The Old School Appetizer You Should Make With Leftover Pie Dough

Pie dough isn't just for dessert. Whether you're making an ultra-flaky pie crust or opting for a simple and straightforward dough, you can use your pastry in a multitude of ways. Pie dough has already proven successful in sweet, traditional pies like pumpkin, apple, and peach. But the dough has a similar role to play in the likes of savory treats, like chicken pot pie. According to Pillsbury, pot pies call for a flaky, buttery crust complementary to a creamy, hearty filling.

In addition to pies, pie dough works for an assortment of other foods. You can use excess dough to make homemade crackers, as well as samosas, empanadas, and even rugelach (per McCormick). Plus, The Washington Post promises that pie dough freezes just fine, so you can save all those doughy remnants to whip up your favorite treats whenever you want. However, that extra dough may come in handy sooner than you think.

Leftover pie dough provides a great excuse to throw not only a party, but the ultimate party appetizer — one that's kid-friendly, crowd-pleasing, and oh-so-easy to make.

Pigs in a blanket — or, hot dogs wrapped in a doughy, flaky shell — often come in crescent rolls, like Pillsbury. But these hors d'oeuvres aren't exclusive to any one dough. Rather, Real Simple cites the versatility of excess pie crust, which you can use immediately after baking your pie or save for a rainy day when a craving for pigs in a blanket hits.

Food & Wine echoes the suggestion to use leftover pie crust in your next batch of pigs in a blanket. The treat is one of the best uses for leftover dough and requires just a little bit of rolling and the addition of meat. To make pigs in a blanket from scratch, use a floured pizza wheel to cut your pie dough into strips, then coat the dough with egg and fill it with your choice of meat. You can supplement the dough with sausage or chorizo — or you can keep it classic with a hot dog. Simply roll the dough over your meat and throw in the oven after a final egg wash. With enough time, the crust will crisp à la your favorite pie. 

If you've already made a pie, the pigs in a blanket can remain an appetizer. But if not, they can act as the star of the show.