Description
Donkey Balls are savory crescent roll appetizers filled with a flavorful mixture of cooked breakfast sausage, cream cheese, and diced onions. Baked until golden brown, these bite-sized treats are perfect for holiday gatherings or any party where you want a quick, crowd-pleasing snack.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Filling
- 16 ounces Breakfast Sausage (Jimmy Dean or any standard package)
- 1 Medium Onion, diced
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese, softened
For the Dough
- 2 Packages Crescent Rolls
Instructions
- Cook the sausage mixture: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the breakfast sausage along with the diced onion and garlic powder. Break up the sausage into small pieces as it cooks. Continue until the sausage is fully cooked and the onions are translucent.
- Drain and cool: Drain excess grease from the sausage mixture and allow it to cool for a few minutes to prevent melting the cream cheese when mixing.
- Combine with cream cheese: In a large bowl, mix the softened cream cheese thoroughly with the cooled sausage and onion mixture until evenly combined.
- Prepare the dough: Unroll both packages of crescent rolls and flatten them out. Cut each crescent roll triangle in half lengthwise to create two smaller triangles each. Since there are 8 triangles per package, you should end up with 32 smaller triangles total.
- Fill and shape: Place about one teaspoon of the sausage and cream cheese filling onto each dough triangle. Fold the dough sides around the filling and pinch the edges to form a small, sealed ball.
- Bake: Arrange the balls on a prepared cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or lightly greased. Space them about 1 inch apart. Bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius) for 14 minutes or until the crescent rolls are golden brown and cooked through.
- Serve: Allow to cool slightly, then serve warm as a delicious appetizer. These can be enjoyed on their own or paired with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- This recipe yields 32 appetizer-sized bites, perfect for large gatherings or parties.
- Ensure the sausage mixture is cooled slightly before combining with cream cheese to prevent melting and a runny filling.
- You can substitute breakfast sausage with spicy Italian sausage for a different flavor profile.
- These appetizer balls can be reheated in the oven at 350°F for 10 minutes or microwaved briefly before serving.
- For added flavor, try mixing in chopped green onions or shredded cheese into the filling.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
