Description
Delicious Christmas Cranberry Pinwheels are festive, flavorful treats featuring tart dried cranberries, creamy cheese, and fresh herbs wrapped in flaky puff pastry. Perfect for holiday gatherings, these colorful pinwheels are easy to prepare, versatile, and sure to please guests with their delightful blend of sweet, tart, and savory notes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pastry
- 1 sheet puff pastry (thawed)
Filling
- 4 oz (115g) cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
- 1 tablespoon fresh herbs (rosemary or thyme), finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Finishing
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
Instructions
- Prepare the Puff Pastry: Let puff pastry sheets thaw according to package instructions. Once soft and pliable, lay them flat on a lightly floured surface ready for filling.
- Mix the Filling: In a bowl, combine softened cream cheese, dried cranberries, finely chopped fresh herbs, honey, and lemon zest. Stir until everything is evenly incorporated, creating a vibrant and flavorful filling.
- Spread the Filling: Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture over the puff pastry sheets, leaving a small border around the edges to prevent overflow during baking.
- Roll and Slice: Carefully roll the puff pastry sheet into a tight log, starting from one edge. Once rolled, slice into pinwheels about 1-inch thick and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Brush and Bake: Lightly brush the tops with egg wash to achieve a golden finish, then bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15-20 minutes or until the pinwheels are puffed and beautifully golden brown.
Notes
- Use room temperature cream cheese for a smoother filling that spreads easily and blends well with other ingredients.
- Don’t overfill; leaving a border on the puff pastry edges helps prevent the filling from leaking out during baking.
- If the dough becomes too soft or sticky, refrigerate it for 10-15 minutes to make slicing cleaner and easier.
- Keep an eye on the oven as puff pastry can brown quickly, especially in the last few minutes of baking.
- Customize garnishes by sprinkling extra herbs or coarse sugar on top before baking for added texture and appeal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 pinwheels
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: Christmas, Cranberry, Pinwheels, Holiday Treat, Appetizer, Puff Pastry, Festive Snack, Gluten-Free Option
