Cheesy Garlic Cruffin is the perfect festive pastry for any holiday gathering. It adds buttery layers, gooey melted cheese, and rich garlic flavor to your table while staying easy enough for a quick prep session. This recipe fits beautifully into a Christmas Eve Finger Food Dinner and works well with Easy Christmas Party Recipes when you want something impressive without stress. You will learn how to shape flaky layers, fill them with garlic-cheese goodness, and bake them into a crowd-pleasing treat ideal for any Christmas Eve Finger Food Menu or Christmas Finger Food Menu.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Cheesy Garlic Cruffin
The story behind the recipe
Hi, I’m Barbara Anderson the creator behind KoyaRecipes.com. This is where I share my love for simple, flavorful meals that make everyday cooking feel easy and joyful. From weeknight-friendly one-pan dinners to sweet treats that brighten your day, every recipe is designed with comfort, flavor, and real-life ease in mind. My passion for cooking started in my grandmother’s cozy kitchen. I grew up measuring flour by feel, learning family secrets, and discovering the joy of feeding the people you love. Those memories still guide me today. Now, as a busy mom, the kitchen is the heart of our home, where we laugh, taste, and create moments that matter.
Key reasons this recipe stands out
The rich garlic flavor melts into the soft interior while the exterior stays crisp and flaky. These cruffins look bakery-level fancy but stay incredibly easy to make. They also hold well on party trays, making them ideal for Christmas Party Recipes and Christmas Eve Finger Food Ideas. Their savory taste pairs well with nearly any other dish on your holiday menu.
Ingredients
Detailed ingredient list with tips and substitutions
All-purpose flour 3 cups
Instant yeast 2 ¼ teaspoons
Sugar 2 tablespoons
Salt 1 ½ teaspoons
Warm milk 1 cup
Softened butter 3 tablespoons
Cold butter for lamination 1 cup
Minced garlic 3 tablespoons
Shredded mozzarella 1 cup
Grated Parmesan ½ cup
Fresh parsley 2 tablespoons
Ingredient notes or pro tips
Use fresh garlic for the strongest flavor, or roasted garlic for a milder bite. Cold butter is essential for creating flaky layers. Store-bought puff pastry can be used in a pinch, but homemade dough gives superior texture. Shredding cheese from a block melts better than packaged shreds.
How to Make Cheesy Garlic Cruffin
Step-by-step cooking instructions
- Mix warm milk, yeast, sugar, salt, butter, and flour. Knead until smooth. Let rise until doubled.
- Roll chilled dough into a rectangle. Place a cold butter slab inside, fold, and laminate with several turns and rests.
- Roll dough out again, spread garlic butter, add mozzarella and Parmesan, and roll tightly.
- Cut into strips, twist, and coil into muffin cups to form the cruffin shape.
- Let rise until puffy, then bake at 375°F until golden brown.
- Brush warm cruffins with garlic butter and sprinkle parsley.
Common variations or flavor adjustments
Add chili flakes for heat. Swap mozzarella with Gruyère for a deeper flavor. Sprinkle everything bagel seasoning for a fun twist. Add chopped spinach to the filling for a festive green color.
Serving Cheesy Garlic Cruffin
Serving suggestions and pairings
Serve these with marinara, aioli, herb dips, or alongside a charcuterie board. They work beautifully in a Quick And Easy Christmas Party Food spread or as part of Christmas Party Recipes you want guests to rave about. Perfect for a Christmas Eve Finger Food Dinner or a Christmas Finger Food Menu.
How to make it look beautiful on the plate
Arrange cruffins on a large wooden board. Add parsley sprigs, red napkins, and small holiday picks. Dust each cruffin with Parmesan just before serving.
How to Perfect Cheesy Garlic Cruffin
Expert tips for success
Chill the dough between folds to keep the butter intact. Use high-quality butter for better layers. Grease muffin tins well. Bake on the middle rack for even browning.
Troubleshooting advice
If the inside is doughy, extend baking time. If layers look dense, your butter melted too early; chill longer. If cheese leaks, reduce filling slightly and seal the dough more tightly.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Typical cooking or prep errors
Skipping dough resting times. Over-handling the dough. Rolling uneven thickness. Using warm butter during lamination.
How to fix or prevent them
Let dough chill fully. Roll evenly. Keep butter firm but pliable. Follow rise times closely.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
Best way to store leftovers
Store cooled cruffins in an airtight container for 2 days. Freeze for up to 1 month wrapped individually.
Reheating methods
Reheat in a 325°F oven for 6 minutes for crisp edges. Avoid microwaving because it softens the layers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I make Cheesy Garlic Cruffin ahead of time?
Yes. Prepare and shape the dough, then refrigerate overnight. Bake the next day for fresh, flaky layers.
Can I use different cheese types?
Yes. Cheddar, Gouda, Gruyère, or vegan cheese alternatives work very well.
Are these vegetarian?
Yes, just use vegetarian-rennet cheeses.
Can I make this dairy free?
Yes. Use vegan butter and dairy-free mozzarella-style cheese.
Cheesy Garlic Cruffin is the ultimate addition to your Easy Christmas Party Recipes and Quick Easy Christmas Finger Foods. It offers bakery-quality flavor with simple steps and fits perfectly into your Christmas Eve Finger Food Menu or any holiday gathering. Try it, enjoy the layers of garlic-cheese goodness, and share your experience. Your holiday guests will love every bite.
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Cheesy Garlic Cruffin: Delicious Holiday Finger Food
Flaky, cheesy, and bursting with flavor, these Cheesy Chive Garlic Butter Cruffins are a savory twist on the classic croissant-muffin hybrid — perfect for brunch, holiday gatherings, or a comforting snack.
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
Ingredients
3 tubes crescent roll dough (or puff pastry), seams sealed and rolled out
1 cup unsalted butter, softened (divided)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives (divided)
3 cloves garlic, minced (divided)
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a standard 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
2. Working on a lightly floured surface, roll out each tube of dough to a 12×16-inch rectangle. If using perforated dough, pinch the seams to seal.
3. In a medium bowl, combine 1/3 of the butter, half of the chives, and half of the garlic.
4. Spread about 1/3 of the butter mixture evenly over one sheet of dough.
5. Sprinkle 1 cup of cheddar cheese evenly over the buttered dough.
6. Starting from the long edge, tightly roll the dough into a log.
7. Cut the log in half crosswise, then slice each half lengthwise to create four sections.
8. Repeat the process with the remaining two sheets of dough to get 12 sections total.
9. With the layered side facing out, roll each section into a cinnamon roll shape, tucking in the end. Place each into the prepared muffin tin.
10. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until golden brown.
11. While the cruffins bake, prepare the garlic butter topping by combining remaining butter, garlic, chives, and salt in a small bowl.
12. Brush the warm cruffins with the garlic butter and serve.
Notes
Use a sharp knife or kitchen scissors to slice the dough cleanly for better layering.
If using puff pastry instead of crescent dough, thaw according to package directions before rolling out.
These are best served warm but can be stored in an airtight container and reheated in the oven.
Try adding a pinch of red pepper flakes or parmesan for extra flavor.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cruffin
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 370mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
