Ham and Cheese Pinwheels with Puff Pastry for Your Next Party
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Ham and Cheese Pinwheels bake into crisp, flaky spirals filled with Black Forest ham, Swiss cheese, and Dijon mustard. Made with store-bought puff pastry, these baked pinwheels are an easy appetizer for game day, holiday parties, or a simple lunch with soup.
Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
The filling is a familiar combination, but the pastry makes these feel a little special. Swiss cheese melts between the layers, the ham adds a savory bite, and Dijon keeps the flavor from being too rich. A brush of melted
Serve them warm while the edges are crisp and the cheese is melty. For dinner, add tomato soup and a green salad. For a party, put out a platter with extra mustard for dipping.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Five main ingredients, plus an optional parsley garnish.
- Makes 24 pinwheels from two sheets of pastry.
- No homemade dough required.
- Easy to portion for appetizers or lunch.
- Freezer-friendly for preparing ahead.
Ingredients and helpful notes
Puff pastry: Thaw according to the package directions, keeping it cold until you’re ready to assemble. It should unfold easily without cracking. If it becomes warm or sticky, refrigerate it before continuing. Puff Pastry
Dijon mustard: Adds tang to the ham and cheese. Divide the four tablespoons evenly between the sheets.
Swiss cheese: Thin slices make the pastry easier to roll. You’ll need approximately 6–8 ounces total.
Black Forest ham: Use thin slices and pat away excess surface moisture before layering.
Unsalted
Fresh parsley: Sprinkle it over the finished pinwheels for a little color.
Most puff pastry is sold frozen in the US and Canada. Thaw your pastry overnight in the fridge and try to keep it chilled until use.
Roll the spirals fairly snug. This will keep them from unraveling when you bake them. The Dijon mustard really helps as a bit of “glue” to keep them together.
There are a million and one variations for this recipe. Try to make them with Turkey and Cheddar for a more kid-friendly app. Skip the meat entirely and use Spinach and Feta for a Greek feel. Mix the Dijon with honey for a sweet flavor. Endless possibilities!
How to make ham and cheese pinwheels
The full, printable recipe card as at the bottom of the post.
- Prepare the oven and pans
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Have a second pan ready if needed so the pinwheels have room to expand.
- Layer the pastry
Unfold or unroll one sheet of puff pastry. Spread with 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard. Add 4–5 slices Swiss cheese, followed by 5–6 slices Black Forest ham. Leave a narrow strip of pastry uncovered at the edge where you’ll seal the roll.
- Roll and slice
Roll the pastry into a snug log without squeezing the filling out.
Use a sharp knife to cut the log into 12 equal slices.
Repeat with the second pastry sheet and remaining filling. - Brush and bake
Place the 24 pinwheels cut-side up on the prepared pans, leaving 1–2 inches between them. Brush with melted
butter .
Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the pastry is golden and the cheese has melted. Check the inner pastry, too. It should look baked rather than wet or doughy.
If using two pans, rotate them as needed for even browning. Sprinkle with chopped parsley, cool briefly, and serve warm.
Tips for crisp pastry and neat spirals
What to serve with ham and cheese pinwheels
These pinwheels can replace bread or a small sandwich alongside soup. Choose a lighter soup for lunch or smaller portions of a creamy soup for a filling dinner.
| Call Me PMc recipe | How I’d serve it |
|---|---|
| Classic Tomato Soup | With warm pinwheels for a tomato soup and cheese lunch |
| Easy Stovetop Chicken Noodle Soup | With a few pinwheels in place of crackers or bread |
| Dutch Oven Carrot Ginger Soup | A smooth vegetable soup alongside the savory pastry |
| Cheesy Creamy Broccoli Soup | Smaller bowls with a few pinwheels for a richer meal |
For more dinner ideas, browse my Soup and Bread or Sandwich Pairings.
