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About This Recipe
If you love the rich, sweet and savory flavors of a classic Monte Cristo sandwich but want an easier way to enjoy you have to try these pinwheels! Great as an easy appetizer recipe or creative lunch option, these bite-sized rolls pack all the classic ingredients like ham, Swiss cheese, and a hint of sweetness from powdered sugar!
Not only are these pinwheels incredibly tasty but they’re also super easy to make! I highly recommend serving them with a side of raspberry preserves or jam to get the full Monte Cristo flavor!
If serving these pinwheels for lunch, I love pairing them with a side of protein like my blacked chicken tenders or air fryer grilled chicken nuggets. Or serve these pinwheels as a tasty appetizer or snack! They can even be made in advance if you need to prepare other tasty treats!
For more tasty appetizers, try my Turkey Sliders with Cranberry Aioli, Turkey and Cheese Pinwheels or Ham and Cheese Sliders!
Why You’ll Love These Puff Pastry Pinwheels
- Quick and easy to make! Prep these pinwheels in just 30 minutes!
- Minimal ingredients! Only 5 main ingredients required.
- Great as an party appetizer or snack! Great for holiday parties, game days, casual gatherings, etc.
- The same sweet & salty combo you get from a classic Monte Cristo but with a lot less work!
- A fun twist on the classic ham and cheese sandwich!
- Puff pastry: I used a sheet of puff pastry dough from the freezer section. I personally like using the butter puff pastry for extra flavor. You can also use crescent roll dough.
- Dijon mustard: The perfect condiment to add flavor subtle mustardy flavor for these pinwheels.
- Ham: I used black forest ham. Make sure your ham is sliced thin to help these pinwheels roll the best. You could also use sliced deli turkey or chicken.
- Cheese: For the classic Monte Cristo flavor I used thinly sliced swiss cheese. Feel free to use any sliced cheese you prefer.
- Powdered sugar: To give these pinwheels the sweet and savory combo, sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar. You can omit for a more savory pinwheel but I’m telling you the powdered sugar with meat and cheese creates such a delicious combo!
- Strawberry or raspberry jam: Optional for serving but I highly recommend!!
- Turkey: you can sub the ham for turkey or use a combination of both!
- Cheese: sub the slices of swiss cheese for any cheese you prefer! Try gruyere provolone, havarti, mozzarella, etc.
- Herbs: Add a sprinkle of fresh or dried thyme
How To Make
The full printable recipe is below, but let me walk you through the process so you know what to expect when you’re making it!
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Unroll your puff pastry over a piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper. If needed, use a rolling pin to roll so the rectangle is roughly 10 x 12-inches.
2. Brush the dijon mustard evenly on top (or spread with a spatula).
3. Layer the sliced ham.
4. Then the sliced cheese.
5. Roll up tightly, from long end to long end.
6. Trim the edges. Cut in half with a serrated knife and then cut into half again. Then cut all into 1/2-inch pinwheels.
5. Place pinwheels on the baking sheet 1-inch apart. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until golden brown.
6. Let cool for 5 minutes then transfer to a plate. Add jam to a little serving dish. Sprinkle pinwheels with powdered sugar, serve with the jam and enjoy!
To store: Place the cooled pinwheels in an airtight container. They’ll stay fresh for about 4-5 days.
To freeze: Let them cool completely. Then, place them in a freezer-safe bag or container and freezer for up to 2-3 months.
To reheat:
- Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the pinwheels on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and heat for about 10-12 minutes, or until warmed through and crispy.
- Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and heat the pinwheels for about 3-4 minutes, checking to ensure they don’t overcook.
- Microwave: Heat for 20-30 seconds or until just warmed through.
Helpful Tips
- Roll tightly: To ensure the pinwheels have a nice, round shape, make sure you roll the dough and ingredients together tightly. Also, I recommend rolling the dough onto a piece of parchment paper to make sure it doesn’t stick to your counter when rolling.
- Cold puff pastry: Make sure to thaw your puff pastry before using. You do want to keep it refrigerated until right before making as cold puff pastry is a lot easier to work with. If it starts to get to warm when preparing, you can pop it back in the fridge for a few minutes but these are honestly so quick to make it should be fine!
- Thin slices: Be sure to ask the deli to slice your ham and cheese in thin slices so you can tightly roll your pinwheels.
- Slice with serrated knife: Use a serrated knife to help ensure the pinwheels keep their shape while cutting.
- Don’t overcrowd: Make sure not to overcrowd the pinwheels on the sheet pan to ensure even baking. If you need to, use two baking pans to fit all the pinwheels.
Can I use crescent roll dough instead of puff pastry?
Yes, you can use a sheet of crescent roll dough if you prefer. I recommend using the crescent roll sheet (not the individual crescent rolls) so it’s in a rectangular shape to make rolling easier.
Can I prepare these monte cristo rolls in advance?
Yes, you can prepare these pinwheels in advance. If you just need to make a few hours in advance, prepare, bake and keep at room temperature until ready to serve. If you want to prepare further in advance, you can assemble the pinwheels, slice them, and then lay them out on a baking sheet in a single layer. Freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag or airtight container. They can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. You can cook them directly from frozen, just cook them a few minutes longer than instructed.
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure leave a review, tag me on Instagram or TikTok at @LaurenFitFoodie or hashtag #LaurenFitFoodie so I can see your creations!
Monte Cristo Pinwheels
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry thawed
- 2 Tbsp dijon mustard (30g)
- 9 oz. black forest ham thin sliced, ~6-8 slices
- 6 oz. swiss cheese ~6 slices
- 2 Tbsp powdered sugar
- Raspberry or strawberry jam for serving
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Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Unroll your puff pastry over a piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper. If needed, use a rolling pin to roll so the rectangle is roughly 10 x 12-inches.
- Brush the dijon mustard evenly on top (or spread with a spatula).
- Layer the sliced ham and then the sliced cheese.
- Roll up tightly, from long end to long end. Trim the edges. Cut in half with a serrated knife and then cut into half again. Then cut all into 1/2-inch pinwheels.
- Place pinwheels on the baking sheet 1-inch apart. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until golden brown.
- Let cool for 5 minutes then transfer to a plate. Add jam to a little serving dish.
- Sprinkle pinwheels with powdered sugar, serve with the jam and enjoy!
Notes
- Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the pinwheels on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and heat for about 10-12 minutes, or until warmed through and crispy.
- Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and heat the pinwheels for about 3-4 minutes, checking to ensure they don’t overcook.
- Microwave: Heat for 20-30 seconds or until just warmed through.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition is hand-calculated and accurate. No autocalulations! However, note that values can vary based on the brands you use and if you substitute ingredients.
