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Pigs in a blanket can be made with various sausages and blankets, from packaged croissant wraps to homemade pancakes or crepes. Some versions involve miniature pretzels or Vienna sausages and prepackaged dough, while others use link-style breakfast sausages and traditional pancakes or crepes. Some regions use a large steamed cabbage leaf as the blanket and a mixture of ground pork, ground beef, and spices as the pork. The popularity of homemade pigs in a blanket has inspired fast food franchises to develop their own breakfast pancake and sausage combinations.
There are a number of regional dishes that seem to qualify as pigs in a blanket, from a breakfast sausage encased in a pancake blanket to a blend of ground pork and beef braised in a cabbage leaf wrap. The “pigs” in pigs in a blanket vary from inexpensive Vienna sausages to high-end Polish or German sausages. Blankets can be anything from packaged croissant wraps to homemade pancakes or crepes.
A common version of pigs in a blanket calls for miniature pretzels or Vienna sausages and a prepackaged cookie or croissant dough. The raw dough is wrapped around the sausages and cooked until the bread is brown and the sausages or wieners are cooked through. These pigs in a blanket are usually served as a side dish or appetizer, though they can also be served as a casual lunch entree.
Another popular variation on pigs in an overarching theme involves link-style breakfast sausages and traditional pancakes or crepes. The sausage is fully cooked and set aside while the pancakes or crepes are made. Once the pancake or crepe is made, the sausage is placed in the center and the entire dish is rolled up before serving.
Some regions with a predominantly Slavic or Eastern European population have a dish that may be called pigs in a blanket, but does not use pastry or pancakes at all. Instead, a large steamed cabbage leaf serves as the blanket, and a mixture of ground pork, ground beef, and spices serves as the pork. The meat mixture is stuffed inside the cabbage leaf and the entire package is rolled up or tightly wrapped. The dish is finished by braising until the meat is cooked through and the cabbage casing develops a lightly browned surface.
The popularity of homemade pigs in a blanket has inspired many fast food franchises to develop their own breakfast pancake and sausage combinations, such as the McGriddle breakfast sandwich developed by McDonald’s. The mix of sweet and savory flavors seems to work well as a one-plate breakfast or a quick but complete meal on the go.
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