Description

These festive Smoked Turkey Pinwheels Tree are a delightful and visually stunning appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings. Made with soft tortillas spread with a creamy mixture of cream cheese, mayonnaise, and Dijon mustard, layered with smoked turkey and fresh vegetables, and arranged thoughtfully to resemble a Christmas tree, this recipe combines tasty flavors with playful presentation to impress your guests.

Ingredients

Scale

Wrap and Filling

4 large spinach or flour tortillas, 10-inch diameter
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
7 ounces smoked turkey breast, thinly sliced
1 medium red bell pepper, finely diced
1 small cucumber, julienned
1 carrot, peeled and grated
2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Decorations

12 pretzel sticks for tree trunk
Fresh parsley sprigs for tree branches
Cherry tomatoes, halved, for tree ornaments
Yellow bell pepper, sliced into a star for tree topper

Instructions

Prepare Cream Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, blend softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, and Dijon mustard together until smooth and creamy. Season the mixture with salt and freshly ground black pepper to enhance the flavor.
Spread Filling on Tortilla: Lay one tortilla flat on a clean surface and evenly spread one-quarter of the cream cheese mixture over it, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edges to prevent overflow when rolling.
Add Layered Ingredients: Arrange smoked turkey slices over the cream cheese layer. Then sprinkle diced red bell pepper, julienned cucumber, grated carrot, and chopped chives evenly over the turkey to add freshness and color.
Roll and Chill: Roll the tortilla tightly from one end to the other to form a log. Wrap it securely in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up, making slicing easier and more uniform.
Repeat Filling and Rolling: Repeat the spreading, layering, and rolling process with the remaining tortillas and cream cheese mixture until all wraps are prepared and chilled.
Slice into Pinwheels: Unwrap each chilled roll and use a sharp knife to slice it into six equal pinwheels, showcasing the colorful layers inside.
Arrange Pinwheels in Tree Shape: On a large serving platter, arrange the pinwheels in a triangular layout, wider at the base and narrowing to the top, to create the shape of a Christmas tree.
Assemble Tree with Garnishes: Insert pretzel sticks at the base to represent the tree trunk. Decorate the ‘branches’ with fresh parsley sprigs, use halved cherry tomatoes as ornaments, and position the yellow bell pepper star on top to complete the festive look.
Serve or Store: Serve the assembled pinwheel tree immediately for best freshness, or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

Use either spinach or plain flour tortillas depending on your preference for flavor and color.
Make sure the cream cheese is softened to avoid lumps when mixing.
Chilling the rolled tortillas before slicing helps maintain their shape and makes slicing easier.
Feel free to customize the veggies based on availability or taste, such as adding shredded lettuce or thinly sliced avocado slices.
The decorative toppings are edible and add flavor as well as festive appeal.
These pinwheels are best consumed within 24 hours when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American

Keywords: smoked turkey pinwheels, holiday appetizer, Christmas tree appetizer, festive finger food, no-cook party snacks