Description
Ingredients
For the Iowa party bites base:
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- 1 package refrigerated crescent roll dough (8 oz)
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- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
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- 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix
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- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (I like sharp cheddar for more flavor)
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- ½ cup cooked and crumbled bacon (about 6–8 strips)
For the topping:
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- ½ cup diced tomatoes, seeds removed
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- ⅓ cup diced bell peppers (I use a mix of red, yellow, and green for color)
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- ¼ cup sliced green onions
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- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
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- Optional: 2-3 tablespoons corn kernels
Instructions
Set your oven to 375°F and prepare a baking sheet by lightly greasing it or lining it with parchment paper for easy cleanup. Unroll your crescent roll dough and press it into a rectangle, pinching the seams together. You want one unified piece of dough without any gaps or holes.
Olivia’s Tip: I find that slightly warming the dough at room temperature for about 5 minutes makes it more pliable and less likely to tear when you’re working with it.
Place the dough in the oven and bake for about 8-10 minutes until it’s just golden. We’re looking for a slight color change—not fully browned yet! Remove it from the oven and let it cool for about 5 minutes.
Olivia’s Tip: If the center puffs up while baking, don’t panic! Just gently press it down with a spatula while it’s still warm.
While your crust is cooling, mix the softened cream cheese with the ranch seasoning until smooth. I like using a stand mixer for this, but a hand mixer or even a fork with some elbow grease will do the job. The key is getting a creamy, lump-free mixture with all that ranch flavor evenly distributed.
Olivia’s Tip: Forgot to soften your cream cheese? Place it in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 10-second increments, checking each time, until it’s just soft enough to work with.
Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the cooled crust, going right to the edges. Sprinkle with the shredded cheddar cheese, followed by the crumbled bacon.
Olivia’s Tip: This is where you can get creative with the recipe! I’ve made a Mexican-inspired version with taco seasoning instead of ranch and pepper jack instead of cheddar that was a huge hit at Lila’s school potluck.
Scatter your diced tomatoes, bell peppers, green onions, parsley, and corn (if using) over the top of the cheese and bacon layer. Gently press the toppings into the cheese to help them stay in place while baking.
Olivia’s Tip: Pat your diced tomatoes with a paper towel before adding them to remove excess moisture—this helps keep your bites from getting soggy.
Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the Iowa party bites into squares or rectangles. I usually aim for about 2-inch pieces, which are perfect for picking up with your fingers. For fancier occasions, I’ll cut them smaller, into 1-inch bites.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 bites
- Calories: 180 per serving
Keywords: party snack, crescent roll appetizer, bacon bites, cream cheese appetizer, ranch cream cheese, holiday appetizer, cold appetizer, easy party food