These vegetarian gluten-free pigs in a blanket are a crowd-pleasing appetizer made with plant-based hot dogs wrapped in homemade gluten-free crescent dough. They’re dairy-free as written and perfect for game day, parties, holidays, or an easy savory snack.
The dough needs a little time to chill, but assembly is simple: roll, slice, wrap, and bake. Serve them warm with ketchup, mustard, or your favorite dipping sauce, and watch them disappear.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love These Gluten-Free Pigs in a Blanket
- Party-perfect: A fun, bite-sized appetizer for game day, holidays, potlucks, and kids’ parties.
- Vegetarian and gluten-free: Made with plant-based sausages and homemade gluten-free crescent dough.
- Dairy-free as written: A great option for guests with dairy sensitivities.
- Easy to customize: Use your favorite plant-based hot dogs, sausages, or dipping sauces.
- Warm, flaky, and savory: Best served fresh from the oven when the dough is golden and tender.
Just 5 Simple Ingredients
- Crescent Roll Dough
- Plant-Based Hot Dogs or Sausages
- Egg
- Poppy Seeds or Sesame Seeds
- Gluten-Free Flour
Key Ingredient Roles
These simple ingredients each help create flaky, flavorful gluten-free pigs in a blanket.
- Gluten-free crescent roll dough: Wraps around the sausages to create the soft, buttery outer layer. Homemade dough works especially well because you can control the ingredients.
- Plant-based hot dogs or sausages: Create the savory center. Jumbo-sized options work well for a heartier bite. Check labels to make sure your plant-based hot dogs or sausages are certified gluten-free.
- Egg: Brushed over the dough before baking for a golden, glossy finish and to help the toppings stick.
- Poppy seeds or sesame seeds: Add a decorative finish and a little extra crunch. You can use one or a mix of both.
- Gluten-free flour: Lightly dusts the work surface to help prevent the dough from sticking while rolling.
Equipment
- Cookie Sheet
- Parchment Paper
- Wax Paper
- Sharp Kitchen Knife
- Serving Dish
- Small Bowls for Dipping Sauces
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
- 3 tbsp gluten-free flour
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 parchment paper. Set aside. Chill the dough for 1 to 2 hours.
- Once the 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 the 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
- Chill the dough for 1 to 2 hours.
- Use a generous sprinkling of flour to prevent the dough from sticking.
- Divide the dough into quarters first, then divide in half again, then again, to make 18 pieces total.
- Brush rolls with egg, and sprinkle with poppy or sesame seeds or both.
- Serve immediately.
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.
Serving Suggestions
These vegetarian gluten-free pigs in a blanket are best served warm with a few favorite dipping sauces. Honey mustard is a classic choice, while ketchup, Dijon mustard, barbecue sauce, or dairy-free ranch also pair well.
For a larger appetizer spread, serve these alongside gluten-free bruschetta or warm gluten-free breadsticks.
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
This recipe is easy to customize—just check labels to be sure your ingredients fit your dietary needs.
- Plant-based hot dogs or sausages: Use your favorite gluten-free option. Mild varieties are great for kids, while spicy plant-based sausages add extra flavor for adults.
- Crescent roll dough: Homemade gluten-free crescent dough keeps this recipe gluten-free and dairy-free. Regular store-bought crescent dough works for convenience, but the recipe will no longer be gluten-free.
- Egg wash: The egg wash adds shine and helps the seeds stick. You can leave it off, but note that the crescent dough recipe itself contains egg. Use a tested egg-free dough for a fully egg-free version.
- Poppy seeds or sesame seeds: Use either one, both, or leave them off entirely. Everything bagel seasoning can also add extra flavor—just check that it is gluten-free.
- Gluten-free flour: Use the same gluten-free flour blend used in the dough, or another neutral gluten-free flour, to keep the dough from sticking while rolling.
- Add meat or cheese: For a non-vegetarian version, use traditional hot dogs or cocktail sausages. You can also add a small piece of cheese before rolling, but the recipe will no longer be dairy-free.
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.
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 These Ahead of Time?
You can assemble the pigs in a blanket a few hours ahead, cover them tightly, and refrigerate until ready to bake. For the best texture, bake them just before serving.
Can I Freeze Gluten-Free Pigs in a Blanket?
Yes. Freeze baked pigs in a blanket in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Reheat them in the oven until warmed through and crisp on the outside.
More Easy Recipes to Try
Looking for more simple dishes to add to your menu? These favorites are great for breakfast, brunch, holidays, and easy meals at home.
- Gluten-Free Cheddar Bay Biscuits
- Soft Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Dinner Rolls
- Gluten-Free Sesame Seed Rolls
- Gluten-Free Potato Buns
- Gluten-Free Focaccia Bread
Whether you are planning a special occasion or just looking for something new to make, these recipes are easy to enjoy any time.
Share Your Thoughts
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!
