. Starting from the wide end, tightly roll up the dough into a log.
  9. Using a sharp knife, slice the log into about 1-inch thick rolls.
  10. Dip each roll in the melted butter, then immediately coat it in the cinnamon-sugar mixture, ensuring all sides are covered.
  11. Place the coated rolls onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between each one.
  12. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
  13. Remove from the oven and let the rolls cool slightly on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack.
  14. While the rolls are cooling, prepare the glaze (if using). In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk or orange juice, and vanilla extract (if using) until smooth. Add more liquid if needed to reach your desired consistency.
  15. Drizzle the glaze over the warm (but not piping hot) cranberry roll ups.

Notes

Store leftover roll ups in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat them in the oven or microwave before serving. For a richer flavor, add a layer of cream cheese filling between the dough and the cranberry filling. Simply mix softened cream cheese with a little sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. Add chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds over the cranberry filling before rolling up the dough for added crunch. Experiment with different citrus fruits like lemon or lime zest in the cranberry filling. A pinch of nutmeg or ginger would also complement the cranberry flavor nicely, add it to the cranberry filling or the cinnamon-sugar coating.