Cream Cheese Pinwheel Sandwiches Appetizer
Pinwheel sandwiches are a tradition at my house every holiday! Tastes great with Christmas dinner or Easter brunch. You could even make it a thanksgiving appetizer or for game day parties. This serves about 24 people if everyone only eats a serving!
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Why This Recipe Works:
This no bake appetizer pairs well with any family gathering, tailgate party, family reunion potluck, etc. You can prepare ahead of time and place in fridge until ready to cut and serve. Pinwheel sandwiches are also customizable to whatever you have in your fridge as well.
Ingredients:
- Flour tortillas – I buy what is cheap. For this recipe any size works, just might need more or less depending on how thick you want your filling and size of tortilla using. Try to use fresh tortillas as well, not ones that have been in the freezer for months.
- Cream cheese – the block kind
- Onion – chopped onion pairs well with cheese ball enhancing the flavors of the recipe.
- Sour cream – squeezable or tub kind works. Ricotta can also be a substitute here, it would just be a more grainy flavor.
- Cheddar cheese – shredded works best
- Salsa – your favorite one would work here! I use a different brand for this recipe every time. Homemade salsa even works.
How to Make Pinwheel Sandwiches:
- Place tortillas on a plate – if your tortillas are previously frozen, make sure they are completely thawed before beginning the recipe. If they are frozen, remove them from the plastic package and place them in a towel. Microwave for about 20 seconds or until they are thawed and easy to bend.
- Stir together remaining ingredients in a bowl
- Spread bowl mixture evenly between all the tortillas-it really depends on how thick you want your tortilla roll ups to be as to how much you spread on. I probably spread on about 2 tablespoons of mixture per tortilla.
- Roll up tortillas like a rug and freeze/ refrigerate.
- Cut and serve.
Tips for Making Cream Cheese Roll Ups:
- Large tortillas – use the biggest tortillas you can find for this recipe so the slices are larger in diameter when cut. This also means less tortillas to roll.
- Soft cream cheese – make sure your cream cheese is very soft and spreadable so there are not lumps.
- No gaps – you will want to roll the tortillas up tightly like a rug so there is no gaps between the filling and tortilla.
- Waiting to eat – don’t eat right away or else they flavors aren’t as blended together. Always allow appetizer to chill before serving.
- Cut evenly – make sure to cut into even pieces or some people will get more than others!
Variations:
- Tortillas – Sometimes I experiment with different flavors of tortillas such as spinach or tomato basil for these tortillas pinwheels. Just have to experiment and see what works best for you! You can also make homemade tortillas.
- Hot sauce – you can swap out the salsa for a hot sauce of your choosing
- Other cheeses – instead of cheddar, pepperjack, parmesan or another flavor of cheese could also be an option
- Add bacon – you can make these pinwheels non-vegetarian if you would like by adding bacon! I would not cook the bacon until it is extremely crispy though, or else that could be too much of a crunch. Make sure the bacon is still nice and flimsy.
- Corn – you can mix in cooked corn for extra veggie nutrients. This would be similar to corn dip in a roll up.
What to serve with holiday pinwheels can be anything from Homemade Andes Mints to Eggnog Cookies!
How Long Do Pinwheel Sandwiches Last:
These are best if eaten within a few days. If you have leftovers, they do keep in the fridge for up to one week.
How to Store:
- Fridge – store these tortilla roll ups in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to one week
- Freezer – this recipe can be a freezer meal! I just freeze mine until ready to eat. I let them thaw out for about 15 minutes before serving them if I froze them first.
Cream Cheese Pinwheel Appetizer
These pinwheel sandwiches are one of our favorite holiday appetizers. Tastes great with Christmas dinner or Easter brunch. You could even make it a thanksgiving appetizer. Bring this pinwheel recipe to your next family gathering, and the guests will not be disappointed!
Recommended Products
plate
rubber spatula
pairing knife
measuring cups
Ingredients
- 4-5 12 inch flour tortillas
- 8 oz. cream cheese room temperature
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup salsa
- 1 tbsp garlic
- seasonings to add at own discretion: celery salt, thyme, oregano, salt, pepper, garlic salt
Instructions
- Lay tortillas on a plate. Stir together all the other ingredients in a medium bowl.
- Using a spatula, spread cream cheese mixture on top of a tortilla. You can make it as thin or thick of layer as you like. Just make sure it is an even coat.
- Roll up tortilla. Set aside in a tupperware dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas until mixture is gone. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. Cut into 1 inch bite side sandwiches. Serve your Pinwheel Appetizer cold!
Nutrition
Calories: 189kcal
All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. Nutritional facts listed are a rough estimate and should only be followed as a general idea.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
What a great appetizer! Great idea! Thanks for sharing!