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This blog post and recipe development is sponsored by Jus-Rol
These pinwheels are a great back-to-school snack for your kids. They’re flaky, savory, and quick to make. With only 5 minutes of prep time using just 5 ingredients, you can even make a fun activity out of it and make them with your kiddos!
I use Jus-Rol Puff Pastry to make these pinwheels because I love how consistent their products are to use — they’re often on our meal plan. Their puff pastry product is found in the refrigerated dairy case at most grocery stores, which is great because they don’t require any time for thawing.
You have to try their pizza doughs as well, they are so easy to work with and make for a quick weeknight meal. I'll link my Pesto Alfredo Chicken Pizza using Jus-Rol Family Size Pizza Dough.
Here’s a link to the store locator for you to find Jus-Rol products near you.
As I mentioned earlier, the prep only takes about 5 minutes. The prep is also very kid-friendly, so feel free to let them join in on the fun! Or, if you’re like me, you may decide to prep while your little one is napping.
The first thing you’ll want to do is roll out your dough. Jus-Rol Puff Pastry comes rolled with parchment paper that’s safe to use up to 425 degrees, so all you have to do is open the package, unroll, and you’re ready to go. We’ll be making the pinwheels right on top of this parchment paper.
Spread out your marinara sauce on the dough. You can use any kind of sauce you usually cook with. Make sure to leave about a ½-inch border on the end closest to you to prevent any filling from spilling out when the dough is rolled. Next comes your seasonings. I choose to sprinkle Italian seasoning over the sauce to give it an herby note, but you can also add crushed red pepper flakes if your kids are okay with spice. Then sprinkle your cheese. I use a mix of Mexican blend and mozzarella cheeses, and opt for the finely shredded packages, as the cheese melts so easily. Next, add your toppings. I choose to just use pepperoni, but feel free to mix it up! Whatever you decide, you’ll want to make sure to chop it into smaller pieces. This makes it easier to roll the pinwheels later.
Using a typewriter motion, start rolling the dough toward you to create a tightly rolled log. Don’t worry if the ends look messy, we’ll trim them off later. If any sauce came out while you were rolling, just scoop it out with a spoon. Wrap the log in the parchment paper that came with the puff pastry, and let it chill in the refrigerator for 30 – 60 minutes. This step makes cutting the pinwheel slices easier, and they keep their shape.
Once your pinwheel has chilled, unwrap it and begin cutting the log into ¾ to 1-inch thick slices, beginning with trimming the ends. Serrated knives work best when cutting dough like this. Arrange the pinwheels, swirl side up, on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 15 – 18 minutes. Don’t worry too much about their shape being perfect, they’ll puff up nicely once they’re baked.
Warm up some extra marinara sauce for dipping, garnish with Parmesan cheese, and enjoy!
You can also check out my YouTube video, Jus-Rol Pepperoni Puff Pastry Pinwheels, for detailed steps on how to make these simple pinwheels (and to see my son Henry make his video debut). And don’t forget to follow @jus_rol_northamerica for more fun recipes!
Recipe Card:
Jus-Rol Pepperoni Pizza Puff Pastry Pinwheels
Ingredients:
Yield: 12 pinwheels
1 package Jus-Rol Puff Pastry
1/2 cup marinara sauce, plus 1/2 cup for dipping
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 cup shredded cheese (I used Mexican blend and Mozzarella)
1/2 cup small diced pepperoni
Optional: Parmesan cheese to finish
Method:
Roll out the Jus-Rol Puff Pastry on a cutting board.
Spread the marinara sauce on the dough, leaving a ½-inch border on the edge closest to you.
Sprinkle the Italian seasoning over the dough, followed by the cheese and pepperoni.
Starting at the edge furthest from you, roll a log using a typewriter motion.
Once your log is formed, roll the dough in the parchment paper and refrigerate for 30 – 60 minutes.
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
Remove the parchment paper. Using a serrated knife, make slices that are about ¾ – 1 inch in size.
Arrange the pinwheels, swirl side up, on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
Bake for 15 – 18 minutes until golden brown.
Heat the remaining marinara sauce in a bowl and sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the pinwheels and marinara.
Enjoy!
Tips:
Using finely shredded cheeses helps the cheese melt more easily.
Try to make sure your toppings are somewhat evenly spread out on the dough, but it doesn’t have to be perfect.
The pizza pinwheel slices can be any size you want, just remember that altering their size will affect their baking time.
Feel free to add some crushed red pepper flakes for a bit of spice!
These pizza pinwheels can be made with any chopped toppings of your choice.