Cranberry Cream Cheese Pinwheels with Feta & Herbs Recipe
Delightfully flaky and flavorful, these Cranberry Cream Cheese Pinwheels with Feta & Herbs are perfect bite-sized appetizers that combine creamy cheese, tangy cranberries, and fragrant herbs all wrapped in buttery puff pastry. They are ideal for holiday parties or any gathering as a crowd-pleasing savory treat.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 pinwheels 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Pastry
- 1 sheet puff pastry
Filling
- 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
Additional
- 1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water (egg wash)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Roll out the puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface, smoothing out any creases to form an even rectangle.
- Spread Cream Cheese: Evenly spread the softened cream cheese over the puff pastry, leaving a small border around the edges to prevent overflow when baking.
- Add Cranberries and Feta: Sprinkle the cranberry sauce or chopped dried cranberries evenly over the cream cheese layer, then evenly distribute the crumbled feta cheese on top.
- Add Fresh Herbs: Scatter the chopped fresh herbs, such as parsley or rosemary, over the filling to add an aromatic touch.
- Roll and Slice: Carefully roll the puff pastry tightly from one long edge into a log, ensuring it is compact, then cut the log into 1-inch thick pinwheel slices.
- Arrange for Baking: Place the sliced pinwheels cut side up on the prepared baking sheet, allowing some space between each for expansion.
- Apply Egg Wash and Bake: Brush the tops of the pinwheels with the beaten egg wash for a golden finish. Bake in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes or until the pinwheels are puffed and golden brown.
Notes
- You can substitute fresh herbs with dried if fresh is unavailable, but reduce quantity to half.
- For a sweeter variation, use additional dried cranberries instead of cranberry sauce.
- Ensure the puff pastry is well chilled before rolling for easier handling.
- Serve warm for the best flavor and flaky texture.
- Pinwheels can be prepared ahead and baked just before serving.
Keywords: Cranberry pinwheels, cream cheese appetizers, puff pastry pinwheels, holiday appetizers, feta cheese snacks
