Super cute Pigs in a Blanket are a cozy, munchable snack for kids and grownups! You’ll love these savory mini-hot dogs wrapped in golden-brown, flaky pastry.
A Fun and Easy Appetizer Idea!
Pigs in a blanket are truly the most kid-friendly snack on the planet, right? Even the pickiest eaters are usually willing to eat hot dogs. And, when you wrap them up in soft, buttery puff pastry, you’ve got a pretty magical combination!
Plus, pigs in a blanket are so easy to make. All of the hard work is done for you! Using pre-made dough is simple and quick, and you can use any type of hot dog or sausage that you like. I prefer using mini cocktail wieners, because they are just the right size. But, you could certainly use regular hot dogs cut into small pieces.
To serve pigs in a blanket, it’s great to have a dipping sauce or two. Ketchup is a great option, as is the spicy Sriracha dipping sauce recipe below!
Older kids will love to help roll up these adorable snacks, and kids of all ages (adults, too!) will gobble them down. Guaranteed.
What You’ll Need
The ingredients here could not be simpler. Use refrigerated puff pastry, or crescent roll dough. I like crescent roll dough, because it comes pre-cut in little triangles that are easy to roll, and attractive when baked.
For the Pigs in a Blanket
- Dough: Any refrigerated puff pastry or crescent roll dough will work. In a pinch, you can roll biscuit dough into flat pieces and use that!
- Cocktail Wieners: These are the correct size for pigs in a blanket. For regular-sized hot dogs, cut them into 2-inch pieces.
- Sesame Seeds and Poppy Seeds: Not only do sesame seeds and poppy seeds add to the look of the pigs in a blanket, they also add a nice textural contrast, and micronutrients, too!
- Egg Yolk: For brushing the pigs in a blanket before baking.
For the Dipping Sauce
- Sriracha: Just a bit of this garlicky chili sauce adds a ton of flavor.
- Yogurt: Plain yogurt is thick and creamy, perfect for mixing up this savory dip. If you need to substitute, I recommend using full-fat sour cream or even cream cheese.
- Mayonnaise: You’ll need a generous amount of your favorite mayo to give this dip the right texture and a tangy, umami flavor.
- Lime Juice: Just a little bit, to cut the richness of the dip.
- Salt and Pepper: To taste.
Are pigs in a blanket made with pork or beef?
Either! Or neither! It’s up to you. They are named “pigs in a blanket” because they were originally made with pork, but you could also use beef, turkey, or even chicken hot dogs (or sausages).
How to Make Pigs in a Blanket
To make pigs in a blanket, you’ll need a clean work surface and a little bit of time for cutting and rolling. Using parchment paper on your baking sheet helps keep the pigs in a blanket from sticking.
- Cut the Pastry and Hot Dogs. Before you get started, preheat the oven to 375°F. If you’re using puff pastry and/or full-sized hot dogs, go ahead and cut them into small pieces. The puff pastry should be cut into triangle shapes that are small enough to roll over the hot dogs, leaving the ends visible.
- Roll Up the Pigs in a Blanket. Lay one hot dog piece on a triangle of dough, at the base of the triangle. Roll it up so that the top of the triangle overlaps the base. Repeat with the remaining triangles of dough and wieners.
- Top with Egg Wash and Seeds. Place the pigs in a blanket on a baking sheet, leaving a little bit of space in between them. Brush each one with a little bit of beaten egg yolk, and sprinkle with sesame seeds and poppy seeds.
- Bake. Bake the pigs in a blanket for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they are golden-brown and the dough is baked underneath, as well as on top.
- Make the Dipping Sauce. While the pigs in a blanket are baking, mix all of the dipping sauce ingredients together in a small bowl, tasting for salt and pepper and adjusting as needed. Refrigerate the sauce until ready to serve.
Tips for Success
This recipe is simple, and you really can’t go wrong. I do have a few tips to share, though, just to make sure they turn out perfectly.
- Serve in a Single Layer: To prevent your baked pigs in a blanket from getting soft or soggy, cool them on a wire rack and serve them in a single layer on a paper-towel-lined tray. This will keep moisture from condensing underneath the rolls.
- Make Them Full-Sized: For an easy dinner, make these with full-sized hot dogs, and wrap with larger pieces of dough or use strips of dough, wrapped in a spiral around the hot dogs. Yum!
- Create Shapes: You can arrange the pigs in a blanket in a circle, heart, oval, or square on your baking sheet for a fun presentation! Lift the shape off of the sheet pan using the parchment, and then gently slide the parchment out from under.
Serving Suggestions
- Dipping Sauces: In addition to ketchup (an obvious choice) and the Sriracha dipping sauce recipe above, you could try: barbecue sauce, honey mustard, yellow mustard, mayonnaise, and even relish!
- Baked Beans: Easy Maple Bacon Baked Beans can turn a platter of pigs in a blanket into a meal! This sweet and heart side is sure to be a favorite.
- Potato Salad: American Classic Potato Salad isn’t just the side you want—it’s the side you need! Wholesome Yukon Gold potatoes are dressed in a creamy mayonnaise dressing studded with celery, onion, and diced hard-boiled egg.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
- To refrigerate leftover pigs in a blanket, just pop them into an airtight container.
- I recommend using a shallow airtight container with a clean paper towel in the bottom, and placing the pigs in a blanket in a single layer, to keep them from getting soggy.
- To reheat, place the pigs in a blanket on a baking sheet, and bake at 350°F for 5 – 10 minutes, until heated through.
Can I Freeze Pigs in a Blanket?
- Yes, you can! You can freeze pigs in a blanket unbaked, or baked.
- Either way, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until frozen solid. Then transfer to freezer bags, and store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- When you’re ready to bake, simply make them directly from frozen without thawing (you may need to lengthen the baking time).
Pigs in a Blanket
Ingredients
For the Pigs in a Blanket
- 1 package of puff pastry, or one tube of crescent roll dough
- 24 cocktail wieners, or 8 hot dogs cut into 1-inch to 2-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
- 1 large egg yolk, whisked
For the Dipping Sauce
- 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce
- ½ cup plain yogurt, or sour cream
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Roll out the puff pastry, and cut into small triangles, the size of the cocktail wieners or hot dog pieces.
- Roll each cocktail wiener/hot dog piece into a triangle of the dough. Start rolling at the largest side of the triangle, and end at the smallest side.
- Place the wrapped wieners on a baking sheet, leaving a little bit of space in between.
- Brush with whisked egg yolk, and sprinkle with sesame seeds and poppy seeds.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Meanwhite, make the dip by mixing the sriracha, mayonnaise, yogurt, and lime juice in a small bowl. Stir well to incorporate, and season with salt and pepper.
- Serve.
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