Pie filling, in this case apple, is sandwiched between layers of crescent dough and a bottom layer of sweetened cream cheese, topped with cinnamon sugar. Just delicious and so easy.

Apple and Cream Cheese Dessert

Okay. Ya gotta admit. Doesn't that just look dreamy?

I just happened to have a package of crescent rolls and cream cheese in the fridge when I ran across this recipe in the Best of the Best from Mississippi Cookbook and it sounded so good that it haunted me until I made it!

By the way, if you haven't ever seen them before, the Best of the Best series of cookbooks is another great cookbook source to add to your collection {y'all do have a collection like me, right? Or am I the only cookbook junkie out there?? Anybody? Anybody??}. Whether it's the 'Best of' cookbook from your state, a neighboring state or someplace you've never been, I think you will be pleased with these cookbooks! I have several of them and love them - they all have really great recipes in them. I hope to have all 50 someday!! Check out my review here for Best of the Best from the Deep South. Now, that's a great one for sure!

They are basically compilations of recipes selected from dozens of that state's favorite cookbooks, so you sort of get a well-rounded taste of a lot of different cookbooks for not a lot of money. And they tell you where each of the recipes come from, so if you find several recipes you like from a single source, you know exactly what cookbook to buy. Heck they even give you that information detail in the back of the cookbook. Now, they're plain Jane cookbooks, no pictures, just recipes, but I think that they really are a bargain. Be sure to check them out sometime!

Anyway... back to this recipe. I am obsessed with finding different things to do with crescent rolls anyway, and cream cheese and apples go together so well that this sounded delicious. Well, it didn't disappoint I have to tell ya! This dessert is just a fantastic combination of flavors - the creaminess of the melted cream cheese all nestled into the apples that are sandwiched in between two layers of tender dough, and then the cinnamon sugar sort of caramelizes and creates this kind of crunchy top. Gosh this was good, and so easy too. Give this one a try for sure! Goes great with a hot cup of coffee.

Using fresh apples? Just core, peel and slice and stew them down with a bit of butter for about 15-20 minutes until softened.

What you'll need. One package of crescent rolls, 1/2 of an 8-ounce package of cream cheese, 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract, one can of apple pie filling, 1/2 stick of butter, melted, and a mixture of cinnamon and sugar for sprinkling on top.

Open the crescent roll package, unroll and divide in half, pinching the seams lightly together. Place into a 8 x 8 inch baking dish that has been lightly sprayed with non-stick spray. Please note that I am using a glass Pyrex baking dish, that I believe gives a better result. Do not reduce the oven temperature!


Mix the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla extract together and place on top of the crescent rolls.


Spread the cream cheese evenly all across the top.


Layer the apples on top of the cream cheese layer. Be sure to check your pie filling to see if it is regular, sugar free, or low sugar to see if you may want to add additional sweetener.


Add the other half of the crescent rolls on top of the apples.


Pour the melted butter all over the top of that.


And sprinkle generously with the cinnamon sugar mixture.


Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes until golden brown.

Check this one out!

Cherry Cream Cheese Dessert - made with cherry pie filling and a nice sprinkle of granulated sugar on top instead of the cinnamon sugar.

Recipe: Apple and Cream Cheese Dessert

©From the Kitchen of Deep South Dish

Prep time: 10 min |Cook time: 30 min |

Yield: About 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

• 4 ounces of cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 package of crescent rolls
• 1 can of apple pie filling
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) of unsalted butter, melted
• Mixture of cinnamon and sugar*

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8" x 8" glass baking pan with non-stick spray and set aside. Hand whip the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla extract together until well blended.

Unroll the package of crescent rolls and cut into even halves. Pinch together the seams and place one of the halves into the bottom of the baking pan. Spread the cream cheese evenly on top of the dough and top that with the apple pie filling. If you are using a low sugar or sugar free apple pie filling, you'll probably want to add some sugar or brown sugar to the apples. Top with the other half of the dough and pour the melted butter all over. Sprinkle generously with the cinnamon sugar.

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes until golden brown. Let cool long enough to set the filling before cutting.

Cook's Notes: Please note that I am using a glass Pyrex baking dish at 350 degrees F. Using fresh apples? Just core, peel and slice and stew them down with a bit of butter for about 15-20 minutes until softened. Let cool slightly before assembling the dessert. This also makes a perfectly delicious easy cream cheese danish when made without the fruit.

Tip: Several of our readers have made this in the 8 x 8 inch baking pan, but doubling the cream cheese and pill filling with great success. Thanks Ann!

Variations: Experiment with other pie fillings - cherry and blueberry are good substitutes with a plain sprinkling on top of regular granulated sugar instead of the cinnamon sugar. Try this with fresh peaches too! Mary from our Facebook page uses a cooked filling of 2 cups peaches, 1/2 cup sugar, a tablespoon cornstarch, rather than a can of pie filling. Thanks Mary! Double recipe for an oblong pan.

How to make Cinnamon Sugar: Combine 1/2 cup of sugar with 1 heaping tablespoon of cinnamon. Place into an old cleaned spice jar with a shaker top and shake well.

Read more: http://www.deepsouthdish.com/2009/06/apple-cream-cheese-dessert.html#ixzz3Wo1qekNc
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives
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