Figs and Pigs in a Blanket Recipe (2024)

By Melissa Clark

Figs and Pigs in a Blanket Recipe (1)

Total Time
1 hour 15 minutes
Rating
4(563)
Notes
Read community notes

Arguably better than pigs in blankets — or, at least, more elegant — these, flaky hors d’oeuvres will be the first things to disappear at a party. The filling of chopped dried figs and prosciutto or salami is a balanced mix of savory and sweet, but feel free to substitute other dried fruit, like apricots, raisins or cranberries, for the figs. And if you can find all-butter puff pastry, it really makes a difference here, adding a deeply golden color and rich flavor.

Featured in: 3 Simple Ways to Turn Frozen Puff Pastry Into the Ultimate Party Starter

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Ingredients

Yield:About 2 dozen

  • 1cup/8 ounces dried figs, stems trimmed
  • Boiling water
  • All-purpose flour, for rolling
  • 1(14-ounce) package frozen puff pastry, thawed
  • 4ounces thinly sliced prosciutto or soppressata salami, coarsely chopped
  • 1egg, beaten
  • 3tablespoons grated Parmesan
  • Ground fennel seeds or black pepper, or a combination, for topping
  • Mustard, for serving (optional)

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Place figs in a heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water. Let sit until soft and pliable, 5 to 10 minutes, then drain well. Coarsely chop and set aside. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

  2. Step

    2

    On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled puff pastry out about ⅛ inch thick to form a 13-by-11-inch rectangle. Using a bench scraper or knife, cut the pastry in half lengthwise so you have two long rectangles. Evenly divide the figs between the rectangles, spreading them into a 1-inch-wide strip that runs down the center of the pastry. Mound prosciutto on top of the figs.

  3. Lightly brush the long edges of the pastry with egg wash. Firmly fold the pastry over the filling to form long rolls. Cut each roll in half crosswise, then slice into 1-inch pieces and place them on the prepared baking sheet, seam side down. Cover with plastic or parchment and freeze for 30 minutes or refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 6 hours.

  4. Step

    4

    Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Lightly brush the top of each roll with beaten egg and sprinkle with grated Parmesan and a pinch of fennel seeds or black pepper or both. Bake until golden brown, about 25 to 35 minutes. Serve with mustard on the side for dipping if you like. These are best served warm or at room temperature on the day of baking, but leftovers will keep for up to 3 days when stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

Ratings

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563

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

WB

Wait … is anyone else confused by the folding/cutting directions?

Liz

Delicious but skip the mustard, I mean the wrong taste to accompany figs. Use a syrupy balsamic vinegar if people need a dip.

Krysten Chambrot, Associate Editor, New York Times Cooking

Hi, BB! Thank you for flagging. We've updated the recipe: You slice them before baking.

eb

I'm still confused about the cutting directions. Why do we cut a roll in half before slicing into 1 inch pieces? Couldn't a whole roll still be sliced into 1 inch pieces? And then how do you put it on the cutting board "seam side down"? In my mind I'm picturing balancing a dime or penny on it's edge, which seems very confusing. Is that what we are supposed to do?

kay

Step 3 says these can be refrigerated up to 6 hours. What adjustments would be required to have success if one wanted to make these a day in advance through step 3 (and bake just before serving)?

RebeccaBB

I made these as written with the addition of fresh goat cheese smeared on the pastry, then a layer of Turkish fig spread (no time to make jam), then the layer of prosciutto and topped with black pepper. Agree that the recipe is unclear about shaping and cutting. I rolled mine into two long ropes for a pinwheel. Cut the long rolls in half bc it makes it easier to carry them and fit them the freezer and fridge. Finally I cut them into bite sized pieces right before baking, cut side down. 5*

BB

You have two long rolls, then cut them in half. When do you slice them into rounds? Before or after baking?

Deborah

Tip: Trader Joe's carries all-butter puff pastry that is excellent - but only available during the winter holidays. Stock up your freezer while you can!

Laurie

Should the rolls be cut into bite size pieces before or after baking?

Hasan

In Step 3, if cutting into one-inch pieces, why cut the rolls in half first? Does that add something? Not sure what I'm missing here...

