Crispy Cranberry Feta Pinwheels Recipe

Zesty Cranberry Feta Pinwheels Recipe for Holiday Party

Rolled appetizers never looked so tempting as these delightful cranberry feta pinwheels bursting with flavor.

Creamy feta cheese melts perfectly against tangy dried cranberries, creating a delectable bite-sized treat.

Soft tortillas wrap these vibrant ingredients into elegant spirals that promise to impress at any gathering.

Each pinwheel delivers a balanced symphony of sweet and savory notes that dance across your palate.

Quick to assemble and beautiful to serve, these pinwheels transform simple ingredients into an elegant starter.

Guests will devour these colorful appetizers faster than you can plate them.

Prepare to become the star of your next potluck with this crowd-pleasing recipe that takes minimal effort but delivers maximum wow factor.

How To Serve Cranberry Feta Pinwheels At Parties

  • Party Platter Perfection: Arrange pinwheels in a circular pattern on a festive wooden board, creating an eye-catching appetizer display that'll wow guests.
  • Holiday Hosting Hack: Prepare these pinwheels a day ahead and store in the refrigerator, making party prep stress-free and deliciously convenient.
  • Wine and Cheese Companion: Pair these tangy pinwheels with a crisp white wine or sparkling prosecco for an elegant cocktail hour snack that elevates any gathering.
  • Brunch Brilliance: Serve alongside fresh fruit salad and mimosas for a colorful weekend brunch spread that's sure to impress family and friends.

Store Cranberry Feta Pinwheels In The Fridge

  • Refrigeration Roadmap: Store wrapped pinwheels in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, keeping them fresh and tasty.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare these appetizers 24 hours before your event, allowing flavors to meld and blend beautifully.
  • Freezing Friendly: Wrap unsliced rolls tightly in plastic and aluminum foil, storing in the freezer for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before slicing and serving.
  • Serving Smarts: Remove pinwheels from the refrigerator 15 minutes before serving to soften slightly and enhance their flavor profile, ensuring maximum deliciousness for guests.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Calories: 210 kcal

Servings: 7

Ingredients For Cranberry Feta Pinwheels

For Creamy Base:
  • Cream Cheese: Smooth foundation that binds ingredients and provides rich, tangy backdrop for the appetizer.
  • Feta Cheese: Crumbly Greek cheese that adds salty, sharp flavor and interesting texture to the filling.
For Fresh Crunch:
  • Green Onions: Delivers mild onion zing and bright green color that enhances visual appeal.
  • Cranberries: Tart little bursts that introduce sweet-tangy contrast and festive red speckles throughout pinwheels.
For Wrapping:
  • Tortillas: Soft, flexible vessel that holds filling and creates elegant spiral presentation for easy party snacking.

Supplies To Roll Cranberry Feta Pinwheels

  • Medium Bowl: Perfect for mixing cream cheese, feta, cranberries, and green onions smoothly.
  • Cutting Board: Ideal for chopping green onions and preparing ingredients.
  • Sharp Knife: Essential for slicing rolls into precise 1-inch pinwheels.
  • Plastic Wrap: Crucial for wrapping and chilling tortilla rolls to help them set.
  • Measuring Spoon: Helpful for ensuring consistent ingredient portions.
  • Spatula or Mixing Spoon: Needed for folding and combining filling ingredients.

How To Prepare Cranberry Feta Pinwheels

How To Prepare Cranberry Feta Pinwheels
  • Flavor Fusion

Blend creamy white cheeses with tart ruby berries and zesty green herbs. This combination creates a tangy and vibrant spread that promises to surprise your taste buds.

  • Tortilla Canvas

Lay out soft flour tortillas as your blank culinary palette. Spread the cheese mixture generously, leaving a small border to prevent spillage when rolling.

  • Elegant Roll

Carefully transform the tortilla into a tight, compact cylinder. Ensure each twist is snug and even for perfect pinwheel presentation.

  • Chill and Slice

Nestle the rolls in the refrigerator to set and firm up. After an hour, reveal your masterpiece by cutting into delicate bite-sized rounds that showcase beautiful swirled patterns.

  • Serving Style

Arrange the pinwheels on an elegant platter. These colorful appetizers are perfect for gatherings, promising to spark conversation and delight guests with their sophisticated appearance and vibrant flavors.

