Easter Ham Cheddar Pinwheels (Printable)

Flaky pastry rolls with smoky ham, sharp cheddar, and fresh herbs—perfect spring appetizer ready in 33 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Pastry Base

01 - 1 sheet puff pastry (approximately 9 ounces), thawed if frozen

→ Filling Components

02 - 4 ounces thinly sliced cooked ham
03 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
04 - 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives or parsley
05 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
06 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Egg Wash

07 - 1 large egg
08 - 1 tablespoon milk or water

# How-To:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - On a lightly floured surface, roll out puff pastry into a 10 x 12 inch rectangle.
03 - Evenly spread Dijon mustard over pastry, leaving a ½ inch border on one long edge.
04 - Arrange ham slices over mustard, then sprinkle with cheddar cheese and herbs. Season with black pepper.
05 - Starting from the long edge opposite the border, tightly roll pastry into a log. Seal edge with water.
06 - Wrap log in plastic and freeze for 10 minutes to firm for easier slicing.
07 - Whisk egg with milk or water until combined.
08 - Cut log into ½ inch thick slices (approximately 24 pieces). Arrange cut-side up on prepared baking sheet.
09 - Brush tops of pinwheels with egg wash.
10 - Bake for 16-18 minutes until puffed and golden brown.
11 - Transfer to wire rack to cool slightly before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of smoky ham and sharp cheddar wrapped in flaky pastry creates an irresistible savory bite
  • They come together in under 35 minutes but taste like something from a fancy bakery
  • You can prep the log ahead and slice when ready, making them perfect for entertaining
02 -
  • Skip the chilling step and the pinwheels will flatten and lose their perfect spiral shape in the oven
  • Overfilling the pastry makes rolling difficult and causes filling to spill out during baking
  • Room temperature pastry becomes sticky and frustrating to work with, so keep it chilled until ready
03 -
  • Use a sharp knife and wipe it clean between slices for the neatest pinwheels
  • Freeze the extra logs wrapped well and bake straight from frozen, adding a few minutes to the time

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