Your Game Day Snacks Should Include Air Fried Cheese in a Blanket
The best appetizer holiday of the year is finally here, and while I hope everyone already has their cocktail plans in place, I wanted to remind you that many other toppings can rival a small hot dog. One of my favorite things to wrap in a pastry blanket is pickles , but this year I have a new obsession. It’s a cheese that can be fried, grilled, and baked, and it’s absolutely incredible in batter.
How to Make the Best Cheese in a Blanket
Unfortunately, mozzarella doesn’t work here. Grilling cheese, also called frying cheese, is a better choice: it’s a high-protein cheese that doesn’t completely liquefy when heated. For this job, I tried wrapping mozzarella and even cheddar sticks, but they were a disaster. These cheeses have too much water and fat; by the time the Pillsbury crescent-shaped dough began to brown, the cheese had broken through the dough and flowed out. (And yes, I tried washing with egg. My seams were sealed.)
Then I remembered that grilled cheese might help. It melts and stretches slightly , resulting in a soft, chewy, sometimes squeaky texture. It’s creamy and salty, perfect for snacking and goes well with any dipping sauces. Of course, it can withstand the heat of the fryer and oven while the dough puffs and browns without turning into an ugly puddle.
I use it in agua panela con queso , a soothing hot drink, and pan-fry bits of food. The best part about this type of cheese is that when it comes into direct contact with a hot pan or air fryer rack, in our case, the cheese crisps and browns. Thanks to the Maillard reaction, new delicious flavors are formed along with the seductive crispiness and color.
You can wrap them in different ways. As you can see in the picture above, I wrapped them in small pieces to mimic the size of the pigs in a blanket, but you could also cut the cheese into long sticks and wrap them completely in the dough. Try wide boards for large cheese pockets. Personally, I like thin sticks with the ends sticking out and turning brown.
How to make this snack even tastier
You can take it or leave it, but before wrapping the cheese chunks, I lightly sprinkled the surface with garlic parmesan seasoning that I bought at Walmart. Best idea of my day. Even the smallest amount will add a wonderful tangy flavor, but don’t go crazy or it will become overpowering. Of course, you can simply add seasonings to suit your taste. Try salt with chili powder, garlic powder and cumin. Don’t forget that cheese can also be combined with sweets. Sprinkle them with cinnamon sugar for an amazing sweet treat.
This recipe uses an air fryer because its speed is unbeatable, but you can certainly make this in a regular oven. Simply raise the temperature to 375°F and bake them for 10-12 minutes or until browned to your liking. Cool them on a wire rack before serving.
Cheese in a blanket recipe
Ingredients:
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1 tube of Pillsbury crescent dough sheet
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1 block of grilled cheese (halloumi or any of the options above)
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Additional dry seasonings for sprinkling (garlic salt or any seasoning blend).
1. Set air fryer to air fry and preheat to 325°F. This will probably only take a minute.
2. Unroll the Pillsbury dough and lightly sprinkle the surface with salt (if using).
3. Cut the cheese into rectangles of the desired size. Wrap the dough around each piece of cheese and make sure the seam overlaps. Let them lie seam side down.
4. Place the wrapped cheese (seam side down) in an air fryer with a rack. Make sure there is some space around them because the dough will puff up. Air fry them for four to six minutes or until browned to your liking. If they’re on the rack, you don’t need to turn them over, but if you’re using a liner, you may have to turn them over to brown the bottom. Cool briefly and enjoy on its own or with any delicious sauces that make it into your Super Bowl appetizer.