Copycat Pillsbury Cherry Filled Crescents (Air Fryer)

If you ever grabbed a tube of Pillsbury Cherry Filled Crescents off the refrigerated shelf, you already know how good they were — flaky crescent dough wrapped around a sweet cherry center, finished with a little icing. The only problem? Pillsbury discontinued them. The good news is that you can make your own at home in the air fryer using three simple parts, and they taste just like the ones you remember.

This Copycat Air Fryer Cherry Filled Crescents recipe rebuilds that discontinued box from scratch: plain crescent dough, cherry pie filling, and a quick powdered sugar glaze. It comes together in about ten minutes, and you control exactly how much cherry and how much sweetness goes into every roll.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Brings back a discontinued favorite. No more hunting the dairy aisle for a product that isn’t coming back.
• Just three components. Dough, filling, and glaze — that’s the whole thing.
• Ready in about 10 minutes. Five minutes to assemble, five to air fry.
• Totally customizable. Swap the cherry for any fruit filling you love.
• Kid-approved. A warm, sweet breakfast or after-school snack that disappears fast.

Ingredients

• 1 tube (8 oz) refrigerated crescent roll dough — the flaky base that does all the work
• 1/2 cup cherry pie filling — about a teaspoon per crescent
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar — for the glaze
• 1 tablespoon milk — to thin the glaze to a drizzle
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract — for that bakery flavor

That’s it. If you’d rather skip canned filling, see the homemade cherry filling note further down.

How to Make Copycat Air Fryer Cherry Filled Crescents

Step One: Unroll the dough. Open the crescent roll tube and separate the dough into its 8 triangles. I like to work on a cutting board since it’s level and gives me room to spread things out.

Step Two: Add the cherry filling. Spoon about a teaspoon of cherry pie filling onto the wide end of each triangle. Resist the urge to overfill — too much and the filling bubbles out and burns onto the basket. If your filling has big cherries, give them a rough chop so the rolls seal more easily.

Step Three: Roll them up. Starting at the wide end, roll each crescent toward the point, tucking the cherry inside. Pinch the seams lightly to help keep everything in place.

Step Four: Air fry. Lightly grease your air fryer basket or tray and place the crescents seam-side down, leaving space between them so they have room to puff up. Air fry at 320°F for 5 to 7 minutes, until golden brown.

Step Five: Make the glaze. While the crescents cook, whisk the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla together until smooth. If it’s too thick to drizzle, add milk a few drops at a time.

Step Six: Glaze and serve. Let the crescents cool for a few minutes, then drizzle the glaze over the tops and serve warm.

If you want a version with full step-by-step photos, my Air Fryer Cherry Crescent Rolls walk through the same technique in detail.

Flavor Variations

The beauty of this copycat is that the cherry is just a starting point. Once you’ve got the method down, the fillings are endless:

• Apple. Pillsbury also discontinued the apple version — recreate it with my Copycat Pillsbury Apple Filled Crescents.
• Raspberry. A couple of tablespoons of jam turns these into Air Fryer Raspberry Crescent Rolls.
• Cream cheese and berries. Add a sliver of cream cheese for Air Fryer Cream Cheese Stuffed Crescent Rolls.
• Cinnamon sugar. Skip the fruit entirely and make Air Fryer Cinnamon Crescent Rolls instead.

Tips for the Best Results

• Don’t overcrowd the basket. The crescents expand as they cook, so give each one room for the hot air to circulate.
• Brush with butter. A little melted butter on top before air frying gives them extra color and shine.
• Check early. Air fryer models vary, so start peeking around the 5-minute mark to avoid over-browning.
• Glaze warm, not hot. Let them rest a few minutes first, or the glaze will slide right off.

Homemade cherry filling: For a thicker, jammier filling closer to the original boxed version, simmer 1 cup of pitted cherries (fresh or frozen) with 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of cornstarch until thickened, then cool completely before filling your crescents.

Oven option: No air fryer? Bake at 375°F for 11 to 13 minutes, until golden.

More Air Fryer Crescent Roll Recipes

If you love how easy crescent dough is, you’ll want to try these next:

• Air Fryer Crescent Churros — crispy, cinnamon-sugar coated, no deep frying required
• Air Fryer Apple Pie Crescent Rolls — tender cinnamon-spiced apples in flaky dough
• Air Fryer Crescent Roll Apple Danish — a bakery-style breakfast pastry in minutes
• Air Fryer Caramel Apple Pie Crescents — gooey caramel and apple, perfect for fall

Frequently Asked Questions

Why were Pillsbury Cherry Filled Crescents discontinued? Pillsbury rotates its lineup over time, and the filled crescent varieties were phased out. This copycat lets you make them whenever you want.

Can I use a different fruit filling? Absolutely. Apple, blueberry, strawberry, and raspberry all work beautifully — just keep the amount to about a teaspoon per crescent.

How do I store leftovers? Keep cooled crescents in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 5. Reheat in the air fryer for a minute or two to bring back the crisp.

Can I make these ahead? You can assemble the rolls and refrigerate them for a few hours before air frying. Add the glaze fresh after cooking.