Cranberry Cream Cheese Pinwheels with Feta & Herbs Recipe
Delightfully flaky and savory, these Cranberry Cream Cheese Pinwheels with Feta & Herbs combine the creamy tang of cream cheese, the tart sweetness of cranberries, and the salty crumble of feta cheese all wrapped in golden puff pastry. Perfect as an elegant appetizer or party snack, these easy-to-make pinwheels bring festive flavors and herbaceous freshness to every bite.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 12 pinwheels
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Pinwheel Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup cranberry sauce or 1/3 cup chopped dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1 tablespoon fresh herbs (parsley or rosemary), chopped
- 1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water (egg wash)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to ensure easy removal and cleanup.
- Roll Out Puff Pastry: Lightly flour your work surface and roll out the puff pastry sheet to smooth out any creases and create an even surface for spreading.
- Spread Cream Cheese: Evenly spread the softened cream cheese over the entire puff pastry sheet, leaving a small border around the edges to prevent overflow during baking.
- Add Fillings: Spoon and spread the cranberry sauce or sprinkle the chopped dried cranberries evenly on top of the cream cheese layer. Then, evenly distribute the crumbled feta cheese over the cranberries.
- Sprinkle Fresh Herbs: Scatter the chopped fresh herbs like parsley or rosemary evenly over the filling to add a fragrant, savory note.
- Roll and Slice: Starting from one long edge, roll the puff pastry tightly into a log. Using a sharp knife, slice the log into 1-inch thick pinwheels, keeping the slices intact.
- Arrange and Brush: Place the pinwheels cut side up on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart. Brush the tops with the beaten egg wash to achieve a golden, shiny crust.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes or until the pinwheels are puffed up and golden brown.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the pinwheels to cool slightly before serving warm or at room temperature as a festive appetizer.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, use vegetarian-friendly puff pastry and verify the feta is suitable.
- You can replace the fresh herbs with dried herbs if fresh are unavailable, though fresh offers brighter flavor.
- Use fresh cranberry sauce for a moister filling or dried cranberries for chewiness and texture contrast.
- Pinwheels can be made ahead and baked just before serving to maintain crispness.
- To make smaller bite-sized appetizers, slice the log into ½-inch pieces but reduce baking time accordingly.