These Vegan Pigs in a Blanket are so easy to make and they're the perfect party appetizer or snack! A good old party classic that can be made in the oven, or in your air-fryer.
Dive into these scrumptious vegan pigs in a blanket for a lightning-fast snack, alongside a smooth and creamy onion dip. Bring this easy-to-make appetizer to your next gathering, instead of using animal products, and excite everyone: vegans, vegetarians, and meat-eaters alike!
Pair them with your favorite vegan party snacks, like crispy Air-fryer Pizza Rolls and a side of luscious German potato salad.
This post is supported by Mori-Nu Silken Tofu. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. A big thanks to the supporting brands that make The Simple Sprinkle possible.
📋 Ingredients
To make vegan pigs in a blanket with onion dip you need need 2 ingredients to make the pigs in a blanket and 12 ingredients for the homemade onion dip.
Pigs in a blanket
- Vegan pastry dough: You can use a homemade, or store-bought pastry dough. Make sure you are using vegan puff pastry or crescent roll dough instead of using butter-laden puff pastry. Many store-bought varieties, such as Pillsbury crescent rolls are actually vegan already!
- Small vegan cocktail wieners: Instead of using pork sausages, use vegan sausages made from plant-based protein sources like soy, wheat gluten (seitan), tofu, or tempeh. Our homemade vegan little smokies mimic the taste and texture of traditional sausages, providing a similar experience without the use of animal products.
Homemade Onion Dip
This creamy onion-flavored dip goes perfectly with vegetarian pigs in a blanket. It is entirely vegan, nut-free, so creamy, and uses fresh sweet caramelized onions and silken tofu.
Moreover, the base of the dip is Mori-Nu Silken Tofu and vegan cream cheese.
I like to use the Mori-Nu Silken Tofu brand, as they specialize in silken tofu and offer different consistencies and flavors. Their soft silken tofu has a velvety, smooth texture that is perfect for making dips and spreads
Using silken tofu as the dip base incorporates healthy plant protein and nutrients! In fact, tofu is a good plant-based protein since it contains all essential amino acids. Additionally, Mori-Nu Silken Tofu products are shelf-stable, meaning you can easily order it online and store it in your pantry. It does not need to be refrigerated until opened. How cool is that?
Spices and Seasonings: Some of the spices used to make the dip include agave syrup, apple cider vinegar, pickled jalapeños, nutritional yeast, and smoked paprika powder.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
🔄 Substitutions
Are you looking for substitutions or quicker alternatives? We got you!
- Pastry Dough - Are you looking for a gluten-free alternative? Use gluten-free puff pastry instead of a regular one! Getting a GF variety from the store might be tricky depending on where you live and what stores are available, but making gluten-free puff pastry from scratch is always an option. (Our homemade vegan cocktail wieners are gluten-free!)
- Vegan Cocktail Wieners - Don't want to make or can't get vegan mini sausages? Use your favorite regular-sized vegan sausages, such as Field Roast, and cut them into smaller pieces.
Onion Dip Ingredient Substitutions
- Vegan Cream Cheese - Swap the vegan cream cheese with cashew cream, almond cream, or vegan sour cream.
- Apple Cider Vinegar - You can use white vinegar and lemon juice as a substitute for apple cider vinegar.
- Pickled Jalapeños - If you don't have pickled jalapeños, use fresh jalapeños or skip them if you prefer a milder dip.
- Smoked Paprika Powder - If you don't have smoked paprika, regular paprika or a dash of liquid smoke can be used instead.
- Avocado Oil - Any other vegetable oil like canola oil, sunflower oil, or extra-virgin olive oil can be used instead of avocado oil.
- Agave Syrup - Maple syrup or any other liquid sweetener can be used as a substitute for agave syrup.
- Silken Tofu - If you can't find silken tofu, you can use regular firm tofu and blend it until smooth to achieve a similar texture.
Remember, substitutions will bring their own unique flavors and textures to this vegan pigs in a blanket recipe! Enjoy exploring different variations and discovering your favorite twist on our recipe.
💡 Variations
There are many delicious flavor variations to explore with these easy vegan pigs in a blanket! Here are a few ideas to play around with to zing up the flavor of vegan pigs in a blanket:
- Spicy Buffalo: Add a buffalo sauce coating to the vegan sausages before wrapping them in pastry.
- Cheesy Jalapeño: Slice vegan cheddar or pepper jack cheese into thin strips and place them on top of the sausages before wrapping them in pastry. Add some sliced jalapeños for an extra kick.
- Little Smokies: Brush the vegan sausages with your favorite vegan BBQ sauce before wrapping them in pastry. The smoky and sweet flavors will complement the sausages perfectly.
- Everything Bagel: Sprinkle the wrapped sausages with an Everything Bagel Seasoning mix before baking. This typically includes sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried minced onion, garlic powder, and salt.
- Teriyaki: Marinate the vegan sausages in a teriyaki sauce before wrapping them in pastry. Drizzle some extra teriyaki sauce over the baked pigs in a blanket for added flavor.
