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White Cheddar Prosciutto Pinwheels are a party staple made from a creamy cheese spread, prosciutto, and puff pastry. They’re packed with flavor, easy to make ahead of time, and even freezer-friendly!
A finger food recipe fit for any party
I’m always finding inspiration for classic party appetizers in old magazines and recipe books, like Good Housekeeping’s Company Meals and Buffets recipe pamphlet (originally published in 1958). It’s how I was inspired to create my Coffee Jelly, Raspberry Granita, and these White Cheddar Prosciutto Pinwheels.
These puff pastry pinwheels are giving the classic party snack a major upgrade! They have something for everyone:
- A sharp cheddar spread
- Salty prosciutto
- Flaky and buttery puff pastry
- A pop of bright lemon
One bite and you’ll be in heaven! No party guest of yours will be able to resist the meaty and cheesy goodness.
What are prosciutto pinwheels made of?
This fantastic party appetizer has sharp bites, the perfect amount of saltiness, and a beautiful brightness. All of this is thanks to a few simple ingredients:
Sharp white cheddar cheese
White cheddar is a fantastic melting cheese with a pungent, almost nutty flavor. Its sharpness adds depth among the rich cream cheese and cuts through the salty cured meats in these pinwheels. It’s also a great match for these veggie-forward zucchini fritters!
If sharp white cheddar cheese isn’t available where you are, feel free to use regular cheddar cheese or sharp orange cheddar. The color will be orange rather than white, but the flavor will be just as good!
Cream cheese
The best part of pinwheels is being able to enjoy the meaty and cheesy goodness in every bite. That’s all thanks to cream cheese. This tangy spreadable cheese is stirred together with the rest of the ingredients, then spread onto a sheet of puff pastry.
Prosciutto
Prosciutto is a classic Italian cured meat that comes from the hind leg of the pig. The leg is cleaned and salted before it’s left to cure for 2 or 3 months. Afterward, the salt is washed off and the meat is left to dry for over a year before it’s sliced and sold.
Slices of prosciutto are my favorite addition to meat and cheese boards, baked brie, and pinwheel recipes. It's a savory and salty component that cuts right through the rich layers of dairy. Try not to skip it!
Is prosciutto not available where you live? No problem. Crispy bacon or pancetta would both make delicious substitutes.
Flavor boosters
We need a little brightness to help this finger food recipe shine. That’s where chives, lemon juice, salt, and pepper come in! These flavor boosters round out all of the layers of flavor and make this appetizer complete.
If you can, use fresh chives and squeeze the lemon juice yourself (a citrus reamer will help you with this). You can’t beat those fresh flavors!
Puff pastry
These pinwheels are baked in the oven, which means rolling the filling into tortillas or another flatbread just won’t do. Frozen puff pastry, on the other hand, is irresistible. The laminated dough is flaky, buttery, and transforms into a puffy golden brown delight when it comes out of the oven.
You should be able to find sheets or a block of frozen puff pastry in the frozen section at most major grocery stores. This is the one I like to use. Keep it in the fridge to thaw or else it will dry out!
It wouldn’t hurt to buy extra pastry either. Then you can make even more appetizers, like Puff Pastry Pigs in a Blanket and Pear and Goat Cheese Tarts!
Tips and variations
Pinwheel appetizers are flexible and easy to make your own. Keep these tips and variations in mind the next time you attempt this delicious party snack:
Experiment with the flavors
Make the recipe your own! The flavors are easy to play with and there are endless additions you can add:
- Herbs: Fresh or dried parsley, dill, oregano, or basil can be stirred into the filling.
- Cheese: Replace the cheddar with gruyere, havarti, parmesan, or mozzarella. Try replacing the cream cheese with another soft and spreadable cheese, like goat cheese or mascarpone.
- Meat: Any fatty and salty cured meat should work well, like bacon, pancetta, or soppressata.
- Vegetables: Sun dried tomatoes, roasted peppers, spinach, black olives, red onion, etc.
Let them chill
Chilling the pinwheels is so important. That time in the refrigerator (before baking) helps them keep their shape and prevents the filling from leaking. Leave the assembled pinwheels in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
Make them ahead of time
Low on time? Make the puff pastry pinwheels with prosciutto ahead of time! Either make the filling 1 or 2 days in advance (keep it in an airtight container in the fridge) or let the rolled and cut wheels chill overnight in the fridge. Bake the next day and enjoy!
Storing and freezing
All of the leftovers and unbaked pinwheels can be stored for later:
- To store: Wrap the leftover baked pinwheels in plastic and keep them in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- To freeze: Place the unbaked pinwheels on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer them to a freezer-safe container and freeze them for up to 3 months.
The frozen, unbaked pinwheels can be baked right from frozen, but they’ll need about 30 minutes in the oven. Enjoy!
Recipe
White Cheddar Prosciutto Pinwheels
Ingredients
- 8 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese shredded
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 bunch chives chopped
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 ounces prosciutto about 8 slices
- 2 sheets puff pastry dough thawed
Instructions
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and preheat oven 350.
- Combine all ingredients, except for the puff pastry, together in a large bowl and mix well.
- Evenly spread half of the cheese mixture onto one sheet of puff pastry and top with half of the slices of prosciutto.
- Tightly roll the dough up, slice each roll into 16 pieces. Place on your parchment lined baking sheets (if you want to reshape them so they are nice and round, now is the time!).
- Repeat with remaining ingredients and chill the pinwheels for 30 minutes.
- Once chilled, bake the pinwheels for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown and serve!
Notes
- One package of puff pastry usually has 2 sheets in it. Just make sure it does before buying it!
- You can use any cheese for this recipe, but sharp white cheddar is my favorite!
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