Cheese and Bacon Pinwheels are seriously tasty! Quick and easy to make using store bought puff pastry, they make an easy snack, appetizer or party food! Savory bacon pinwheels will tick all of your hungry, need food now needs!
Recipes like my Cheese and Tomato Pinwheels, Pesto Pinwheels and Air Fryer Sausage Rolls are all about the savory puff pastry yum!
My Nutella Puff Pastry, Pecan Pinwheels and Peanut Butter Pinwheels are all about the sweet puff pastry yum!
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Recipe Highlights
These are the reasons why you will not only love this recipe, but want to make it over and over again:
- Easy to find ingredients.
- Suitable for all cooking levels.
- Kid friendly.
- Freezer friendly.
- Party food, finger food, snack or appetizer, they work!
- Perfect for lunch boxes.
- Make at the last minute for unexpected guests dropping in.
- Get the kids involved as little helpers making the recipe.
- Can be oven baked or air fried.
- Can be made in advance.
- Easily increase ingredient quantities to make more pinwheels.
- Customize the size by making mini or large pinwheels (wider cuts).
This is a recipe that works. It is super simple, saves hours in the kitchen and delivers tasty textured results!
Ingredients
All of the ingredients to make this recipe are shown in the photo below. It is handy for you to refer to this at the shops so you get everything you need. For detailed measurements and instructions, scroll to the recipe card below.
As you can see, the recipe calls for:
- puff pastry: one of the easiest ingredients to cook with and unlimited options, be it sweet and or savory. This is super handy to have in your freezer for recipes like this that come together easily.
- bacon: I recommend using store bought diced bacon. It saves chopping and can be sprinkled onto the cheese and sauce layers with minimal effort.
- BBQ sauce: this gives a delightful saucy tang to the pinwheels. Add as much or as little as you like!
- parmesan cheese: is there any better combination than cheese, bacon and pastry, nope I don't think so. Choose parmesan that has a bite to it/strong taste. It will be shown on the front of the packet. You can grate your own or use the store bought grated version to save time and effort.
Top Tip 1: I like to serve the pinwheels with a drizzle of BBQ sauce, some grated parmesan (the fine type) and some freshly chopped herbs.
Instructions
Here are the step by step instructions to make the recipe. You will also find the detailed method in the recipe card below:
- Use a knife to spread a BBQ sauce layer, top with cheese (Photo 1)
- Sprinkle bacon pieces over the sauce and cheese layers (Photo 2)
- Roll the pastry to form a long log (Photo 3)
- Slice into individual portions (Photo 4)
Try and keep a slight imaginary border on the pastry as you work. This will ensure less of the filling oozes out when rolling and cutting the pastry.
Top Tip 2: Once the pastry has been rolled into the log, there is the optional step of wrapping in cling wrap and freezing for around 30 mins.
This makes the log easier to cut and the ingredients firmer, ensuring less comes out. Highly recommended, unless you simply don't have time!
- Place the pinwheels onto the lined baking tray (Photo 5)
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes (Photo 6)
Bacon and Cheese Pinwheels Method
If you find that it is getting a little messy when you cut and transfer the pinwheels to the baking tray, simply use your fingers to push them back together.
I like to use a silicon baking mat as it doesn't get soggy with any sauce or cheese that comes out the bottom of the pinwheels.
Top Tip 2: For the best crispy, flaky puff pastry, once the pinwheels are cooked, turn the oven off, but leave them in there as they will start to cool as the oven cools down. The pastry firms during this time.
Parties can be fuss free and organised with an array of sweet and savory options up your sleeve.
Plate the pinwheels with some sauce and or Greek Yogurt for the ones who love dipping and dunking their food.
Serving Suggestions
These will fly off the plate if you simply pop them on there!
They are best served hot (warmed) with some sauce drizzled over them, a little parmesan cheese and freshly chopped herbs.
A small bowl of Greek Yogurt is a great idea for the plate as dipping and dunking can occur.
Substitutions and Variations
There are a few (million) things that you could do to switch this recipe up a little, here are a few of my favourites:
- Sprinkle a layer of dried onion onto the BBQ sauce layer.
- Use tomato paste or basil pesto instead of BBQ sauce.
- Spray the pinwheels with olive oil before baking.
- Switch out the sauce layer for cream cheese.
- Use diced ham pieces instead of bacon.
- Use shredded cheddar cheese or mozzarella instead of parmesan.
- Switch out the bacon and in chopped prosciutto or pancetta.
- Use diced chorizo sausage instead of bacon pieces.
Once you give them a go, you will get the hang of the process and ingredient combination. Then the next time you can either switch it up or go for tried and tasted results!
How to Guide
How to Store
Pinwheels are best stored in a sealed, air tight container. They will last up to 3 days.
How to Freeze
Allow the pinwheels to cool after baking. Then transfer to a sealed air tight container and freeze for up to 1 month.
How to Reheat
To reheat the pinwheels, simply place onto a lined baking tray and transfer to the middle shelf in the oven. They will warm through in about 15 mins.
