Ham and Swiss Sliders (in a crescent roll)

Ham and Swiss Sliders made with homemade crescent rolls. These handhelds are soft and fluffy and will win the day at your upcoming super bowl party. The bread dough is made from scratch and wrapped around black forest ham and chunks of Swiss cheese. I guarantee you'll end up with an empty platter once you set them out for guests. The buttery go-to appetizers are melt-in-your-mouth delicious. They're also great to eat as a lunchtime "sandwich" or to sneak as a midnight snack. 

What are Ham and Cheese Sliders

The slider is an American term for a small sandwich that can be enjoyed as hors d'oeuvres, snacks, or entrees. They have become famous as a game day appetizer. A very popular recipe you will find is ham and cheese sliders on Hawaiian rolls.

The Ham and Cheese recipe you find in this post is wrapped in a made-from-scratch crescent roll and can be made large for lunch or smaller for sliders. A few other great recipes that include both ham and cheese are Ham and Cheese Quiche, Baked Chicken Cordon Bleu, and Cheesy Bacon Wrapped Breadsticks. 

Ingredients for this Hot Ham and Cheese Sliders Recipe

• Homemade Bread Dough Recipe. This recipe has been in my family forever and makes the best dinner rolls. the dough itself is perfect for creating these Ham and Cheese Rolls.  
• Butter. This is melted and brushed on the inside so the seasoning will adhere. And then of course once more when everything is rolled up. It not only makes the rolls taste better in every way, but the rolls themselves glisten and shine as well.  
• Italian Seasoning. I use Pampered Chef seasonings and they literally are the best. (BTW - I get nothing for tooting their horn)
• Black Forest Ham. I use the "sandwich sliced" kind but you can use any type you would like to work with as long as it gives you plenty of meat to taste.
• Swiss Cheese. Grab a block of cheese and cut it into pieces that are 4 inches long and ½-3/4 inches in diameter. 

How to Make Ham and Cheese Sliders 

• Make the Homemade Bread Dough. I have a post with "Step by Step Instructions for Making Bread Rolls." Here's a quick run-down of the recipe. You can grab the full instructions from the link above. 
• Let the dough rise and punch it down. 
• Roll the Dough Out. Place a round ball of dough in the center of a lightly floured work surface and press down with your hand to flatten it out. With a rolling pin, begin in the center and roll outward in all directions.

• Brush with Butter. Start with a stick of melted butter and brush it generously around the rolled-out dough. Whatever butter is left over will be used to brush the outside once you roll these up.

• Sprinkle with Italian Seasoning. Sprinkle a generous amount of dried Italian seasoning atop the brushed butter.
• Cut the rolled-out dough. A pizza cutter works great to cut the dough into pizza-sliced shapes. Cut the circle in half, then half again. Continue to cut each piece in half again until you end up with 16 slices of buttered dough.

• Place the ham and cheese on each wedge of dough. Fold a piece of sliced ham into thirds and lay it lengthwise onto a piece of sliced dough. Add a cube of Swiss cheese widthwise across the ham.
• Roll each triangular bread dough wedge starting with the ham and cheese from the wide end. Tuck the pointed end under the roll. Continue with each piece of dough.
• Brush with more butter on the outside of each piece and sprinkle with extra Italian seasoning.

• Place them on a baking sheet. Give the Ham and Cheese Rolls room between each other. This gives them space to rise and not touch each other. Once you place them and they begin to rise, don't touch or try to move them.

• Let the Ham and Cheese Rolls rise again. Once you've placed them on the baking sheet cover them with a dish towel and put them in a warm place for the final rise. 

• Baking the Ham and Cheese Rolls. Preheat the oven to 350°F and bake the rolls for 20-25 minutes until they are golden brown.
• Melt more butter and brush the baked ham and cheese sliders. You never can have enough butter on bread, right?

Can you Make the Ham and Swiss Sliders in Advance?

Definitely. One difference between this recipe and ham and cheese sliders on Hawaiian rolls is my crescent recipe can be made well ahead of time where as the Hawaiian ones can be made mainly four hours in advance. It is great for convenience's sake, especially if you are making them for a party. Prepare and roll up with ham and cheese as directed.

• To refrigerate. Follow the instructions through the first rise, punch down and shape the dough. Cover tightly and place them in the refrigerator overnight or for up to 16 hours. When ready to bake, pull them from the fridge, cover them with a clean dishtowel, and set them in a warm place. Because they have been in the cold it will take longer for them to rise the second time, probably 1 ½ to 2 hours. Then bake as directed.
• To freeze. Again follow the instructions as if you would refrigerate them except place the shaped rolls in the freezer for 30-45 minutes until they are frozen. Transfer the sliders into freezer bags. They will last in the freezer for up to four weeks. When ready to serve, pull them out and place them on baking sheets and cover with a clean dish towel. Let set and rise for four to six hours or until they are doubled in size. Bake as usual. 

Can You Freeze the Baked Ham and Cheese Sliders?

Absolutely. Bake as directed and let cool. Place the rolls on a baking sheet and place them in the freezer for one hour until frozen. Take them out and place them in ziplock freezer bags. The baked rolls will store in the freezer for up to three months. 

When ready to serve these golden delights, remove them from the freezer and thaw them in the refrigerator overnight. Microwave on high until the cheese begins to melt. Be careful not to microwave for too long. It only takes 10-15 seconds.

Tips for the Perfect Ham and Swiss Sliders

• I had the deli counter slice the ham into "sandwich" thickness. I took one slice, folded it into thirds, and laid it lengthwise on a piece of dough. You can use whatever ham preference you choose. I used black forest ham. 
• For the cheese, you want to choose a harder cheese otherwise it will all melt out of the roll. I went with a block of imported Swiss cheese because of course Swiss and Ham go perfectly together. I cut the chunks of cheese about 4 inches long and ½-3/4 inches in diameter.

Variations

• Use any type of deli meat and/or a harder type of cheese
• Add bacon along with the ham and cheese
• Turkey and Smoked Gouda Cheese
• Roast Beef and Cheddar
• Chicken with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and feta cheese. 

These are literally melt-in-your-mouth Crescent Rolls with a salty, cheesy middle. Your taste buds are going to fall crazy in love with these little jewels. Don't grab the dough from a can that you pop open when you can make these easy homemade rolls from scratch. And if you're planning on taking them to a party, I guarantee, you'll come home with an empty platter and people will be talking about them long after the get-together.

More party recipe ideas:

Crispy Loaded Potato Skins

Baked Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Baked Jalapeño Poppers

Cheesy Bacon Wrapped Breadsticks

Spinach and Feta Puff Pastries

Bourbon Candied Bacon

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