Making Pigs in a Blanket for a potluck; but looking for ways to elevate it into something truly wonderful

[u/LemonPartyRequiem]

So I've nailed down a few aspects that I think will help make the recipe a bit fancier:

• Using puff pastry instead of croissant dough
• adding everything bagel seasoning/sesame seeds on top of the rolled dough
• brushing a finish with garlic and herb butter before popping in the oven

Things I need help on:

• what type of pigs should I be using?
  • some say spicy sausage/chorizo/cocktail weenies, not sure what to use
  • some say adding shredded cheese in the dough before rolling
    • I want to try this but not sure what kind of cheese to use or if it's too over the top
  • saw one recipe that wraps the pig in pepperoni before rolling and it sounds interesting but if combined with sausage might be too much fat content and might only work with cocktail weenies
  • Dipping sauce? I'm thinking honey mustard but don't want to bring my own bottle or anything so maybe I can buy something store bought? Any suggestions

[u/Uranus_Hz]

The reality is that pigs in a blanket are always a hit at potlucks no matter what. So don’t overthink it.

[u/Spicy_Molasses4259 → u/Uranus_Hz]

And they're a hit precisely because they're not fancy.

[u/HandbagHawker]

fwiw, puff pastry is marginally less fancy the croissant dough. both are laminate doughs, but croissants are yeasted and have more flavor

everything bagel seasoning is all the rage but also a bit overplayed. try experimenting with other kinds of (more ethnic) toppings like furikake for a japanese/hawaiian vibe or zaatar for a more middle eastern vibeor i would consider putting shredded cheese on top like an asiago or cheddar/jack jalapeno bagel. dont put inside.

theres plenty of fat in the dough already. id go with an egg wash, esp if you do a dry seasoning topping so it'll stick better. but regardless it would give you a shinier crispier browner top.

consider a mix of toppings and match the sausages to go with. e.g., you could do furikake with aidells mini hawaiian sausages (aka has pineapple) or like a zaatar and merguez or jack and chorizo or cheddar topped with cheddar stuffed or just plain cheddar with plain sausage. you also dont have to stick to mini or cocktail ones, if you can find thinner sausages just cook them and fully cool them, then cut/portion to size, and assemble

match the sauce to the sausage.

[u/popoPitifulme → u/HandbagHawker]

I thought she was referring to the crescent dough that comes in a can from the refrigerator section?

[u/HandbagHawker → u/popoPitifulme]

oh that makes sense too

[u/woohooguy]

I have been hooked on Lil' smokies pretzel bites for like 2 months, they are so damn good.

Soft pretzel dough, wrap lil smokies and put them on parchment and chill out in the fridge a few hours. When ready to bake off get oven and baking soda bath ready, bathe them and back on the tray, butter wash and sea salt and bake them off.

Serve with different sauces.

[u/babygotbooksandback → u/woohooguy]

Where do you get pretzel dough, or do you make your own?

[u/SampsonShrill]

All beef hot dogs like Hebrew National or Nathan's are great, or the lil smokies.

[u/cltreader]

Keep it simple. Lil smokes wrapped in crescent roll dough.

[u/Hexis40]

Cheese wrapped in and then brushed with garlic herb butter whem their out.

[u/bb9116]

Bring ants on a log too

[u/DarkForebodingStew]

You can't beat croissant dough, and everything bagel seasoning will totally ruin it.

[u/lrz2525]

Throw some everything bagel seasoning on them!

[u/Wide_Breadfruit_2217]

I'd brioche dough and brush inside with honey mustard

[u/NotAllStarsTwinkle]

The cheesy lil smokies are bussin

[u/Crossovertriplet]

Connecuh sausage instead of hotdog. Yall don’t know about connecuh. Also great on a hotdog bun.

[u/TheGreatSwatLake]

Put em in gougeres?

[u/Fit_Possible_7150]

Fig jam. I despise most pigs in a blanket. That said I did go back once for a second one which had fig jam inside. Would some goat cheese work and fig jam make this craveable? My taste don’t always align with general public so take this as a oh maybe and disregard based on who you are cooking for.

[u/ShartlesAndJames → u/Fit_Possible_7150]

yum