Description
Delicious Christmas Cranberry Pinwheels combine fresh cranberries’ bright tartness with creamy richness and a hint of warm spices, all wrapped in flaky puff pastry. These festive appetizers are quick to prepare, visually stunning, and perfect for holiday parties or family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Pastry
- 2 sheets thawed frozen puff pastry
Filling
- 1 cup fresh cranberries, finely chopped
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 1 tsp orange zest
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
For Baking
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
Instructions
- Prepare the Cranberry Filling: Finely chop fresh cranberries and combine them with softened cream cheese, honey or maple syrup, orange zest, chopped nuts (if using), and ground cinnamon in a bowl until the mixture is spreadable but still has texture.
- Roll Out the Puff Pastry: Lightly flour your workspace and unfold the thawed puff pastry sheets. Roll gently with a rolling pin if needed to smooth out edges, ensuring an even thickness.
- Spread the Filling Evenly: Using a spatula or butter knife, spread the cranberry mixture evenly over the puff pastry, leaving about a half-inch border around all edges to prevent overflow during rolling.
- Roll Into a Log Shape: Starting at a long edge, carefully roll the pastry into a tight log without squeezing out the filling. Seal the edge by pressing lightly with your fingers or a small amount of water.
- Slice the Pinwheels: Using a sharp serrated knife, cut the log into slices about ½ to ¾ inch thick. Place each slice flat on a parchment-lined baking sheet with space between each piece.
- Brush with Egg Wash and Bake: Brush the tops of the pinwheels with beaten egg to achieve a shiny golden finish. Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 15-20 minutes until puffed and golden brown.
Notes
- Keep puff pastry well chilled before slicing for clean edges.
- Do not overfill to avoid leakage and soggy texture.
- Use a serrated knife to prevent squashing the pinwheels while slicing.
- Watch bake time closely to avoid burning once golden.
- Pinwheels can be sliced and frozen before baking for convenience.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 pinwheels
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: Christmas, cranberry, pinwheels, holiday appetizer, puff pastry, festive snack, party food
