Impress your guests with these delicious and easy-to-make Mediterranean pinwheels. Full of flavor and perfect for any occasion, these appetizers are sure to be a hit! You only need a few simple ingredients and about 35 minutes to make these delicious apps!
This recipe was originally pushed on December 28, 2020. It was republished on December 15, 2025 with an updated recipe and new photos!
If you like Mediterranean inspired flavors (think salty olives, sweet basil pest, creamy cheese and sun-dried tomatoes) this appetizer is for you! This savory recipe is packed full of flavor.
Pinwheel appetizers are the perfect app to bring to a holiday party. Serve them with some, roasted pepper and feta dip, goat cheese stuffed mushrooms or caramelized onion hummus for the ultimate starter!
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Ingredient Notes
- Puff Pastry - I can usually find this in the frozen section of the grocery store. You will need 2 sheets of thawed puff pastry for this recipe
- Cream cheese - I opt to use lighter cream cheese with ⅓ of the fat.
- Pesto - you can use store-bought pest or try making your own arugula basil pesto for a fun twist!
- Olives - I recommend using Kalamata olives for this recipe. They are salty, brine and so delicious!
- Sun-dried tomatoes - look for the jar of tomatoes packed in olive oil. This will make it easier to slice them. You can opt to use the dried tomatoes in a bag, but they will be a bit tougher. Sun-dried tomatoes add some natural sweetness to every bite!
- Roasted red peppers - I almost always have a jar of these on hand! They add a nice bite of smokey sweetness.
- Spinach - keep this recipe super simple by using an 8 oz box of frozen spinach. Make sure to thaw it and squeeze out all of the liquid before use.
Substitutions and Variations
- Feta cheese - add in ¼ cup of feta cheese or goat cheese.
- Artichokes - add in ⅓ cup of chopped artichoke hearts.
- Hummus - replace the cream cheese with 1 cup of hummus.
- Vegan - use vegan cream cheese (or hummus) and make sure to get some vegan puff pastry!
- No-bake - use tortillas instead of puff pastry. Mix all the ingredients together and roll them up in a tortilla instead of puff pastry. Slice and serve!
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1: Add all ingredients (except the puff pastry) to a mixing bowl.
Step 2: Mix together until combined.
Step 3: Roll 1 sheet out the puff pastry on a cutting board. Spread ½ of the mixture all over the pastry. Repeat on the 2nd sheet of puff pastry.
Step 4: Carefully roll up the puff pastry.
Step 5: Slice each roll of pastry into 8 equal sized pieces. Gently reshape them if needed to be circular.
Step 6: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit fro 20-30 minutes.
Hint: Sprinkle a bit of flour on your work surface so the pastry doesn't stick!
Emily's Top Tip
"Puff pastry can be tricky to work with. Try to work quickly once it is thawed. If it becomes too soft and sticky, put it back in the fridge to chill for 10-15 minutes until resuming your work."
Frequently Asked Questions
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I recommend reheating them in the oven or air fryer for a few minutes.
Yes, follow this recipe but do not bake them until you are ready to eat them. You can roll up the cream cheese mixture in the puff pastry and store it in the fridge for 1-2 days before baking the.
Easy Mediterranean Pinwheels
Ingredients
- 2 sheets puff pastry thawed
- 8 oz light cream cheese (⅓ of the fat)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon pesto (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 cup frozen spinach (thawed and liquid squeezed out)
- ⅓ cup roasted red pepper diced
- ⅓ cup kalamata olives sliced in half
- ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil diced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Add the cream cheese, garlic powder, pesto, spinach, roasted red pepper, olives and sun-dried tomatoes to a mixing bowl.
- Mix well until combined.
- Roll one sheet out the puff pastry on a cutting board at a time. Use a rolling pin if necessary to help flatten it out. Spread ½ of the mixture over the pastry evenly. Repeat on the 2nd sheet of puff pastry.
- Carefully roll up the puff pastry into a log. Gently push the ends in if needed.
- Slice each roll of pastry into 8 equal sized pieces. Gently reshape them if needed into a rounded shape.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake 20-30 minutes until pastry is crispy and lightly browned.
Video
Notes
- Sprinkle a bit of flour on your work surface so the pastry doesn't stick!
- If the pastry becomes too sticky, simply pace it back in the fridge to chill for 10-15 minutes.
Kyle says
All the yummy flavors in a fluffy pastry!
Emily Toshiko says
So happy you enjoyed it 🙂