Feel free to mix and match these flavor variations and play with the recipe. Experimenting with different ingredients and flavors is part of the fun! In addition, if you end up whipping up a fantastic variation, don't forget to drop a comment at the bottom of the blog post! I'm all ears and absolutely thrilled to hear about your culinary adventures.
🍽 Equipment
To make this easy vegan and vegetarian pigs in a blanket recipe you will need a pizza cutter or knife to divide pastry dough into triangles, an oven-safe dish, or a baking sheet with parchment paper, to bake your pigs in a blanket.
Equipment to make the Dipping Sauce
Use a frying pan for sautéing the onions and garlic for the silken tofu onion dip. Additionally, you need a food processor or blender, and a few bowls for mixing the dip ingredients. For accurately measuring the ingredients we always recommend using a scale.
👩🏽🍳 How To Make
Let's chat about how to make the best vegan pigs in a blanket from scratch! Follow our step-by-step guide:
Roll out the pastry dough. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut it into 24 small triangles. When you are using crescent roll dough they may be pre-cut for you already. Place a vegan cocktail sausage onto the long end of the triangle and roll it into the dough.
Grease a round casserole dish or oven-safe pan (like cast iron or stainless steel) with some oil. Place all the rolled-up wieners in there. Arrange them standing next to each other, with a bit of space in between. Alternatively spread them out separately on a baking sheet layered with parchment paper or bake in an air-fryer. Above all, don't lay them flat on top of each other.
Bake in the oven uncovered for around 25-30 minutes until golden brown and baked through. If they brown too much on top, cover them with foil. If you are baking them separately on a baking sheet instead of in a baking dish or pan, bake for around 15-20 minutes, or until baked through. Serve warm with vegan onion dip!
Vegan Air Fryer Pigs in a Blanket
Alternatively, you can air-fry your pigs in a blanket. Place the wrapped wieners in your air fryer basket and leave space in between them. Next, turn the air fryer to 390°F for 8-11 minutes or until golden brown (200°C). Check at the 8-minute mark to ensure they don't burn. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to bake them in several batches. Do not stack or overfill your air-fryer with pigs in a blanket.
Onion Dipping Sauce
Heat oil in a large pan and sauté onions and garlic until they are glassy. As soon as they turn glassy, add agave syrup and let it caramelize for a couple of minutes. They should stay light in color. Once they are caramelized take off the heat and set aside.
To a food processor, add remaining dip ingredients, and process until smooth. Then add about ¾ of your caramelized onion (put the remaining ¼ aside for later). Start blending again until everything is smooth. Last but not least, season the dip to taste.
Serve it with your dairy-free pigs in a blanket and top the dipping sauce with the remaining fried onions. Optionally top with green onion or crispy fried onions as well.
💡 Expert Tip
Roll out the pastry dough thinly to avoid having too much dough overpowering the sausages. This way, you'll get a balanced ratio of pastry to sausage. Additionally, ensure the pigs in a blanket are well-sealed to prevent the sausages from falling out during baking. Press the edges firmly to secure the dough around the sausages and leave space in between them so they can bake crisp.
🍳 What goes with pigs in a blanket?
Pigs in a blanket are great on their own but served with other sides they turn into a full meal or party spread! Spicing it up a little will excite everyone and make this a hit at any gathering each time. In other words, serve them with these party foods, sides, and appetizers:
- Air-fryer Pizza Rolls
- Cocktail Samosas
- Crispy Vegan Chicken Wings
- German Potato Salad
- Roasted Baby Potatoes
- Roasted Baby Corn
- Broccoli Wings
- Tofu Meatballs
- Vegan Salads
- Baked Beans
- Mac and Cheese
- As part of a Charcuterie Board
- As part of your Raclette Dinner Party
- Serve with your favorite dips and spreads. Aside from our creamy onion dip, these are great with this artichoke dip, this vegan chipotle sauce, or this barbecue-flavored creamy dipping sauce.
💭 Recipe FAQ
The best vegan sausages to use for making vegan pigs in a blanket are those with a texture and flavor that closely resemble traditional pork sausages. we recommend looking for vegan mini hot dogs. However, there are various brands of vegan sausages available, and the best choice may depend on personal taste preferences. We love to use our homemade gluten-free vegan cocktail sausages for this recipe!
Although, if you want to use a store-bought kind, some popular brands known for their delicious vegan sausages include Beyond Meat, Morningstar, Field Roast (especially great is their Signature Stadium Style Dogs), Tofurky, Lightlife and Gardein.
Yes, you can use the small Field Roast breakfast sausages for making vegan pigs in a blanket. Field Roast actually makes a variety of tasty vegan sausages that work well in this dish.
Yes, you can make vegan pigs in a blanket ahead of time. After baking or air-frying them, let them cool completely, and then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
When ready to serve, you can reheat them in the oven or microwave until warmed through. Alternatively, you can freeze the unbaked wrapped sausages and bake or air-fry them whenever you're ready to enjoy them.
