Cranberry Pinwheels – Christmas Tree Appetizer
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This Cranberry Pinwheels recipe blends tangy, creamy cheeses with vibrant cranberries, fresh chives, and a hint of garlic, all wrapped in soft, fresh tortillas. Slice them up for a delicious, handheld snack perfect for any party!
If you like this easy appetizer, you’ll want to check out my dried apricot and blue cheese canapes with walnuts, turkey cranberry toppers, honey and walnut baked brie, and cranberry walnut sweet potato rounds.
Table of Contents
Why We Love Cranberry Pinwheels
We love cranberry pinwheels for their creamy, tangy flavor, vibrant ingredients, especially for their festive flair when you arrange the pinwheels in the shape of a Christmas tree!
- Incredibly easy. These cranberry cream cheese roll ups require only a handful of simple ingredients and take only a few minutes to prep.
- Full of flavor. With tangy feta and cream cheese, sweet and tart cranberries, bright chives, and a few dashes of garlic, these pinwheel appetizers are a flavorful addition to any appetizer spread. They’re guaranteed to be a huge hit at holiday parties or any gathering!
- Completely customizable. You can easily swap out ingredients or add proteins or veggies to take this appetizer to the next level.
- Fun and festive. While you can serve this finger food any time of the year, it’s a particularly festive snack during the holiday season.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Cream Cheese, room temperature
- Crumbled Feta Cheese
- Garlic Powder
- Dried Cranberries
- Chopped Fresh Chives
- Large Tortillas – Flour or Spinach (the green is festive with the cranberries)
- Optional Fresh Rosemary And Cheddar Cheese To Garnish
Simple Directions
In just a few quick steps, you can whip up these pretty pinwheels. Hosting a large party? Double or triple the recipe for an easy appetizer ready in nearly no time.
When you are making this recipe, you’ll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.
- Using an electric mixer beat the cream cheese, feta, and garlic powder until smooth.
- Using a rubber spatula, gently stir in the cranberries and chives. Then spread the cheese mixture evenly onto the tortillas and roll them up.
- Wrap the rolled tortillas tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
- Just before serving, use a sharp knife to slice the tortilla rolls into uniform slices and place them on a serving platter or serving board.
- For a festive touch, arrange the pinwheels in a triangle shape to resemble a Christmas tree, and garnish with rosemary or cheddar cheese, if desired.
Storage Tips
These store so well that you can make the tortilla roll-ups up to a day ahead and simply slice them when ready to serve. If you need to layer them when storing them, be sure to use parchment paper or wax paper.
Leftovers
Wrap any leftover pinwheels in plastic wrap or transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Freeze
Transfer the pinwheels to a resealable freezer bag and store for up to 1 month. Flash freezing before bagging them may help to prevent them from sticking together. Then, just let them thaw in the fridge overnight before serving.
Kitchen Tips
- Be sure to refrigerate the wrapped roll-ups for at least 1 hour (up to 24 hours) before slicing and serving.
- If your cream cheese is a little thick to spread, you can add 2-4 tablespoon of sour cream to thin it down.
- Leave about 1/2-inch border when spreading the filling on the tortilla.
- Roll the pinwheels as tight as possible, before wrapping them in plastic wrap to refrigerate.
- For a festive presentation, arrange the pinwheels in the shape of a Christmas tree and top with a thick slice of cheese shaped like a star.
- Avoid using reduced-fat feta — since it contains less moisture it isn’t as spreadable and could cause the tortillas to tear.
- Be sure to use a serrated knife when slicing the tortilla wraps.
- Flour tortillas work well but spinach tortillas add a festive flair to any holiday party.
Cranberry Pinwheel Variations
- Swap out the feta for goat cheese or just omit it altogether and use 16 ounces of cream cheese.
- Substitute green onions for chives.
- Add crunchiness with chopped walnuts or pecans.
- Make turkey cranberry pinwheels by layering in thick slices of deli turkey.
- For a lower carbohydrate snack, use low-carb tortillas.
- Add a little orange zest for citrusy flavor that pairs well with the cranberries.
These festive Christmas Cranberry Pinwheels, shaped like a holiday tree, are the perfect combination of creamy, tangy flavors—serve them on a platter or food-safe board for an easy, eye-catching addition to your holiday spread!
Like This Recipe?
I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a review below and let me know how you liked the recipe!
Cranberry Pinwheels - Christmas Tree Appetizer
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup chopped fresh chives
- 4 large 10-inch tortillas (spinach or flour)
- Optional fresh rosemary and cheddar cheese to garnish
Instructions
- In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, feta, and garlic powder with an electric mixer until fluffy. Fold in the cranberries and chives until thoroughly combined.
- Use the back of a spoon (or offset spatula) to evenly spread the mixture over the 4 tortillas (leaving a 1/2-inch boarder). Tightly roll up each tortilla, wrap them in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least an hour (up to 24 hours).
- Using a serrated knife cut each rolled tortilla into 10 even slices. Plate and serve.
Notes
Make ahead: You can make the logs up to 24 hours in advance. Store in the refrigerator and slice the day you are serving.
Serve as a Christmas Tree
If you'd like to serve your rollups like a Christmas tree, use a food-safe board or platter and lay the chilled pinwheels in a triangle shape and tuck fresh rosemary sprigs around the "branches"
For The TREE TOPPER use cheddar or colbyjack and a star-shaped cookie cutter or sharp knife to carefully cut out a star shape from the cheese for the tree topper.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 40 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 61Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 81mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 0gSugar: 3gProtein: 2g
Nutrition information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin, and freshness of ingredients used and are just estimates. We encourage, especially if these numbers are important to you, to calculate these on your own for most accurate results.
Hi there, I'm Cheryl!
As a wife, mom, and caffeine enthusiast, my journey has taken me from bustling mornings with my family to sharing delicious recipes, home care tips, and heartfelt decorating insights with wonderful readers like you. My love for baking, photography, and tidiness shines through every post I craft. Dive into my world and discover the art of homemaking, one tidy moment at a time. Read more...
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