If you enjoy baked sandwiches, try my Ham and Cheese Slab Sandwich or Club Sandwich Pinwheels. The club pinwheels use pizza dough and a different filling, giving you another option for your next gathering.
Easy variations
- Turkey and cheddar: Replace the ham and Swiss with thinly sliced turkey and cheddar.
- Honey Dijon: Stir a little honey into the mustard before spreading.
- Ham and Gruyère: Replace Swiss with thinly sliced Gruyère.
- Spinach and feta: Replace the ham and Swiss with cooked spinach squeezed very dry and crumbled feta. Keep the filling layer light.
Changes to the filling can affect baking time. Avoid thick layers or wet ingredients that could leave the centers soft.
Make ahead, storage, and reheating
Store Ham and Cheese Pinwheels leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Refrigerate within two hours, or within one hour when the temperature is above 90°F. Food Safety and Inspection Service Reheat in your air fryer or a low oven to crisp them back up.
You can freeze these pinwheels in an airtight container for up to 3 months. If you layer them, place parchment paper between layers to keep them from sticking. Reheat from frozen in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes.
You can also freeze the assembled, unbaked slices on your baking sheet until solid. Transfer them to a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. When you are ready to bake, no need to thaw them. Bake the frozen spirals, arrange on a prepared pan, brush with melted
Frequently Asked Questions
Crescent dough makes a softer, breadier pinwheel and needs its own baking guidance. This recipe’s temperature and timing are for puff pastry.
Wet ham, too much filling, or underbaked pastry can leave the centers soft. Pat the ham dry, use thin layers, and check the inner pastry before removing the pan.
Leave a small uncovered pastry edge, roll snugly, and pinch the seam closed. Chill the log if it softens before slicing.
Yes. Use fully cooked ham sliced thinly, or finely chop it and spread it in a light layer.
It makes 24 pinwheels, with 12 from each pastry sheet. Plan on about 2–3 per person when serving them with other appetizers, adjusting for their size and the rest of the menu.
Ham and Cheese Pinwheels Conclusion
Ham and Cheese Pinwheels are the kind of appetizer recipe you make once and repeat over and over. They bake into gorgeous, puffed spirals with crisp, flaky layers wrapped around melty Swiss cheese and savory black forest ham. The Dijon mustard adds a subtle tang, and the
Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 sheets puff pastry Typically, a box has 2 sheets
- 4 tablespoons dijon mustard
- 8-10 slices Swiss cheese sliced thin
- 10-12 slices black forest ham sliced thin
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
- fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Unroll your first sheet of puff pastry and spread half of the dijon mustard in an even layer.2 sheets puff pastry, 4 tablespoons dijon mustard
- Place 4-5 slices of Swiss cheese over the dijon.8-10 slices Swiss cheese
- Lay 5-6 slices of black forest ham over the cheese.10-12 slices black forest ham
- Begin rolling up the pastry into a log. Try to roll as tight as possible. This will help keep the pinwheels from unraveling. When you get to the end, pinch the seam to keep it from unrolling.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the log into 12 equal pieces. Now that one is ready, we are going to repeat steps 2-6 for the other sheet of puff pastry.
- Place the ham spirals on your prepared cookie sheet leaving about an inch or two between each one. Brush the melted butter over the tops and sides of each one.¼ cup unsalted butter
- Bake in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. The pastry will have puffed up and the cheese will have melted and browned the tops. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley and serve immediately warm or you can also serve them at room temperature.fresh parsley for garnish
Notes
❄️You can freeze these pinwheels in an airtight container for up to 3 months. ✅Place some parchment paper between the layers to keep them from sticking. Reheat from frozen in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes. ✅You can also freeze the assembled (but unbaked) slices on your baking sheet until solid. Transfer them to a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. When you are ready to bake, no need to thaw them. Bake the frozen spirals in a 400-degree oven for 28-30 minutes. ✅How to thaw and prep puff pastry.
Nutrition
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