Have you ever wanted to enjoy an appetizer like pigs in a blanket, but the problem is that they aren’t vegetarian? I was in the same boat until it occurred to me that plant-based hot dogs exist! So I tried my favorite brand of plant-based hot dogs in an easy recipe for pigs in a blanket, and it was actually quite good.
I did a little experimenting with ways to make this recipe even more inclusive. Finding gluten-free crescent roll dough was actually the tricky part, and I could pretty well forget about finding crescent roll dough that’s gluten-free AND dairy-free. So I’ll use Zest for Baking’s gluten-free and dairy-free crescent roll recipe.
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Once I figured out how to pull it off, I found that these pigs in a blanket are as dangerously snackable as any other version! Even party guests who might have normally turned their noses up at vegetarian hot dogs loved them. So I’d definitely save this recipe for your next outdoor party or pretty much anytime!
What We’ll Need to Make Vegetarian Gluten-Free Pigs in a Blanket
I always like to make sure we have everything we need before we start!
Equipment
- Cookie Sheet
- Parchment Paper
- Wax Paper
- Sharp Kitchen Knife
- Serving Dish
- Small Bowls for Dipping Sauces
Why do we need a sharp kitchen knife for a recipe like this? In general, keeping your kitchen knives sharp makes them safer and easier to work with. In this case, a sharp kitchen knife allows for a neater and more precise cut.
If they’ve gotten dull, you don’t necessarily need to replace them. They may just need to be sharpened. A cheap knife sharpener can be really handy to have when you want your kitchen knives to stay as sharp as the day you bought them.
Ingredients
- Crescent Roll Dough
- Plant-Based Hot Dogs or Sausages
- Egg
- Poppy Seeds or Sesame Seeds
- Gluten-Free Flour
Key Ingredient Roles
Sounds really simple, doesn’t it? Let’s take a quick look at what each ingredient brings to the recipe.
Crescent Roll Dough
Enough crescent roll dough to make 18 mini crescent rolls
We’ll use the crescent roll dough to wrap the sausages or hot dogs with. Gluten-free crescent roll dough is often hard to find in grocery stores, and even on Amazon, I only saw one option that you’d have to mix up with a few other ingredients. So we’ll make our own using this recipe for buttery gluten-free crescent rolls. I actually prefer this option because I can control what goes into the crescent roll dough. (Yes, I can be a control freak that way.)
Plant-Based Hot Dogs or Sausages
6 plant-based hot dogs or sausages
These hot dogs or sausages form the “meaty” center of the pigs in a blanket. I like to get the jumbo-sized hot dogs or sausages when I can, so the crescent rolls don’t become the point.
Egg
1 egg
In this case, we’ll brush the egg over the crescent roll dough to provide a nice, glossy finish and give the sesame or poppy seeds something to stick to.
Poppy Seeds or Sesame Seeds
We can also use both poppy seeds and sesame seeds if we want to. These give us something to sprinkle on top of the pigs in a blanket for a nice decorative touch and a little crunch.
Gluten-Free Flour
We’ll just sprinkle a little of this on the wax paper before rolling the dough out to keep the dough from sticking.
Printable Vegetarian Gluten-Free Pigs in a Blanket Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 1 recipe crescent roll dough
- 6 full size plant-based hot dogs or sausages cut into 3 even pieces each
- 1 egg
- Poppy seeds and/or sesame seeds
Instructions
- Mix up the crescent roll dough if you opted to make this recipe for gluten-free crescent roll dough. Chill it for 1-2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Cover a cookie sheet with a parchment paper. Set aside.
- Once crescent roll dough has chilled, remove it from the refrigerator and sprinkle the wax paper with a good sprinkle of gluten free flour blend.
- Roll the dough out to a 12 inch circle.
- Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into 18 equally sized sections.
- Place a hot dog on the large end of the dough and roll up toward the small end.
- Place each one on the cookie sheet, about 1 inch apart.
- Repeat with remaining dough.
- Beat the egg and brush it over each pig in a blanket.
- Sprinkle with poppy seeds and/or sesame seeds.
- Bake for 25 minutes, then remove to a serving platter.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauces.
Notes
- Use a generous sprinkling of flour to prevent the dough from sticking.
- Divide dough into quarters first, then divide in half again, then again, to make 16 pieces total.
