Print

Easy Ham and Cheese Pinwheels: Best Lunchbox Snack

ham and cheese pinwheels - featured image
Print Recipe

These Easy Ham and Cheese Pinwheels are the perfect lunchbox snack—flaky, savory, and ready in about 20 minutes. Made with simple ingredients like puff pastry, ham, and cheese, they’re a crowd-pleaser that kids and adults love.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
  • 6–8 slices deli ham, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard (optional)
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 teaspoon poppy seeds or sesame seeds (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line your baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Lightly flour your work surface. Unfold the thawed puff pastry sheet onto it. Gently press any cracks back together.
  3. Roll out the pastry into a rectangle about 10×12 inches and 1/8 inch thick.
  4. In a small bowl, mix the softened cream cheese and Dijon mustard (if using) until smooth.
  5. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the pastry, leaving a 1/2-inch border on one long edge.
  6. Layer the ham slices evenly over the cream cheese, overlapping slightly. Cover the entire surface including the border edge.
  7. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar evenly over the ham. Press down gently.
  8. Starting from the long edge opposite the border, roll the pastry up tightly like a jelly roll. Press the border edge to seal the seam.
  9. Place the rolled log on a plate or cutting board and freeze for 10 minutes.
  10. Remove from freezer. Using a sharp knife, slice into 1/2-inch thick rounds (about 12-15 pinwheels). Reshape if needed.
  11. Arrange pinwheels on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
  12. Brush the tops with beaten egg. Sprinkle with poppy seeds or sesame seeds if using.
  13. Bake for 12-15 minutes until puffed and golden brown. Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

Notes

Chill the rolled log before slicing for clean spirals. Pat ham dry to avoid sogginess. For best results, use cold but not frozen puff pastry. These freeze well—bake from frozen adding 2-3 minutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: ham and cheese pinwheels, lunchbox snack, easy appetizer, puff pastry recipe, kid-friendly snack

Find it online: https://bakebelle.com/easy-ham-and-cheese-pinwheels-best-lunchbox-snack/