You can also use your air fryer to reheat them. That will take around 10 to 15 mins. It is not recommended to use the microwave to reheat them as the pastry won't be crispy and flaky.
Expert Tips
These are my top tips and tricks for making the recipe:
- Grab the pastry out of the freezer to start as it needs time to defrost.
- If you have the time, it is worthwhile to freeze the log for around 30mins, firming up the insides and making the pinwheels less messy.
- If the pinwheels loosen, squeeze back together with finger tips.
- Ensure the oven is preheated before placing the pinwheels in to cook.
- Use either silicon mat (recommended) baking paper/parchment paper on the baking tray.
- If making in advance, allow to cool and freeze them if not serving the next day. Reheat from frozen, no need to thaw!
My Best Tip: These get easier to make the more times you make them. Whilst the 1st time you will get a little sauce all over the bench, by the 4th time you will be a pro. Keep rolling!
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do you cook puff pastry in the oven?
These pinwheels will take 25-30 mins in the oven.
We want to pastry to turn golden and crisp into flaky perfection.
It is a good idea to turn the oven off, yet leave the pinwheels in the oven as they start to cool. The pastry will firm up during this time.
How many calories in a bacon and cheese pinwheel?
Each individual pinwheel has approximately 102kcal.
Per 1 sheet of puff pastry you will get 18-20 individual pinwheels.
Do you bake puff pastry before filling?
We don't cook the puff pastry before filling. We remove it from the freezer, allow it to thaw, then fill with the bacon and cheese mixture.
The raw pastry gets cooked with the filling inside.
What is the best temperature to cook puff pastry?
Puff Pastry cooks best in a pre heated oven at a temperature of 180°C / 350-375°F / Gas Mark 4-5.
How do you keep puff pastry from getting soggy on the bottom?
A silicon baking mat is recommended over parchment paper as it ensures the base of the puff pastry doesn't get soggy.
When reheating use either the oven or air fryer, not the microwave to ensure crispy, flaky pastry.
More Puff Pastry Recipes
If sweet and savory pastry foods are your jam, then here are some recipes you might like to try:
- Mini Sausage Rolls
- Ham Cream Cheese Roll Ups (I know you will love these!)
- Candy Pinwheels
- Air Fryer Party Pies
- Roast Beef Roll Ups (same for these!)
- Chicken Sausage Rolls
- Easy Sausage Rolls
- Banoffee Tart Recipe (VIDEO)
Adrianne xx
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📖 Recipe
Cheese and Bacon Pinwheels
Equipment
- 1 Chopping board
- 1 Butter Knife
- 1 Cling Wrap (Glad Wrap)
- 1 Sharp Knife
Ingredients
- 2 sheets frozen puff pastry thawed, Note 1
- 2 tablespoon BBQ Sauce Note 2
- 200 grams bacon pieces store bought, diced, Note 3
- ½ cup parmesan cheese Note 4
- parsley optional, chopped to garnish
- parmesan cheese optional, chopped to garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180°C / 350-375°F / Gas Mark 4-5.
- Remove puff pastry from freezer and leave on bench (or in fridge over night) to thaw.
- Place thawed sheet of puff pastry onto chopping board.
- Use a butter knife to spread a layer of BBQ sauce across pastry, keeping approximately 1 cm from each of the 4 edges.
- Sprinkle parmesan cheese over the BBQ Sauce.
- Top the cheese layer with a layer of bacon.
- Starting at the bottom, roll the pastry by pulling towards you and down. Keep the roll as tight as you can. Wrap rolled pastry in cling wrap and place in freezer for 30 mins. Note 5
- Remove pastry roll from freezer and discard cling wrap. Use a sharp knife and discard excess pastry at each end. Slice the remaining roll into small 1 cm portions.
- Spray a silicon baking mat with cooking spray.
- Place each pin wheel scroll side up on baking mat. Lightly spray all scrolls with cooking oil (optional)
- Bake the pinwheels for 25 to 30 mins. Turn the oven off and allow to cool slightly.
- Remove and transfer to cooling rack.
- Serve with parmesan cheese, chopped herbs, BBQ sauce and Greek Yogurt.
Notes
- Note 1 One of the easiest most versatile ingredients there is. With both sweet and savory options, I recommend having some in the freezer at all times! The pastry will crack if you try and use it whilst still frozen. So allow to defrost/thaw and then it will be soft and flexible to roll.
- Note 2 Other options you could try are tomato sauce, tomato paste or pesto.
- Note 3 Store bought diced bacon is easy, it involved no prep work and allows you to have little bacon bits in the pinwheels.
- Note 4 Choose a bold, sharp parmesan cheese that has a bit of bite to it. Substitute cheddar cheese or mozzarella cheese in place of parmesan.
- Note 5 If you simply don't have time, you can cook the pinwheels without freezing prior. However, you will find it a messy process cutting and bits of cheese and bacon will likely pop out.
Anonymous says
Add a little onion and they are perfect!
Adrianne says
Ohhh that is a great idea!! Thanks, sounds good.