To keep your pigs in a blanket crispy, choose a crispy pastry dough like puff pastry or crescent rolls, brush them with plant milk before baking, and ensure the ingredients are dry. Leave enough space between each pig in a blanket in the pan or on the baking sheet for the dough to spread and bake fully. Serve them immediately after baking for the best crispy texture.
The original "pigs in a blanket" are a traditional dish typically made with small pork sausages wrapped in puff pastry or a pancake.
The actual name of the dish in English is "Pigs in a Blanket." It is a popular term used to describe the dish of sausages wrapped in pastry or dough. In England they were originally known as "sausage rolls."
However, did you know Pigs in a blanket are thought to have originated in Germany? The German version includes sausages wrapped in puff pastry. Germans call them “Würstchen im Schlafrock“ which translates to “small sausages in a dressing gown". Pretty funny, eh?
Yes, "Pigs in a Blanket" are considered a traditional dish, particularly in British, American, and German cuisine.
Sometimes! Traditionally pastry dough contains dairy butter, and sometimes eggs. However, most puff pastry and shortcrust pastry available in stores are made without animal products to extend shelf life. Hence they are often suitable for vegans. Yayy!
For example, most Pillsbury products are vegan-friendly. Avoid those products that say "all butter" and always check the ingredient list before purchasing.
🥣 How To Store
These vegan pigs in a blanket are best served warm or at room temperature the day they are made, but leftovers can be stored in the fridge covered in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Freezing: You can freeze any leftovers by allowing them to cool completely, arranging them in a single layer on a baking sheet or plate. Once hardened, transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag. Label and date the container, and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat them directly from the freezer in the oven or air fryer until heated through and crispy.
🌱 More Vegan Appetizers
📖 Recipe
Vegan Pigs in a Blanket with Onion Dip
Equipment
- pizza cutter or
- oven-safe dish such as casserole, pan or baking sheet
- pan to sautée onions for onion dip
Ingredients
Pigs in a blanket
- 16 ounces vegan pastry dough (eg: Pillsbury, or Pepperidge Farms)
- 34 small vegan cocktail wieners
Onion dipping sauce
- 12 ounces Mori-Nu Silken Tofu Soft
- 1 large white onions
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 tablespoons agave syrup
- 7 ounces vegan cream cheese
- 1 tablespoons apple cider vinefgar
- 2 slices pickled jalapenos
- 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Optional
- green onions or
- crispy fried onions as garnish
Instructions
Vegan pigs in a blanket
- Preheat the oven to 375°F / 190°C.
- Roll out pastry dough. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut it into 24 small triangles.
- Place a sausage onto the long end of the triangle and roll it into the dough. Bake your pigs in a blanket following one of the following 3 cooking methods. While they are baking, you can go ahead and prepare the onion dip.
Method 1: Baking in a baking dish
- Grease a round casserole dish or oven-safe pan (like cast iron or stainless steel) with some oil. Place all the rolled-up wieners in there. Arrange them standing next to each other, with a bit of space in between. Don't lay them flat on top of each other. Bake in the oven uncovered for around 25-30 minutes until golden brown and baked through. If they brown too much on top, cover them with foil.
Method 2: Baking separately on a baking sheet
- Alternatively, spread them out individually on a baking sheet leaving space in between. Bake for around 15-20 minutes, or until baked through.
Method 3: Air-frying
- Alternatively, you can air-fry your pigs in a blanket. Place the wrapped wieners in your air fryer basket and turn the air fryer to 390°F for 8-11 minutes or until golden brown (200°C). Check at the 8-minute mark to ensure they don't burn. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to bake them in several batches. Do not stack or overfill your air-fryer with pigs in a blanket.
Onion dipping sauce
- Peel onions and garlic. Cut onions into thin rings. With the back of a kitchen knife, press garlic cloves while keeping them as a "whole" clove.
- Heat oil in a large pan and sauté onions and garlic until they are glazed. As soon as they turn glazed, add agave syrup and let it caramelize for a couple of minutes. They should stay light in color. Once caramelized take off the heat and set aside.
- To a food processor, add soft silken tofu, vegan cream cheese, nutritional yeast, jalapeños, smoked paprika, and apple cider vinegar. Mix until smooth. Then add about ¾ of your caramelized onion (put the remaining ¼ aside for later). Start blending again until everything is smooth. Season to taste.
- Serve with vegan pigs in a blanket and top the dipping sauce with the remaining fried onions. Optionally top with green onion or crispy fried onions as well.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
The provided nutritional information is an estimate. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
For food safety see guidelines at USDA.gov.
How cute are these!! they're the perfect vegan snack for vegans and non vegans alike!
Oooh love how you plated these!! Vegan pigs in a blanket was one of the first recipes I made more than a decade ago when I first went vegan! I'm so excited to try this dip 🙂
I served these at a friend's get-together yesterday, and even non-vegans loved them! Thanks for the recipe!