Cheese Pinwheels

Happy Mother's Day!

Puff pastry is one of my favourite ingredients to work with because it is so versatile.  It can be used for sweet or savory dishes ranging from appetizers, to desserts and snacks to main course dishes.  While puff pastry can be made from scratch using the long prep method it is far easier to use the homemade short prep puff pastry method or buy puff pastry in the grocery store.

Purchased puff pastry can be found in the freezer section of the grocery store.  It comes in a package of two rolls wrapped in wax paper.  Thaw in the refrigerator but keep cold until ready to use then unroll and cut as desired.  Homemade puff pastry dough should be chilled then rolled as desired and chilled until ready to use.

I used a roll of purchased puff pastry to make cheese pin wheels.  These are very easy to make!  I sprinkled grated cheddar cheese over the pastry sheet, pressing lightly to hold the cheese in place.  Then I turned the sheet so the long side faced me and rolled, jelly roll style.  I pressed the ending edge to secure the cut into half inch thick slices using a sharp knife.

I pre-heated the oven to 400°F/200°C then baked the cheese pin wheels until the puff pastry turned a light golden brown and the melted cheese started browning slightly.  I cooled the cheese on a cooling rack.

Cheese pin wheels are simply delightful.  The puff pastry is rich and flaky pairing nicely with cheddar cheese.  Any cheese could be used though.  They are lovely as an appetizer and perfect for entertaining as they are just so easy to make.  You could add a light topping of tomatoes and green onions or a bit of salsa if desired.  This kid friendly, mother approved, easy appetizer is sure to become a family favourite!

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