Sarah

It helps to put the rolls in the freezer for 30 min before cutting into 1" slices. Use a serrated knife. On a general note, though, for recipes like this with somewhat complicated construction, it would be super helpful to have a video. Also, some puff pastry packages are differently configured....My little puff pastry hors d'oeuvres are twice the size as the ones in the photo, despite careful measuring, rolling and placement, haha....again, please make a video....

Barbara Barran

Delicious, but a bit dry. I served them with Dijon honey mustard. I'm wondering if adding some fig jam to the dough before adding the filling would work.

Leslie

I also skipped the mustard.Right out of the oven they tasted just okay. I wasn’t overly impressed. However interestingly enough the next day when I pulled them out of the fridge they tasted better as a cold snack which raised my opinion of the recipe.

TRB

I couldn’t find any dried figs but used dates. Sweet and tasty.

Avy

After reading helpful hints, I decided to battle the concern about dryness by simmering half the figs and pulsing in food processor to mix with the chopped figs rather than fig jam which could add to the sweetness some people mentioned. I sprinkled 50 grams of blue cheese on top before folding. Topped with suggestion of parmesan, fennel seeds ground and black pepper, It was a hit at the party! Leftovers wrapped in tea towel the next morning were tasty and pastry still flakey.

Jennifer

I will add, they are like grown up fig newtons!

abpenn

Delicious! Mine took more than 10 minutes longer to bake than noted (I opted for the freezing method) - I went by eye on the pastry doneness. I also cut them into individual rolls after freezing rather than before. But the ratios and taste were great.

Jennifer

I just made this recipe using refrigerated crescent roll dough. The directions on cutting are wonky. Just add the filling to long strips, fold, pinch, cut to size and more pinching to contain the filling. I added honey goat cheese and this made them better. They are okay.

Luke S

Loved this recipe. Like some other commenters, I added goat cheese, and I thought it was a great addition. Next time, I’ll use slightly fewer figs and even more goat cheese.

Charlie

I agree with some of the comments that a fig jam or jelly would be preferable over figs alone. It needs a bit more sweetness along with the savory prosciutto.

Jessica

These are good! I used prosciutto and added fig jam per the comments - I definitely think it was the move. I saw a couple people used goat cheese as well and I think it would be a good way for the filling to meld together instead of being crumbly. Overall the flavor is good — i think the puff pastry I bought was a little sketchy but I’ll try one of the more mainstream ones next time.

September Forsyth

When you cut a roll in half, it’s easier to then cut the proper sized pieces. When you start at one end, there is more of a chance that you’ll have pieces that are more narrow or large than the others. Cut roll in half, and then cut the two rolls in half continue until you have the yield for that roll.…all of your pieces when you are finished cutting should be the same size. And, as I understand it, you do cut before baking. Hope this is helpful!

Angela Gyetvan

I feel like this was good, but needs a little something- something. I added a bit of fig jam based on the note that said the puffs were a little dry. And I think next time I’ll go with poppy seeds rather than fennel. I also feel a mustard/balsamic dipping sauce would be a good addition, rather than just straight mustard. Will try again at some point. Used Trader Joe’s puff pastry, BTW.

Fiona

I have frozen one of the “logs” and just used the other. These are a huge hit with everyone.

Barbara Barran

Delicious, but a bit dry. I served them with Dijon honey mustard. I'm wondering if adding some fig jam to the dough before adding the filling would work.

Mary

I just made them and am thinking the same about fig jam rather than the diced figs.

PABlues

Made today as written using sopresseta but felt like they still needed something. The commenter’s goat cheese schmear is a great idea for next time. I found the fennel/black pepper/ parmesan topper critical.

Sandy

I eagerly anticipated making these and was frustrated when I couldn’t find puff pastry in the stores. Finally got some, made them for New Years Eve as we were having friends over. And - blah. They were ok but not great, and not a “keeper” in the opinion of all of us.

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Figs and Pigs in a Blanket Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What goes well with a pig in a blanket? ›

The best side dishes to serve with pigs in a blanket are mashed sweet potatoes, baked beans, mac and cheese, Toad in The Hole, green beans and potatoes, cheese dip, deviled eggs, muffin mix waffles, blooming onion, scrambled eggs, creamy coleslaw, garlic bread, potato salad, corn on the cob, and sweet potato fries.

