These easy to make Ham and Cheese Pinwheels use only 4 ingredients and are a great option for a make-ahead snack and an excellent addition to any summer picnic when packed with some Easy Rosemary Focaccia and a jar of Cranberry Sauce with Orange and Port. They are easy to prepare and taste delicious.
By using ready made puff pastry, you can save a significant amount of time, especially if the pastry sheet is already rolled out. This eliminates the need for a rolling pin and ensures that the pastry is the right size for this recipe.
Tip: If using unrolled Puff pastry or making your own, you will need to roll out the pastry to about 350cm x 230cm and about 3 -4 mm thick.
Ingredients and Substitutions
This is just an overview of the ingredients I used to make this Ham and Cheese Pinwheel Recipe with green pesto along with possible alternatives and why I may have used them. See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and quantities. Or click the 'Jump to Recipe' button above.
- Puff Pastry - Use Ready made and pre-rolled out pastry, this will save you a lot of time and is ready rolled to the correct size, (350cm x 320cm).
- Ham - Ideally use thinly sliced ham as this will make it easier to roll into pinwheels, especially if using slices of cheese.
- Cheese - Using grated cheese instead of cheese slices will make it easier to assemble the roll-ups.
- Pesto - Green or red pesto is fine. You could also try using a tomato paste or a very smooth chutney. Mustard is fine too.
Step By Step Instructions
Preheat the oven to 190c deg Fan assisted oven and grease a 12 hole muffin tin.
Step 1: Unroll the ready made puff pastry onto a large sheet of baking parchment making sure the longest edge is at the bottom. Spread with a thin layer of Pesto, avoid going over the edges if you can.
Step 2: Layer the ham evenly over the top of the pesto
Step 3: Place the cheese slices/grated cheese over the top of the ham.
Step 4: Begin to create the Pinwheels by carefully rolling up from the bottom long edge. This could be tricky at first.
Step 5: Without pressing down too hard, carefully roll up the Cheese and Ham Swirls ending with the seam side underneath. There is no need to seal the edges, the melted cheese will do this during baking.
Step 6: Using a sharp or serrated knife, section off 12 portions evenly.
Step 7: Carefully and without pressing too hard, slice the Ham and Cheese Rollups into 12 portions.
Step 8: Place each portion into the prepared muffin tin.
Step 9: Optional. Brush the tops of the Pinwheels with beaten egg or a little milk.
Step10: Bake for around 15 mins in the centre of the preheated oven or until baked with a golden colour on the top and bottom. Leave to cool for 5 mins allowing the melted cheese to set a little before removing the pinwheels from the muffin tin.
These Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry Swirls can be enjoyed as a snack alongside fresh tomatoes and cucumber slices or a fresh leafy green salad. They are also perfect for a weekend lunch or as a party appetiser.
Storage
- Store - To keep their freshness, store them in the refrigerator where they can last for a couple of days. These pinwheels are great whether served warm or cold.
- Reheat - Place the pinwheels on a baking tray in a moderate oven until heated through. Tip: If using an air fryer to reheat, place a few directly onto the inner tray evenly spaced out and bake until heated through.
Top Tips
Tip 1 - To make the rolling process easier, it is recommended to use thinly sliced ham and thin slices or grated cheese.
FAQ
Make the pinwheels the day before and store them in the fridge. When ready to eat either serve cold or reheat in a moderate oven until warmed through.
Pairing
These are my favourite dishes to serve with Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
After making this recipe please let me know how you got on by leaving a comment below. Especially if you used alternative ingredients. Subscribe to my Newsletter - Let's stay connected.
Recipe
Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
Equipment
- 1 Baking Tray
- Baking Parchment
Ingredients
- 320 g pack of Readymade puff pastry sheet size 350cm x 230cm
- 2 rounded tablespoons of pesto
- 120 g thinly sliced cooked Ham
- Cheese Slices or 180g grated mild cheese
- egg or milk for glazing optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 190c deg Fan assisted oven and grease a 12 hole muffin tin.
- Unroll the ready made puff pastry onto a large sheet of baking parchment making sure the longest edge is at the bottom. Spread with a thin layer of Pesto, avoid going over the edges if you can.320 g pack of Readymade puff pastry, 2 rounded tablespoons of pesto
- Layer the ham evenly over the top of the pesto. Place the cheese slices/grated cheese over the top of the ham.120 g thinly sliced cooked Ham, Cheese Slices or 180g grated mild cheese
- Begin to create the Pinwheels by carefully rolling up from the bottom long edge. This could be tricky at first. Without pressing down too hard, carefully roll up the Cheese and Ham Swirls ending with the seam side underneath. There is no need to seal the edges, the melted cheese will do this during baking.
- Using a sharp or serrated knife, section off 12 portions evenly. Carefully and without pressing too hard, slice each portion all the way through.
- Place each portion into the prepared muffin tin. (Optional) Brush the tops of the Pinwheels with beaten egg or a little milk.egg or milk for glazing
- Bake for around 15 mins in the centre of the preheated oven or until baked with a golden colour on the top and bottom. Leave to cool for 5 mins allowing the melted cheese to set a little before removing the pinwheels from the muffin tin.
- These Puff Pastry Swirls can be enjoyed as a snack alongside fresh tomatoes and cucumber slices or a fresh leafy green salad. They are also perfect for a weekend lunch or as a party appetiser.
Notes
Nutrition
Note: Recipes are tested using Metric only. The provided nutrition information is an estimate for the entire recipe, the calorie accuracy nutritional facts, unit and portion conversion are calculated by a third party app. and are not guaranteed.
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