These ham cheese pinwheels with puff pastry are the perfect party treat and are great for kids to help make. They are not only easy and quick to whip up in the kitchen, but you can also make them in advance and even cook them quickly in the air fryer.
Looking for a tasty and easy snack that the whole family will love? Look no further than ham cheese pinwheels with puff pastry!
These savoury treats are perfect for parties, after-school snacking, or just a quick and flavorful bite whenever you need it. Get ready to transform your snack game and discover just how amazing ham and cheese can taste!
Top Questions
How many days ahead can you make pinwheels?
Can you freeze cheese pinwheels?
Why are my pinwheels soggy?
How long do pinwheels last?
Why you’ll love this ham cheese pinwheels recipe
The ham cheese roll ups are incredibly easy to make with just a handful of ingredients. The combination of ham and cheese, wrapped in flaky puff pastry, is sure to satisfy even the pickiest eaters.
The ham cheese pinwheels are versatile enough to be served as a quick snack or a party appetizer. They are also a great packed lunch treat for kids! They can be eaten warm or cold.
Not only are these pinwheels delicious, but they’re also customisable. You can switch up the filling with different types of cheese or add some herbs or spices to give them an extra flavour.
Ingredients
For the full recipe and instructions scroll to the bottom of the page for the recipe card.
Pastry
I love baking with pre-made puff pastry, it cuts the prep and baking time down so much. For this recipe, I used pre-made, pre-rolled puff. pastry sheets for ease, but you can always roll it out or even make your pastry yourself.
Cheese
The most important and arguably most delicious ingredient in these pinwheels is grated cheese. I have used cheddar this time but a red Leicester works well or you could even experiment with cream cheese for a really unique taste.
Ham
Ham is one of those staples that I always have in my fridge, it’s perfect for whipping up a quick sandwich or pizza with or for adding to cheese and Puff pastry to make puff pastry cheese ham pinwheels. You can either use basic ham or mix it up and use a honey-glazed ham. The world is your oyster.
How to make ham cheese pinwheels – step by step
For the full recipe and instructions scroll to the bottom of the page for the recipe card.
Start by rolling out your puff pastry sheet on a floured surface and running a quick egg or milk wash along it to help your ingredients stick to it.
Grate your cheese and spread it evenly across the pastry. Add your ham slices on top.
Roll your ham and cheese pinwheels up and slice them into about 1″ thick pieces. This will ensure they cook evenly.
Lay your pinwheels on a baking tray, leaving space as they will spread a little as they cook.
Cover your pinwheels with an egg wash and bake according to the instructions below.
Ham Cheese Pinwheels in the oven
When you get your pastry out of the fridge, be sure to preheat your oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Your pinwheels will take 20 minutes to cook in the oven but this will vary depending on how thick you slice them.
Ham Cheese Pinwheels in an air fryer
The wonderful thing about an air fryer is that you don’t have to wait for it to heat up like you do an oven. So when you are ready to bake your cheese ham pinwheels. Pop them in on the baking sheet and cook for about 20 minutes until they are flaky are delicious.
Top Tips
Remove the puff pastry from the fridge 30 minutes before you need it. This will help it be more malleable and easy to unroll and reroll with the filling.
Experiment with fillings. There are so many ways you can make this and adjust it to your tastes. Feel free to switch things up with your favourite meats, veggies, or even spreads like pesto or mustard.
Make sure your pinwheels are the same thickness so they all cook evenly in the oven or air fryer.
Ham Cheese Pinwheels Serving Suggestions
The best part about the easy ham and cheese pinwheels is that they can be customised to fit any taste preference, making them a great option for picky eaters or those with dietary restrictions. Experiment with different types of meats, cheeses, and veggies to create your own personal favourite combination.
I’ve tried the classic cheddar and ham in this recipe but you could add a brushing of wholegrain mustard over the top before cooking. This sharp mustard with the cheese is to die for.
Perfect for Lunchboxes
These puff pastry cheese ham pinwheels are perfect for including in lunchboxes, offering a delicious and filling option for anyone who wants to mix up their routine. Simply wrap them in aluminium foil or plastic wrap and add them to your lunchbox with your other favourite snacks and treats.
Party Food
Whether you’re hosting a party or just looking for a fun and easy appetizer, puff pastry pinwheels are a great choice. With their flaky, buttery texture and endless flavour combinations, these bite-sized treats are sure to be a hit with your guests. They can be eaten either warm or cold so you can serve them straight from the oven or later on.
I like them warm as there are few things in the world as delicious as warm, cheesy pastry but if there are children around I recommend serving them cold as cheese is a fat, which gets very hot in the oven.
Add a dipping sauce like honey mustard or even a sweet chilli sauce
To take these Easy ham cheese pinwheels to the next level, make a dipping sauce to serve along with them. Honey, mustard and a dash of soy sauce combine to create a peppery and sweet/ savoury sticky sauce that pairs perfectly with the cheese and salty ham.
Or if you fancy a little kick, mix up some sweet chilli sauce and dip your pinwheels into them. You really can’t go wrong with such classic flavours.
Kids snack board
Great snacks for kids with cucumber and carrot batons, fresh fruit etc. You can create a mini Charcuterie board for them with grapes, slices of apple, easy cheese and ham pinwheels and some chopped raw veggies. Add a few dips for them (mayo and ranch are always popular in my house) and let them feel like little grown-ups while you pour yourself a glass of wine and you bite down on your own ham cheese roll-up.