- Brush rolls with egg and sprinkle with poppy or sesame seeds or both.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Method for Making Vegetarian Gluten-Free Pigs in a Blanket
When making these pigs in a blanket, the hardest part is always waiting for them to get done in the oven!
Step One: Chill Crescent Roll Dough
Mix up the crescent roll dough if you opted to make this recipe for gluten-free crescent roll dough. Chill it for 1-2 hours.
Step Two: Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (176 degrees Celsius). Line the baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
Step Three: Roll Out Crescent Roll Dough
Sprinkle the wax paper with a little gluten-free flour. Roll the dough out into a 12-inch circle.
Step Four: Cut the Dough Into Sections
Cut the crescent roll dough into 18 equally sized, triangular sections. I like to start by cutting the dough into thirds, and then cutting each section in half until I get 18 sections.
Step Five: Cut Up Hot Dogs or Sausages
Cut the six hot dogs into three equally sized sections each.
Step Six: Roll Hot Dogs Into Dough Sections
Rolling up these delicious little snacks is super easy. Simply place one plant-based hot dog piece at the larger end of the dough section, then gently roll up toward the smaller end.
Step Seven: Place Pigs in a Blanket on Cookie Sheet
Place each one on the prepared cookie sheet, keeping them about 1 inch apart.
Step Eight: Bake Pigs in a Blanket
Bake the pigs in a blanket for 25 minutes.
Step Nine: Transfer Pigs in a Blanket to a Serving Platter
Unlike many baked goods, pigs in a blanket don’t require any cooling time. Just transfer them directly to a serving platter.
Step Ten: Serve Promptly with Favorite Dipping Sauces
I think pigs in a blanket are best when fresh out of the oven, so I’ll serve them promptly with a few dipping sauces. I’ll be honest, honey mustard is my favorite dipping sauce.
Storing Pigs in a Blanket
After baking, serve these little bites up as soon as possible (no cooling time necessary!). If you have any left over, store them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. They can also be frozen if you intend to store leftovers for longer. To reheat, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and warm them up on a baking sheet for a few minutes. It’ll take up to 10 minutes if you’re reheating them from frozen.
Substitutions and Variations for Pigs in a Blanket
Most hot dog and sausage brands will work for pigs in a blanket. Just make sure you read the label, because Beyond Meat does make a Hot Italian sausage option that can be spicier than some people like for pigs in a blanket!
If you don’t care that the crescent rolls might not be gluten-free, ready-made crescent roll dough is easier to find.
FAQ About Pigs in a Blanket
These pigs in a blanket sound super easy, right? We do get questions sometimes, so I answered a few of the most common ones here. Feel free to ask in the comments section if you have any questions.
Can I use any kind of plant-based hot dogs for these gluten-free pigs in a blanket?
Yes! Most plant-based sausages and hot dogs are gluten-free, though I’ll always look for a “Certified Gluten-Free” label on the packaging to make sure.
How do I prevent my crescent roll dough from sticking?
Wax paper, a flat spatula and a generous sprinkle of flour will be incredibly helpful tools to prevent the dough from sticking to the counter. Just sprinkle the flour over the wax paper before rolling it out. Then after the dough is sectioned off, slide a flat spatula under the dough before rolling each pig in a blanket up.
They’ll be easy to transfer to a baking sheet after a nice tight roll.
Can I make this dairy-free?
If you used our recipe for crescent roll dough as written, it’ll include dairy-free milk and butter, so the pigs in a blanket will be dairy-free.
Can I make them egg-free?
The egg wash just gives the dough a nice crust and helps the seeds adhere better. You can definitely leave it off. If you do opt to omit the egg, the seeds may not stick to the dough as well. Leaving the egg off will not affect the taste.
What do I serve with vegetarian pigs in a blanket?
Dipping sauces only enhance the delicious taste! Honey mustard is my dip of choice, but ketchup and Dijon mustard are also great options.
More Easy Gluten-Free Dishes
- Easy Dairy-Free French Toast Casserole with Gluten-Free Bread
- Gluten-Free Cornbread Dressing Recipe
- Easy Meatless Gluten-Free Sausage Casserole
- Easy Almond Flour Crepes
- Gluten-Free English Muffins
Did you try these pigs in a blanket? Feel free to let us know what you thought of them in the comments section, and don’t forget to rate this recipe!