What's a good dipping sauce for pigs in the blanket? ›

For the dipping sauce: Stir together the mayonnaise, mustard and honey in small bowl. Serve the pigs-in-a-blanket with skewers and the dipping sauce on the side.

Should pigs in a blanket be served hot or cold? ›

Serve plain or with ketchup and mustard on the side. These are best served warm or at room temperature the day they are made, but leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

How to level up pigs in a blanket? ›

15 Absolute Best Ways To Upgrade Pigs In A Blanket
  1. Brush them in garlic butter. ...
  2. Make breakfast pigs in a blanket with breakfast sausage. ...
  3. Use choux pastry instead of puff pastry. ...
  4. Skip the co*cktail wiener for a plant-based substitute. ...
  5. Swap out the mini weenies for chicken tenders. ...
  6. Stuff the weenies or hot dogs with cheese.
Feb 26, 2024

What is the original pigs in a blanket? ›

A pig in a blanket is a sausage (originally a pork sausage, hence the “pig”) wrapped in either a pancake, biscuit dough, or a crescent-style piece of pastry (you guessed it, that's the “blanket”).

What else do you call pigs in a blanket? ›

Sometimes breakfast sausages wrapped in pancakes are also called pigs in a blanket. Other names for the food are franks in a blanket, franks in blanks, and wiener winks. Although, wiener winks tend to use bread and cheese in their recipe instead of biscuit dough or croissant dough.

Can I prep pigs in a blanket the night before? ›

These mini pigs in a blanket can easily be made ahead of time and heated up later for your convenience. We don't recommend freezing them prior to baking—you can choose to either assemble your crescent roll pigs in a blanket a couple of hours ahead before baking and store them in the fridge, or freeze them after baking.

What are pigs in a blanket called? ›

Pigs in blankets, kilted sausages or kilted soldiers is a dish served in the United Kingdom and Ireland consisting of small sausages (usually chipolatas) wrapped in bacon. They are a popular and traditional accompaniment to roast turkey in a Christmas dinner and are served as a side dish.

How do you keep pigs in a blanket warm and not soggy? ›

You can either keep them in a low-heat oven (around 225 F degrees), and just pull out one plate-full at a time, or you can keep them warm in a slow cooker. The slow cooker method may make them a bit soggy, but it's less hands-on than the oven method.

Why are pigs in blankets Christmas? ›

Why are pigs in blankets eaten at Christmas? There are no specific known origins of pigs in blankets becoming a traditional part of the British Christmas dinner, but the first written record of the product in general goes back to 1957.

How long can you keep pigs in blankets? ›

Pigs in blankets

This stops them from being contaminated by other food, and is a good food safety rule to apply to any cooked leftovers. Pigs in blankets should be eaten within three days.

How many pigs are in a blanket per person? ›

If you're making classic pigs in a blanket recipe, you probably need about 1-2 per person. If you make the mini pigs in a blanket, I would plan for about 4-6 per person. Make them ahead of time. Roll the crescent dough around the hot dogs and put them onto a baking sheet.

How to cut crescent rolls into triangles? ›

Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the dough into equal slices like you would slice a pizza. I usually do 12 sections. I start with cutting into 4 quadrants and then each of those 4 sections into 3. Now don't worry if you triangles aren't all perfect.

Are pigs in blankets bacon or pastry? ›

Pigs in a blanket in the United States is a small hot dog or other sausage wrapped in pastry similar to a sausage roll in the UK, it is commonly served as an appetizer in the United States. The similarity in name with that of the UK dish pigs in blankets, which is a sausage wrapped in bacon, sometimes causes confusion.

What is pigs in a blanket slang for? ›

In the United States the term "pigs in a blanket" typically refers to hot dogs in croissant dough, but may include Vienna sausages, co*cktail or breakfast/link sausages baked inside biscuit dough or croissant dough.

Can you prep pigs in a blanket the night before? ›

These mini pigs in a blanket can easily be made ahead of time and heated up later for your convenience. We don't recommend freezing them prior to baking—you can choose to either assemble your crescent roll pigs in a blanket a couple of hours ahead before baking and store them in the fridge, or freeze them after baking.

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