Tasty Tips For Cranberry Feta Pinwheels

  • Smart Cheese Blending: Soften cream cheese and feta at room temperature for 15-20 minutes to ensure ultra-smooth mixing without lumps, creating a perfectly creamy filling that spreads like a dream.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare pinwheels up to 24 hours in advance and store in an airtight container, allowing flavors to meld and making party prep incredibly easy and stress-free.
  • Gluten-Free Twist: Swap traditional flour tortillas with gluten-free tortillas or large lettuce leaves for a low-carb, celiac-friendly alternative that maintains the delicious flavor profile.
  • Flavor Boosting Hack: Lightly toast chopped pecans or walnuts and sprinkle them into the cheese mixture for added crunch and a nutty dimension that elevates the entire appetizer.
  • Spice Level Option: Add a small amount of finely chopped jalapeños or a pinch of red pepper flakes to introduce a gentle heat that complements the tangy feta and sweet cranberries.
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Crispy Cranberry Feta Pinwheels Recipe

Crispy Cranberry Feta Pinwheels Recipe


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4.6 from 9 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Yield: 7 1x

Description

Cranberry feta pinwheels deliver a delightful appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings. Crisp tortillas wrap creamy cheese and tart cranberries, creating a simple yet elegant bite you cannot resist.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 flour tortillas (10-inch size, large)
  • 8 oz (225 grams) cream cheese (softened)
  • 1 cup (120 grams) feta cheese (crumbled)
  • ½ cup (60 grams) cranberries (dried, chopped)
  • ¼ cup (25 grams) green onions (finely chopped)

Instructions

  1. Mix Filling: Thoroughly blend softened cream cheese and crumbled feta in a mixing bowl until smooth, creating a rich, creamy base.
  2. Enhance Mixture: Delicately fold in chopped cranberries and finely minced green onions, ensuring even distribution for a harmonious flavor profile.
  3. Prepare Tortillas: Spread the cranberry-feta mixture across tortillas, covering nearly to the edges, leaving a slight margin to prevent spillage during rolling.
  4. Roll and Wrap: Tightly roll each tortilla into a compact cylinder, then securely wrap in plastic film to maintain shape and consistency.
  5. Chill and Set: Refrigerate the wrapped logs for at least an hour, allowing flavors to meld and filling to firm up, which facilitates clean, precise slicing.
  6. Slice and Serve: Unwrap the chilled logs and cut into elegant 1-inch rounds using a sharp knife, creating uniform pinwheel appetizers ready to be arranged on a serving platter.

Notes

  • Adjust Cheese Consistency: Ensure cream cheese and feta are at room temperature for smoother blending and easier spreading, preventing lumpy or uneven mixture.
  • Prevent Tortilla Tearing: Use soft, fresh tortillas and spread mixture gently to avoid ripping or creating holes that could compromise the pinwheel structure.
  • Optimize Flavor Balance: Taste cheese mixture before rolling and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or herbs to enhance overall taste profile and complement cranberry tang.
  • Make Ahead and Storage: Prepared pinwheels can be refrigerated up to 24 hours before serving, making them perfect for advance party preparation and reducing day-of cooking stress.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Category: Appetizer, Snacks
  • Method: Mixing
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 7
  • Calories: 210
  • Sugar: 6 g
  • Sodium: 380 mg
  • Fat: 14 g
  • Saturated Fat: 8 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 19 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 5 g
  • Cholesterol: 40 mg
Liam O’Sullivan

Liam O’Sullivan

Founder & Culinary Content Creator

Expertise

Recipe Development​, Traditional Irish and European Cuisines, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education​

Education

Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) – School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology

  • Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and modern cooking techniques, kitchen management, and menu development.​

Ballymaloe Cookery School

  • Program: 12-Week Certificate Course
  • Focus: Intensive, hands-on experience emphasizing farm-to-table cooking and sustainable practices.​

Isabella brings a global spark to the Craft Meats table. Born in Florence and trained at the Apicius International School of Hospitality, she blends classic Italian flavor with modern writing that’s easy to follow and hard to forget. 

Her additional training at the Italian Chef Academy fueled her love for well-crafted dishes, especially ones that spotlight beautiful cuts of meat.

She’s a food writer with heart, and a deep love for storytelling through single recipes. Her goal? To help you cook with more confidence and a little more joy, no matter where you start.

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