Christmas Pinwheels

The holiday season creates a big demand for holiday snacks and appetizers, and these Christmas pinwheels are sure to please. Better yet, they take just 15 minutes to prepare, plus some hands-off refrigeration time afterward. That’s the kind of time commitment most of us can easily manage, even in the thick of holiday preparations.

Christmas pinwheels with cream cheese lend themselves to improvisation as well, so you can create any number of variations on the theme—check out our ideas further down the page.

Christmas Pinwheel Ingredients

• Cream cheese: Cream cheese provides a tangy base for the pinwheel filling and also serves as a binder to hold the pinwheels together.
• Ranch dressing mix: Ranch salad dressing mix provides a well-balanced set of flavors to complement the vegetables in the filling.
• Sweet red pepper: Diced sweet red bell pepper gives the rolls a sweet and juicy flavor, as well as a seasonally appropriate dash of color.
• Celery: Celery’s distinctive flavor and crunch enliven the pinwheels and bring a pleasing textural contrast.
• Green onions: Green onions offer a mild version of onions’ pungent flavor, and the green bits play nicely with the red peppers to give the pinwheels a seasonal color scheme.
• Stuffed olives: Pimento-stuffed green olives bring a bold, briny flavor to the pinwheels and also conform to the green-and-red theme.
• Flour tortillas: The four 10-inch flour tortillas are large enough to be sliced into dozens of pinwheels for serving.

Directions

Step 1: Make the cream cheese filling

In a bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and ranch dressing mix to a smooth consistency. Add the red pepper, celery, green onions and olives, and mix them evenly into the cream cheese mixture.

Step 2: Fill and roll the tortillas

Spread about 3/4 cup of the cream cheese filling on each tortilla. Roll the tortillas tightly, then wrap the rolls tightly in plastic wrap to hold them together. Refrigerate them for at least two hours, until the cream cheese has firmed up again.

Step 3: Slice the pinwheels

Cut the rolls into 1/2-inch slices to make the pinwheels.

Christmas Pinwheel Variations

• Make nut rolls: Try a nut-based filling by using walnuts, pistachios, pecans, almonds, hazelnuts or any other nut you have on hand. Just chop them coarsely and stir them into the softened cream cheese, then use the recipe’s savory flavorings, or swap in sweet ones, as desired. If you’ve already made batches of candied pecans, spiced almonds or something similar, chop some of those for the pinwheel filling and get the nuts and flavorings in one.
• Swap the vegetables for fruit: Instead of the savory ingredients, consider a filling of cream cheese with maraschino cherries, even adding some green glace cherries to the mix to stick to the seasonal color scheme. Dried cranberries paired with either pistachios or pumpkin seeds is another color-appropriate pairing. Strawberries, kiwis, pineapple or canned pears also taste great in pinwheels like this and just need to be diced before they’re incorporated. Candied citrus and dried fruit (apricots, raisins, dates) are also good options that pair well with nuts.
• Make a sandwich version: For a more substantial appetizer, turn to deli meats and cheeses. First, spread the tortilla with plain cream cheese all the way to the edges, then lay out some combination of lettuce, deli meat, sliced cheese, pickles and vegetables to make a filling. Roll the tortillas, then refrigerate them for at least 30 minutes before slicing. Because cream cheese doesn’t form the bulk of the filling, it doesn’t need as long to become firm and hold the roll together. You can also mix flavorings like grainy mustard or horseradish into the cream cheese for added flavor.

How to Store Christmas Pinwheels

Any leftover holiday pinwheels should be covered and refrigerated as soon as possible. You can leave them arranged on a covered plate or platter, or transfer them to a food-storage container with a tight-fitting lid. If you need to stack them, lay a sheet of waxed paper or parchment between the layers to keep them from sticking together.

How long will these Christmas appetizer pinwheels keep?

Most leftovers are good for three to four days in the refrigerator, but your pinwheels have a shorter lifespan because of the peppers. Those soften and break down after just a couple of days, so it’s best to eat up the pinwheels within a day or two after they’re made. It’s important to note that this only applies to pinwheels that have been refrigerated since they were made. Any that have been out at room temperature for two hours or longer should be discarded, for food safety reasons.

Can I make this Christmas pinwheel recipe ahead of time?

You can, in a limited way. They already need some fridge time, so giving them an extra few hours is easy. Prepare them up to a day ahead, if that’s best for your schedule. The bell peppers begin to soften if you prep further ahead, so one day is optimal. If you’re seriously stressed for time, maybe opt for a variation (see above) without the perishable peppers. Alternatively, you can choose other make-ahead appetizers for the rest of your spread, so these pinwheels are the only thing you need to actually make on the day.

Christmas Pinwheel Tips

Does it matter which brand of cream cheese I use?

These Christmas pinwheel appetizers work with any brand of cream cheese, as long as you’ve softened it properly before beginning. Of course, some brands have a better flavor or texture than others, so using the best cream cheese you can find is never a bad idea.

Can I use larger tortillas for bigger pinwheels?

You certainly can, if you have access to restaurant-sized 12-inch tortillas. They’ll give you larger pinwheels, and more slices as well. You’ll need to scale up the recipe, though. Those 12-inch tortillas have about 40% more surface area than the 10-inch ones. Increasing the batch by 50% will give you plenty of extra filling, with a bit left over to go on crackers.

How can I make these prettier on my serving tray?

One option is to look for colored tortillas at your supermarket. Many brands offer both a green and a red tortilla, echoing the red and green holiday color scheme. You can use those with or in place of the regular kind. A scattering of minced parsley or sprigs of fresh herbs make an eye-pleasing garnish. So do small clusters of grapes, or handfuls of nuts or cherry tomatoes. You might also opt to make a few of the variations mentioned above and position them around the main tray. They offer both a visual and a flavor contrast that your guests will appreciate.