Description
These Jalapeño & Cheese Pinwheels are a delightful savory snack featuring a blend of soft cheese, red Leicester, and pickled jalapeños wrapped in flaky puff pastry. Perfectly spiced with a hint of heat, these golden, puffed pinwheels make a delicious appetizer or party treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese & Filling
- 150g soft cheese
- 3 cheese slices, cut into small chunks
- 125g red Leicester cheese, coarsely grated
- 50g pickled jalapeños, roughly chopped
- Few shakes of hot sauce (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Pastry
- 320g ready-rolled puff pastry sheet
Finishing
- 1 egg, beaten
Instructions
- Prepare the filling: In a medium bowl, combine the soft cheese, chopped cheese slices, coarsely grated red Leicester, and roughly chopped pickled jalapeños. Add a few shakes of hot sauce if using, then season well with salt and pepper. Mix everything thoroughly and set the mixture aside to let the flavors meld.
- Assemble the pinwheels: Unroll the ready-rolled puff pastry sheet onto a clean, flat surface. Evenly spread the cheese and jalapeño mixture across the pastry, covering right up to the edges for maximum flavor throughout. Starting from one of the longer sides, carefully roll the pastry into a tight spiral.
- Slice and chill: Using a sharp knife, cut the rolled pastry into 12 equal pinwheel slices. Place each pinwheel on a baking tray lined with baking parchment, ensuring they are spaced well apart to allow for puffing during baking. Chill the pinwheels in the refrigerator for 20 minutes to help them hold their shape.
- Bake the pinwheels: Preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C fan) or gas mark 6. Brush the tops of the pinwheels with the beaten egg to give them a lovely golden finish. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the pinwheels are golden brown, puffed up, and risen beautifully.
- Cool and serve: Remove the pinwheels from the oven and let them cool on the baking tray for 5 minutes. Serve the warm pinwheels as a savory snack or party appetizer for best taste and texture.
Notes
- For extra heat, add more pickled jalapeños or additional hot sauce to the filling.
- You can substitute red Leicester with cheddar cheese if preferred.
- Ensure the pastry is well chilled after shaping to prevent shrinking during baking.
- Store leftover pinwheels in an airtight container and reheat in the oven for best results.
- This recipe makes 12 pinwheels, perfect for sharing at gatherings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Keywords: Jalapeño cheese pinwheels, puff pastry appetizers, spicy snacks, party finger foods, baked pinwheels
