Reuben Pinwheels

Name: Reuben Pinwheels
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: 50
Ingredients: 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed (from a 17.3-oz. box); 2 tbsp. store-bought thousand island dressing, plus more for serving; 1/2 lb. corned beef, thinly sliced; 6 thin slices Swiss cheese; 1/4 c. chopped sauerkraut, drained

By Lizzy BriskinPublished: Apr 3, 2024

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swirled corned beef and pastry pinwheels with russian dressing

PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Yields:

Prep Time:

10 mins

Total Time:

1 hr 10 mins

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If you love meaty, savory, tangy Reuben sandwiches, then these crispy Reuben pinwheels are the easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer you’ve been searching for. Made with store-bought buttery puff pastry and layered with corned beef, gooey Swiss cheese, creamy thousand island dressing, and crunchy sauerkraut, these bites have everything you love about the classic sandwich in a party-ready shape. Here's everything you need to know:

What is a Reuben?
A classic Reuben sandwich is made on thick slices of toasted rye bread. The bread is coated in thousand island dressing and stuffed with a thick layer of corned beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut. A Reuben is a favorite lunch recipe for leftover corned beef after, say, a Saint Patrick’s Day party. But now, a sandwich isn’t the only way to get all of those classic New York flavors in a single bite. These pinwheels call on all of the same ingredients as your favorite sandwich, with a simple swap of puff pastry for rye bread. You can find frozen sheets of puff pastry at most grocery stores, just be sure to thaw your sheet before you get cooking.

How to assemble:
Once your pastry is rolled out, making this easy appetizer is as simple as spreading on a thin layer of thousand island dressing (you can make your own or buy it at the store), followed by thinly sliced corned beef, Swiss cheese, and a sprinkling of sauerkraut. Tip: Don’t overdo the sauerkraut, or your pinwheels may not hold together very well.

Why you should chill:
It’s important to let the roll hang in the fridge for about 20 minutes before slicing and baking the pinwheels. This helps everything hold its shape and ensures that the butter in your pastry is nice and cold, which is essential for those heavenly flakes.

If you serve these Reuben pinwheels at your next party, be sure to let us know what you think with a rating and review below!

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Ingredients

1
sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed (from a 17.3-oz. box)
2 Tbsp.
store-bought thousand island dressing, plus more for serving
1/2 lb.
corned beef, thinly sliced
6
thin slices Swiss cheese
1/4 cup
chopped sauerkraut, drained

Directions

1. Step 1Place a sheet of plastic wrap at least 16" x 12" on a work surface. Unfold puff pastry in the center of plastic wrap and roll to a 14" x 10" rectangle.
2. Step 2Cover pastry with a thin layer of dressing, leaving a 1/4" border on both long sides. Arrange slices of corned beef over, slightly overlapping to cover pastry. Top with cheese (slices shouldn’t need to overlap). Arrange sauerkraut in a line lengthwise down center of pastry.
3. Step 3Starting on a long end, carefully roll pastry into a log, using plastic wrap as a guide. Tightly wrap log with plastic. Refrigerate seam side down until cold, about 20 minutes.
4. Step 4Preheat oven to 400°. Slice log into 1/4" rounds with a serrated knife. Arrange rounds between 2 baking sheets, spacing at least 1" apart.
5. Step 5Bake pinwheels until pastry is golden brown and cheese is melted, about 18 minutes.
6. Step 6Transfer pinwheels to a platter. Serve immediately or at room temperature with more dressing alongside for dipping.