These cheesy apple bacon jam roses are the ultimate sweet-and-savory appetizer. Flaky crescent dough is layered with jalapeño bacon jam, crisp apples, sharp cheddar cheese, and a touch of apricot sweetness, then roll and baked into golden roses.
I love appetizer recipes that are both easy and impressive. They make me look like a superstar without having to do much of anything!
These apple bacon jam roses fall squarely into that category. Like my chicken salad croissant sandwiches, these roses are fancy enough for upscale gatherings but easy enough to make anytime.
For more appetizers featuring these flavors, try my cheesy garlic pull-apart bread and apple pie bombs.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- These roses have the perfect balance of sweet, salty, smoky, and cheesy
- These pastries have such a pretty rose presentation
- Using crescent dough and premade bacon jam makes these roses so easy.
- These versatile appetizers are perfect for weeknight desserts and any kind of party.
- They’re ready in under 30 minutes!
Key Ingredients
You’ll find a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Honeycrisp Apples: Honeycrisp apples are sweet and firm, making them perfect for this recipe.
- Jam: Jalapeno bacon jam and apricot jam create a sweet, fruity, smoky, and salty flavor.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Sharp cheddar adds a bold, cheesy counterpoint to the apples.
- Crescent Rollls: Crescent rolls bake up soft, flaky, and so buttery.
Variations
- Cheese: Try gouda, gruyere, or Pepper Jack for different pops of flavor.
- Jam: Maple bacon or onion bacon jam can be used in place of jalapeno bacon jam for a bold flavor with less heat.
- Homemade Jam: Try my raspberry jalapeno bacon jam with this recipe.
- Extra Spicy: Add crushed red pepper flakes to the jam mixture.
- Extra Sweet: Add a little brown sugar before brushing on the jam for an even sweeter varaition.
How to Make Cheesy Apple Bacon Jam Roses
Step 1: Thinly slice the apples and place them in a dish of warm water with lemon.
Step 2: Roll the crescent dough out and pinch the seams together. Then, roll out into a rectangel and cut into 2-inch strips.
Step 3:Top each strip of dough with bacon jam, apple slices, then cheese, and fold the dough over.
Step 4: Mix the apricot jam and white pepper. Then, brush over the apple slices.
Step 5: Roll the strip on itself, creating a rose shape, and place each one in a prepared muffin tin.
Step 6: Bake until golden, and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- A mandolin helps you slice the apples thinly, so they soften adequately while baking.
- Finely shredding your own cheese ensures the best flavor and texture.
- Let the roses cool for 5 to 10 minutes, so they hold their shape.
Cheesy Apple Bacon Jam Roses FAQs
Sweet, firm apples like Honeycrisp, Cosmic Crisp, Jonagold, Jonathan, and Gala are all excellent options.
Refrigerate these roses for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
Bake the roses at 350°F for 5 to 8 minutes until warm. Microwaving is not recommended, as the dough will get soggy.
Great Pairings for These Apple Bacon Jame Roses
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Cheesy Apple Bacon Jam Roses
Ingredients
- 1 honey crisp apple
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons apricot jam
- ⅛ teaspoon white pepper
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, finely shredded
- 9 ounce jalapeno bacon jam
- 2 containers Pillsbury crescent rolls
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375.
- Fill a medium to large bowl ½ full with water and place in the microwave for 3 minutes.
- Remove hot water and add the lemon juice to the bowl.
- Core apple and slice in half, and then in half again.
- Thinly slice the apples and place slices into the lemon water mixture.
- Let the apples sit about 10 minutes, drain, and place on a paper towel.
- Remove crescent roll from containers and place on a floured surface.
- Pinch together the perforated seams of dough.
- Roll out to a rectangle and cut 2 inch strips with a pizza cutter.
To Assemble
- Lay out one strip of dough and put a strip of bacon jam down the center about 1 teaspoon. Leave about ½ inch on each side of dough.
- Place the rounded side of the apple on the strip of dough about halfway down. See photo.
- Sprinkle with cheese and fold the bottom half of dough over the bottom of the apples.
- In a small bowl, mix apricot jam and white pepper together.
- Brush apricot jam over the apple slices.
- From one end of the strip start rolling it onto itself creating a rose shape. Place them in a muffin tin spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- Repeat steps and cook for 18 minutes.
Notes
- A mandolin helps you slice the apples thinly, so they soften adequately while baking.
- Finely shredding your own cheese ensures the best flavor and texture.
- Let the roses cool for 5 to 10 minutes, so they hold their shape.
Nutrition
Fun to make and really flavorful. I’ll make these again for sure!
These turned out so pretty! I served them as part of a cheese and charcuterie board, and they really elevated the presentation. Much easier to make than you’d think too!
These Cheesy Apple Bacon Jam Roses were so good, and it is easy to make.
These came out so delicious and so pretty! I love the savory sweet combo…such a delicious appetizer!
These turned out so good, the balance of sweet apples, savory bacon jam, and sharp cheddar really works. The flaky dough bakes up perfectly and makes them look as good as they taste.
These look so fancy but were actually pretty easy to roll up. That sweet and salty combo with the bacon jam is addictive. They were the first thing gone at the party!
I can’t decide if these are dessert or a fancy breakfast, but either way, they’re delicious!
These were so good! I love the pretty shape, and the bacon with the apple is soo yummy.