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Easy Christmas Cranberry Feta Pinwheels Party Appetizer Recipe

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★★★★★

5 from 53 reviews

These Easy Christmas Cranberry Feta Pinwheels are a festive and flavorful party appetizer featuring flaky puff pastry filled with a creamy blend of cream cheese, feta, dried cranberries, and fresh herbs. Perfectly golden and flaky, these pinwheels offer a delicious balance of savory, sweet, and tangy flavors and make an impressive yet easy addition to any holiday gathering.

Ingredients

Scale

Pastry

  • 2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed (approx. 500g)

Filling

  • 8 oz (226g) cream cheese, full-fat, softened
  • 4 oz (113g) feta cheese, crumbled
  • ½ cup dried cranberries, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp fresh rosemary, finely minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, finely minced
  • 1 tbsp light brown sugar
  • ½ tsp black pepper, freshly ground
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder (optional)
  • Pinch of salt, to taste

Egg Wash

  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tbsp water or milk

Garnish (optional)

  • Fresh rosemary sprigs
  • Whole fresh cranberries

Instructions

  1. Prepare Filling: Soften cream cheese to room temperature. In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese until light and fluffy. Gently fold in the crumbled feta cheese. Finely mince fresh rosemary and thyme; finely chop dried cranberries. Add cranberries, herbs, brown sugar, black pepper, garlic powder if using, and a pinch of salt. Fold gently until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  2. Roll and Spread: Lay one thawed puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface or parchment paper. Roll gently into a 10×12-inch rectangle about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Evenly spread half the filling over the pastry, leaving a ½-inch border along one long edge. Starting from the opposite long edge, carefully and tightly roll the pastry into a log and pinch the seam closed along the border.
  3. Chill and Slice: Wrap the log tightly in plastic wrap and chill in the freezer for 15-20 minutes or refrigerator for 30-45 minutes until firm. Remove the wrap and slice into ½-inch thick rounds with a sharp knife.
  4. Repeat Assembly: Repeat rolling, spreading, rolling into a log, chilling, and slicing for the second puff pastry sheet and remaining filling.
  5. Preheat Oven and Arrange: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Arrange the pinwheel slices on the sheets about 1 inch apart.
  6. Apply Egg Wash and Bake: Whisk the egg and water or milk together for egg wash. Lightly brush tops and edges of each pinwheel with the egg wash. Bake for 15-20 minutes until puffed, golden brown, and flaky, rotating halfway through baking if needed.
  7. Cool and Serve: Remove from oven and cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature, garnished with rosemary sprigs and cranberries if desired.
  8. Storage and Reheating: Store leftovers airtight in refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat in a 300°F (150°C) oven for 5-8 minutes; avoid microwaving for best texture.
  9. Make-Ahead and Freezing: The pastry logs (before slicing) can be made a day ahead and refrigerated. Slice, egg wash, and bake on serving day. To freeze unbaked pinwheels, freeze arranged slices on a baking sheet until solid, then store in a freezer-safe bag for up to 1 month. Bake from frozen adding extra minutes to baking time.
  10. Optional Variations: For a flavor twist, add finely chopped toasted pecans or walnuts, a pinch of red pepper flakes, or a teaspoon of orange zest to the filling mixture.

Notes

  • Ensure cream cheese is fully softened for easier mixing and fluffy filling texture.
  • Chilling the rolled logs is essential to get clean, neat pinwheel slices that hold shape during baking.
  • Use a sharp knife to slice logs evenly to avoid squishing the filling out.
  • Egg wash promotes golden, shiny, and crisp pastry exterior.
  • Storage in airtight containers keeps pinwheels fresh and prevents pastry from drying out.
  • Avoid microwaving leftovers to maintain flakiness; oven reheating is recommended.

Keywords: Christmas appetizers, cranberry feta pinwheels, holiday party food, puff pastry appetizers, easy Christmas recipes

Find it online: https://bakedbylisa.com/easy-christmas-cranberry-feta-pinwheels-party-appetizer-recipe/