Our easy cheese wheels are made from puff pastryTwo cheeses, and roasted red peppers are a great appetizer! These cute apron wheels fly off the plate!
These puff pastry pinwheels are high on my list of best hors d’oeuvres. They are easy, beautiful on the plate, taste amazing, and are perfect to make ahead! In our recipe below, we spread the puff pastry with Boursin cheese, add lots of parmesan, and top with roasted red peppers for flavor and color.
I love them so much, and judging by how quickly these disappear at parties, I can tell my friends and family I love them, too. Serve these along with other popular appetizers, like red pepper hummus, classic shrimp cocktail, and tomato bruschetta.
Key Ingredients
- Puff Cake: Use 1 sheet of frozen puff pastry, thawed. A standard box usually contains 2 sheets. I used Pepperidge Farm in the photos, but any brand will work! I thaw my puff pastry sheet in the refrigerator overnight. You can also melt on the counter. It should be ready in about 1 hour. I also use puff pastry to make quick and easy chocolate croissants, which can be a perfect way to use up that leftover sheet.
- Cheese: I use two cheeses for these. First, something creamy like garlic and vegetable Boursin cheese (so delicious). Goat cheese or herbed cream cheese are good substitutes. Then, I sprinkle grated parmesan cheese over the filling. Pecorino cheese or even sharp cheddar work, too.
- Roasted Red Chili: People eat with their eyes, and wrapping chopped fried red peppers makes these pinwheels beautiful and attractive. I grab a few peppers from a jar of store-bought roasted peppers. You can use freshly ground red pepper if you don’t have any. In fact, it can wrap almost anything. Think bacon, ham, caramelized onions, or different vegetables.
- Fresh herbs: This is optional, but I like to add something fresh and green to the pin fill. Fresh parsley or basil is great.
- Egg: In order for the pinwheels to bake golden brown and beautiful, we brush a little egg wash over them before sliding them into the oven. It is simple and made with beaten egg and water.
How to Make Cheese Pinwheels
If your puff pastry is thawed, this recipe goes very quickly. Open the sheet, roll lightly to flatten any creases, and add the filling. You will spread soft Boursin cheese over the entire sheet and add parmesan, chopped roasted peppers, and herbs.
Roll the sheet up like a jelly roll, and cut it into your pinwheels. Place them on a baking sheet, brush with some egg wash, and bake. They will take less than 20 minutes! Serve them hot or at room temperature.
Cheese Pinwheels
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PREP
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COOK
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TOTAL
These easy pinwheels are a great appetizer or hors d’oeuvres! We use store bought puff pastry, which makes it super easy! You will need thawed puff pastry, so leave it overnight in the fridge or on the counter for about 1 hour before making the pinwheels.
Make 20 pinwheels
You will need it
1 puff pastry sheet, thawed
1 large egg
1 tablespoon of water
1/2 cup garlic and a vegetable cheese spread, such as Boursin
1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1/2 cup roasted red pepper, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or basil
Directions
1Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2Beat the egg and water in a small bowl with a fork or whisk and set aside.
3Lightly spray your work area. Open the pastry sheet, and pour the flour on top. Use a rolling pin to lightly fold so the creases are flat (you don’t want to make the square too big).
4Brush the pastry square with egg wash. Spread evenly with 1/2 cup garlic and herb cheese, then sprinkle with Parmigiano-Reggiano, pepper, and herbs.
5Starting from the side closest to you, roll the puff pastry up like a jelly roll.
6Cut into 20 pieces, about 1/2 inch thick. A bread knife works well for this.
7Place the pinwheel pieces on the baking sheet. Then, lightly brush the tops with egg wash. Bake for 14 to 18 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Tips from Adam and Joanne
- Puff Cake: Use 1 sheet of frozen puff pastry, thawed. A standard box usually contains 2 sheets. I used Pepperidge Farm in the photos, but any brand will work! I thaw my puff pastry sheet in the refrigerator overnight. You can also melt on the counter. It should be ready in about 1 hour.
- The nutrition facts provided are estimates.
Food Per Serving
Serving Size
1 apron
/
Calories
93
/
Perfect Oils
6.5g
/
Saturated Fats
1.8g
/
Cholesterol
13 mg
/
Sodium
83.5 mg
/
Carbohydrate
6g
/
Dietary fiber
0.3g
/
Proteins
2.7g
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