Salami and Cheese Roses (Easy 3 Ingredient Appetizer!)

The holidays are nearly upon us and I have entertaining on my mind! I am prepared to soak in the jovial spirit inspired by the lights, the holiday music, and the gatherings of friends and family. Over the years, I’ve learned how to streamline entertaining so that the weight of hosting doesn’t outweigh the enjoyment of the party.

A few years ago, I made pigs in a blanket by wrapping Pillsbury crescent dough around mini hot dogs. I usually make things from scratch and avoid heavily processed foods, but I had a hankering for the old-school throwback app. They were such a crowd-pleaser! I’ve made pigs in a blanket numerous times since then, and they are usually the first thing to disappear.

Somehow holiday parties make unhealthy eating permissible. We gather once a year and collectively accept that we will allow ourselves to indulge. In the same way that many diets have “cheat days,” I like the idea of holiday parties becoming a safe space for indulgence—let your taste buds guide the way, leave guilt behind, and give our usual healthy-eating rules the night off.

Many holiday appetizers are fussy to make—and sometimes worth the effort. In the coming weeks, I’m going to share a number of different hors d’oeuvres with seasonal flair for your holiday party planning. Some take a little extra effort, but I’m mostly focusing on EASY this year.

These Salami and Cheese Roses have only three ingredients! The assembly and rolling take some time, but they are so pretty and delicious that it’s worth it. My daughter learned how to make salami roses for charcuterie platters a few years ago, and I had those on my mind when I schemed up the idea to roll them in crescent dough creating a new alternative to pigs in a blanket. Most things are better with cheese, so I sprinkled some shredded Italian cheese inside as well.

My entire family sampled these salami and cheese appetizers, and they were a major hit—they are our new favorite! If you want to add even more flair to this appetizer, you could include a dipping sauce. Hot honey, pesto, or marinara would accompany the flavors nicely.

10 Reasons Salami and Cheese Roses are a Perfect Holiday Appetizer:

1. The recipe uses only 3 ingredients!
2. The ingredients (crescent dough, salami, and shredded cheese) are all easily accessible.
3. The little rose-shaped appetizers look so pretty on a platter!
4. Paired with rosemary garnish, the red and green color is perfectly festive for Christmas or other holiday parties.
5. The appetizers can be assembled the day before, then baked right before your party.
6. They’re the perfect size to grab with one hand, hold on a cocktail napkin, and eat in 2–3 bites.
7. They aren’t messy at all—no gooey, sloppy, or sticky ingredients to contend with.
8. These salami and cheese roses taste amazing hot and are still delicious when they have cooled to room temperature.
9. The recipe is flexible. Try different types of salami (as long as it’s thinly cut) and your favorite cheese. Try spreading pesto or herb butter on the dough for added flavor. You can experiment and have fun.
10. My daughter declared that the flavor is a 10 out of 10—so kids will eat them too!

About the Appetizer Ingredients and Equipment:

Crescent Rolls:
You can often buy a roll of crescent dough that has no seams. If you can find that one, get it! If not, just press the seams together when you take it out of the can. I usually buy Pillsbury brand because I am used to the classic flavor, but others will do. You could experiment with puff pastry as well, but it will poof up more.

Salami:
Use salami that is about 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter to make the same size roses that I did. I cut the dough about 3/4 inch tall and used a mini muffin tin. If you want larger Salami and Cheese Roses, you can use larger slices of salami. Be sure it is thin-cut and pliable.

Shredded Cheese:
I used Italian blend, finely shredded cheese. Mozzarella doesn’t have quite as much flavor, and I wanted Italian notes—but you could try different cheeses based on your preference.

Mini Muffin Pan:
For the bite-size appetizers I wanted, I used a mini muffin pan. My measurements in the recipe will create these smaller appetizers, but you can make a larger version using a traditional muffin pan. If you don’t have a mini muffin pan, you can pinch the seam of your roll-up closed and bake them on a sheet pan. They may not hold together quite as well, but they will still taste delicious!

How to Make the Salami and Cheese Roses – It’s Easy!

Gather your 3 ingredients in one place. If your crescent roll dough has seams, push them together the best you can. Cut a strip across the short way, about 3/4 inches tall. Sprinkle cheese along the strip.

Cut your pieces of salami in half and lay them across the cheese. Overlap the edges a bit, this will create the rose look when the are rolled up.

Starting on one end, carefully roll up the strip. When you are at the end, slightly pinch the dough so hold the rose closed.

Place the finished salami and cheese appetizer into a greased mini muffin tin. You will then bake them at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until the crescent dough has turned golden brown.

One of my favorite things about blogging, is connecting with others who are cooking, baking, and entertaining. I’d love to hear from you if you make these! How did you like them? Did you experiment with other ingredients or any dipping sauces? Leave a comment on this post or tag me on Instagram @whippedtheblog.

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