Description

A delicious savory turkey and cranberry crescent ring featuring a creamy turkey filling blended with cranberry sauce and cheese, wrapped in buttery crescent dough and baked to golden perfection. Perfect for holiday gatherings or a comforting meal, this recipe combines festive flavors in an easy-to-make ring that looks impressive on any table.

Ingredients

Scale

Crescent Dough

2 cans (8 oz each) refrigerated crescent rolls (regular triangle-shaped)

Turkey Filling

2 cups cooked turkey, chopped or shredded (light or dark meat)
1 cup cranberry sauce (whole berry or jellied)
1 cup shredded cheese (Mozzarella, Swiss, provolone, or mild cheddar)
½ cup cream cheese, softened
¼ cup mayonnaise (optional)
½ cup chopped celery (optional)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary or thyme (optional)
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
¼ teaspoon black pepper

For Finishing

1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)

Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) and allow it to fully preheat to ensure even baking and proper crisping of the crescent dough.
Prepare Your Baking Surface: Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easy. If parchment paper is unavailable, lightly grease the baking sheet.
Make the Turkey-Cranberry Filling: In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped or shredded turkey with the cranberry sauce, folding gently to coat evenly. Add shredded cheese to help bind the filling. Mix in the softened cream cheese (warm it for 10 seconds if too firm). Stir in mayonnaise for extra richness if using, then add chopped celery for crunch, fresh herbs if desired, and season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until creamy but not runny.
Prepare the Crescent Ring Base: Open the crescent rolls and separate the dough into individual triangles. Arrange them on the lined baking sheet in a circle with the wide ends toward the center, overlapping slightly to form a continuous ring. The pointed ends should extend outward like sun rays. Press the overlapping wide ends gently to seal the center with no gaps.
Add the Filling to the Ring: Spoon the turkey-cranberry filling in a thick, even circle over the wide ends of the dough, keeping the filling 1–2 inches away from the outer edge to prevent spilling during baking.
Fold and Seal the Crescent Ring: Lift each pointed end of dough up and over the filling, tucking the tips underneath the center ring to secure. Continue around the ring until the filling is fully enclosed, creating a wreath-like shape.
Brush with Egg Wash: Lightly coat the top of the dough ring with the beaten egg using a pastry brush to achieve a golden, glossy finish once baked.
Bake the Ring: Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 20–25 minutes until the dough is cooked through and a deep golden brown. If the top browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil halfway through baking.
Cool and Serve: Allow the crescent ring to cool for about 5 minutes before slicing into wedges like a pizza. Serve warm with additional cranberry sauce or gravy on the side.

Notes

You can use either whole berry or jellied cranberry sauce depending on your texture preference.
Light or dark turkey meat works well; shredded turkey produces a softer filling, while chopped turkey adds more texture.
Mayonnaise and celery are optional but add creaminess and crunch respectively.
Fresh herbs such as rosemary or thyme enhance the holiday flavor but can be omitted if unavailable.
Softening the cream cheese makes mixing easier and creates a smoother filling.
Be careful not to overfill or extend the filling too close to the dough edges to avoid spills during baking.
If crescent sheet dough is used, shape adjustments may be needed to form the ring properly.
Cover with foil if browning too fast to prevent burning while ensuring the dough cooks through.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: turkey crescent ring, cranberry turkey crescent, holiday turkey ring, savory crescent ring, turkey crescent appetizer, cranberry turkey baking