Description
Celebrate Halloween with these fun and festive Witch Hat Calzones made from crescent roll dough stuffed with a savory mix of cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, pepperoni, and optional Italian sausage and sautéed peppers and onions. Perfectly baked until golden and topped with playful pepperoni shapes, these calzones are great for party snacks or a themed dinner served with warm marinara sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Filling
- ½ cup pepperoni, sliced small (plus 8-10 additional slices cut into shapes for decoration)
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated (plus extra for optional sprinkle)
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- Optional: ¼ cup sautéed peppers & onions
- Optional: ½ cup cooked Italian sausage
Dough & Topping
- 2 packages crescent rolls (8 ounce each package)
- 1 egg, slightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon water
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Marinara sauce, served warm (for dipping)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat for easy cleanup and even baking.
- Cook Optional Sausage and Vegetables: If using, cook the Italian sausage and sauté the peppers and onions until tender and browned. Set aside to cool slightly.
- Prepare Pepperoni and Seasoning: Slice ½ cup pepperoni into small pieces for the filling. Set aside 8-10 extra pepperoni slices cut into fun shapes like diamonds, triangles, and crescent moons for decorating the hats. In a small bowl, mix kosher salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Mix Filling Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine softened cream cheese, shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, sautéed peppers & onions (if using), cooked Italian sausage (if using), small sliced pepperoni, and a generous sprinkle of the seasoning mixture. Stir until well combined.
- Unroll Crescent Rolls: Unroll crescent rolls and separate them into individual triangles. Place four triangles on the prepared baking sheet; reserve the other four to use as the tops of the calzones. If working with one baking sheet, bake in batches.
- Prepare Egg Wash: In a small bowl, beat the egg with water. Brush the edges of the crescent roll triangles on the baking sheet with the egg wash.
- Assemble Calzones: Spoon about 1½ to 2 tablespoons of the cheese and meat mixture onto the center of each crescent roll triangle on the baking sheet.
- Top and Seal Calzones: Place a reserved crescent roll triangle on top of each filled triangle. Gently press the edges to seal the filling inside, then fold up the bottom edge to create the brim of a witch’s hat. Shape the pointy tip of the hat for a whimsical look.
- Decorate and Season: Brush the assembled witch hats with more egg wash. Arrange the shaped pepperoni pieces on the brim of each hat. Sprinkle the remaining seasoning mixture evenly over the hats.
- Bake the Calzones: Place the baking sheet in the center of the preheated oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the calzones are golden brown and cooked through. Optionally, sprinkle extra grated Parmesan on top just before removing from the oven.
- Serve: Warm the marinara sauce in the microwave in short increments until heated through. Serve the witch hat calzones warm with the marinara sauce for dipping.
Notes
- Using parchment paper or a silicone baking mat helps prevent sticking and promotes even browning, making cleanup easier. Silicone mats are reusable and eco-friendly.
- To soften cream cheese quickly, leave it at room temperature for 20-30 minutes or microwave on high for 15-20 seconds.
- Keep the second package of crescent rolls refrigerated until ready to use; cold dough is easier to handle and less likely to tear.
- Crescent roll triangles may vary in size; pair smaller bottoms with smaller tops to ensure a good fit.
- Brushing the top crescent roll with egg wash contributes to a golden, crispy finish.
- Position decorative pepperoni shapes toward the top of the brim so they remain visible after the dough rises during baking.
- Recipe adapted and inspired by Better Homes & Gardens.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 calzone (1 hat)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
