More Pinwheel Appetizers
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Crescent roll dough is one of my favorite ways to take party appetizers from good to great, and one of my favorite ways to use this store-bought hack is in these ham and cheese pinwheels. This recipe transforms everyday sandwich ingredients into a flaky, crowd-pleasing appetizer, packed full of salty-sweet ham and melty cheese and topped with a showstopping garlic–poppy seed butter. Easy to make and endlessly customizable, these 30-minute pinwheels are the perfect last-minute app when you need a guaranteed hit at your Christmas party.
Glad you asked! It's a simple yet impressive party app that harnesses the power of store-bought crescent roll dough to make something far greater than the sum of its parts. These pinwheels are formed by rolling out crescent dough, topping it with mustard, ham, and cheese, then rolling it all up before slicing and baking. One element puts these pinwheels over the top: A supremely simple garlic–poppy seed butter that adds tons of flavor and helps the pinwheels turn gorgeously golden.
Unroll the crescent roll dough on a flour-dusted work surface and separate it into four rectangles; pinch the perforations to seal. Spread mustard over each rectangle, then top with the ham and cheese. Starting from a short side, roll up each rectangle into a log; pinch the seams to seal.
Slice each log crosswise into four equal pieces and arrange, cut-side up, in a greased 8" square baking dish. When slicing, use a sawing motion to avoid compressing the log.
Now for the garlic butter. I like to melt the butter in the microwave in short bursts of 15 seconds or so on medium power—takes minimal time. Once the butter is melted, whisk in the garlic powder and parsley and brush the mixture over the pinwheels. Sprinkle with the poppy seeds and the pinwheels are ready for the oven.
Bake the pinwheels at 350° for 15 minutes, or until golden on top and the cheese is melted.
Full list of ingredients and directions can be found in the recipe below.
The best part of these pinwheels? These can be done with any cheese and deli meat. Wanna try turkey and gouda? Amazing. Roast beef and horseradish cheddar? Sounds incredible, just like our French dip pinwheel. You want a holiday-themed one to impress your guests? We've got a Christmas tree pinwheel too. You truly can't go wrong with this adaptable app.
If you manage to have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for around 4 days, or freeze them for up to a month. I highly recommend reheating pinwheels in the oven (or air fryer) so the crescent rolls can crisp back up.
Cooking spray
All-purpose flour, for dusting
(8-oz.) tube crescent dough
deli sliced ham
Dijon mustard
sliced Swiss cheese
unsalted butter, melted
chopped fresh parsley
garlic powder
poppy seeds
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