Description
These Jalapeño & Cheese Pinwheels are a delightful snack or party appetizer combining creamy soft cheese, tangy red Leicester, spicy pickled jalapeños, and a hint of hot sauce all rolled in flaky puff pastry. Baked until golden and puffed, these bite-sized pinwheels offer a perfect balance of heat and cheesiness in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Mixture
- 150g soft cheese
- 3 cheese slices, cut into small chunks
- 125g red Leicester cheese, coarsely grated
- 50g pickled jalapeños, roughly chopped
- Few shakes of hot sauce (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Pastry
- 320g ready-rolled puff pastry sheet
- 1 egg, beaten
Instructions
- Prepare the cheese mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the soft cheese, small cheese chunks, coarsely grated red Leicester, roughly chopped pickled jalapeños, and hot sauce if desired. Season the mixture well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Stir until fully integrated and set aside.
- Assemble the pinwheels: Unroll the ready-rolled puff pastry sheet on a clean surface. Evenly spread the prepared cheese and jalapeño mixture over the entire pastry sheet, right up to the edges, ensuring full coverage.
- Roll and slice: Starting from one of the longer sides, tightly roll the pastry into a spiral log. Using a sharp knife, slice the roll into 12 equal pinwheels.
- Chill before baking: Place the pinwheels on a baking tray lined with baking parchment, spacing them well apart to allow for puffing. Chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes to firm up the pastry.
- Bake the pinwheels: Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan)/gas mark 6. Brush the tops of the pinwheels lightly with the beaten egg for a golden finish. Bake them for 20-25 minutes until they are risen, puffed, and golden brown.
- Cool and serve: Let the pinwheels cool on the baking tray for 5 minutes. Serve warm as a tasty snack or appetizer.
Notes
- For extra heat, increase the amount of pickled jalapeños or add more hot sauce to the cheese mixture.
- If you prefer milder flavors, reduce the jalapeños or omit the hot sauce.
- These pinwheels are best served fresh on the day but can be reheated gently in a low oven before serving.
- Puff pastry can be substituted with homemade if preferred, but ensure it is well chilled before rolling.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Keywords: jalapeño pinwheels, cheese pinwheels, spicy appetizers, puff pastry snacks, party food