Equipment
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Substitutions and variations
Change the cheese
As this recipe is hugely versatile you can swap out the cheese for your favourite. I always use cheddar but a red Leicester would also be delicious.
Pizza Pinwheels
Swap out the ham and cheese for some pizza sauce, pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese. Roll them up and enjoy the taste of pizza in a bite-sized snack.
Veggie Pinwheels
Remove the ham and enjoy cheese pinwheels or add in some roasted veggies to mix with your cheese. I love roasted broccoli with cheddar.
Vegan Pinwheels
Use your favourite vegan cheese in this recipe or make vegan pinwheels using a vegan puff pastry and adding in veggies. The options are endless!
Storing ham cheese pinwheels / Making ahead of time options
You can make the pinwheels in advance by freezing the pinwheels before you’d put the egg wash on. Then you can cook from frozen. Just remember to add the brushed egg before putting them in the oven.
Once your pinwheels have been cooked, they need to be kept in the fridge, ideally in an airtight container. They will last for about 4 days in the fridge (mine never last that long – they always get eaten!).
I suggest popping the min the microwave for 20 seconds when you get them out of the fridge. Hot cheese ham pinwheels are the best!
FAQS ham cheese pinwheels
How many days ahead can you make pinwheels?
You can make puff pastry pinwheels up to 2 months in advance of needing them if you can freeze them. Simply prepare your pinwheels and freeze them before the egg wash and baking. Then you can get them out of the freezer and egg wash them and bake from frozen.
Can you freeze cheese pinwheels?
Yes, you can freeze uncooked cheese pinwheels by placing them in tinfoil or a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. They can then be cooked from frozen but you will need to add a couple minutes to the cooking time.
Why are my pinwheels soggy?
Pinwheels can go soggy for a number of reasons, usually, this is because you have overfilled them, or your oven isn’t quite hot enough. Be sure to follow a recipe for the best results.
How long do pinwheels last?
Pinwheels last for about 4-5 days in the fridge if properly stored. You’ll need to put them in a Tupperware container and pop layers of kitchen rolls to absorb any excess moisture between your layers of pinwheels.
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Recipe
Ham Cheese Pinwheels
Ingredients
- 1 sheet Puff pastry
- 1 Egg beaten
- 100 g Cheddar cheese (grated)
- 6 slices Ham (cooked)
- 1 tsp Dried mixed herbs (optional)
Instructions
Oven Instructions
- Remove the puff pastry from the fridge. This makes it easier to unroll without breaking.
- Preheat the oven to 200ºC / 390ºF / Gas Mark 6.
- Line a baking sheet with greaseproof paper / parchment paper.
- Unroll the puff pastry sheet.
- In a cup, beat the egg. Use a pastry brush and lightly brush the pastry.
- Grate the cheese and spread it over the pastry.
- Spread the pieces of ham over the cheese making sure it's evenly covered.
- Sprinkle over the dried herbs (optional).
- Roll the pastry up along the long side. Use the beaten egg to secure the edges.
- Cut the roll into slices about a thumbs width thick. Lay the slices on the prepared baking tray.
- Brush the outside of the roll slices with the beaten egg.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown.
- Serve when hot or allow to cool.
Air Fryer Cooking Instructions
- Add a layer of greaseproof paper / parchment paper to the air fryer.
- Place the puff pastry swirls making sure to leave space for them to expand. (I can fit 5 pinwheels in my air fryer at a time. So it takes 2 batches to cook them all.)
- Cook the pinwheels in the airfryer at 180ºC / 356ºF for 8-10 minutes until golden brown.
Notes
- The ham and cheese pinwheels can be stored for 24 hours in an airtight container.
- You can add chutney or herbs to the ham and cheese pinwheels to add extra flavour.
- You can make the pinwheels in advance by freezing the pinwheels before you’d put the egg wash on. Then you can cook from frozen. Just remember to add the brushed egg before putting them in the oven.
Nutrition
Please note that the nutrition information provided above is approximate and meant as a guideline only.
These ham and cheese pinwheels baked up perfectly. I am sure I will serve these as appetizers often. Thanks for the detailed instructions.
You are most welcome. I’m so glad you liked it.
These ham and cheese pinwheels with puff pastry are the perfect party appetizer or snack! Pastries filled with savory ham and melted cheese is simply irresistible.
I couldn’t agree more.
I can’t wait to make more of these ham and cheese pinwheels! They’re not only incredibly tasty but also so easy to make. Perfect for a quick snack.
You are most welcome.
Love how easy this recipe is. It’s perfect for our family and gathering!
That is very kind.
Made these to take to work for a quick snack at the desk, and my husband and I both loved them! Delicious, buttery, cheesy goodness! Perfect snack!
I’m glad they were enjoyed so much.
What a great recipe, so quick and easy to make. I love mustard so added a spoon of Dijon mustard into the mix – delicious.
Oh that sounds incredible.
These were so much fun to make with my grandchildren and the disappeared very quickly!
That is the best feedback!
Lush! I used a coloured cheddar that really made the colours pop and my favourite belgium beer ham from the counter in morrisons. Tried a mustard mayo dipping sauce with them and they were simply amazing! I’ll def be making these again!
Oh wow that is a great twist on this recipe.
I made these for my nephews and they absolutely loved them – as did I!
I’m so glad to hear it!