If you are looking for a unique appetizer for your next gathering, my pepper jelly pinwheels are a must try. A flavorful cream cheese mixture with cheddar cheese, bacon, and pepper jelly is rolled up in a tortilla and then sliced into a bite sized pinwheel.

I am a big fan of pinwheels because they are easy to make, great finger food, and perfect for all types of occasions like parties, holidays, or even lunch. One of my favorite flavor combinations is cream cheese and pepper jelly, so I knew that the sweet and spicy flavor combination would be perfect to use for a pinwheel recipe.

Pepper jelly pinwheels were inspired from my love of the viral pepper jelly dip. As soon as I tried the dip, I knew the flavors would translate perfectly into a bite sized pinwheel.

I would say that these pinwheels are on the very low spicy scale. If you are worried about them being too spicy, you can reduce the amount of pepper jelly to a quarter cup.

These are so good to make for parties, holidays, and I even like snacking on them for a cold lunch.

Want more pinwheel recipes, be sure to try pimento cheese pinwheels, jalapeno popper pinwheels, and cucumber pinwheels.

Why you’ll love these pinwheels

• Great sweet and spicy flavor. The pepper jelly has wonderful sweet heat that makes these pinwheels irresistible.
• Surprisingly easy to make. With the incredible combination of flavors, you might think they are hard to make, but they are actually very easy to assemble.
• Perfect finger food. Great for parties, lunches, holidays, and more.
• Can be made ahead of time. Put these together the night before for your gathering the next day.

Ingredients

The pepper jelly is the star of the show for these pepper jelly pinwheels. You can usually find pepper jelly in the jelly and jam aisle of the grocery store.

• Tortillas: Large, burrito size flour tortillas work well for this recipe.
• Cream cheese: Softened cream cheese is the base for these pinwheels.
• Mayonnaise: Adds a little be of extra creaminess. You can leave this out if you prefer.
• Pepper jelly: This is what gives the pinwheels amazing sweet with a little hint of heat.
• Garlic powder: A subtle garlic flavor to help balance out all of the flavors.
• Bacon: The smoky, salty flavor is the perfect pairing with the pepper jelly.
• Green onions: Adds color and flavor.
• Cheese: I like using white cheddar cheese. You can substitute with sharp or mild cheddar cheese.

How to make pepper jelly pinwheels

These pepper jelly pinwheels are simple to put together. The most important step is making sure to chill before slicing.

1. Mix together the cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic powder, and pepper jelly with a mixer until creamy.
2. Stir in the shredded cheese, diced green onions, and crumbled bacon.

3. Spread an even layer of the cream cheese mixture on each tortilla.

4. Roll the tortilla as tight as possible. Wrap the tortilla log in plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator or freezer to let everything come together. This will also help make it easier to slice. I like to chill for at least an hour.

5. Unwrap the tortilla roll ups. Slice off the ends. Cut into pinwheel rounds, about 1 inch wide.

Heather’s recipe tips

• Soften the cream cheese before mixing. This helps make the creamy cheese creamy and not lumpy. It also helps make it easier to spread on the tortillas.
• Spread evenly and to the edges. Make sure to spread the cream cheese mixture in an even layer and out to the edges of the tortillas.
• Roll tightly. Roll the tortilla as tight as possible. This will help the pinwheels stay together.
• Chill before slicing. Keep in the refrigerator before slicing.
• Wipe off the knife. Clean off your sharp knife between cuts.

Variations

Make these pepper jelly pinwheels your own with a few customizations. Here are some suggestions:

• Turkey: Add in some sliced deli turkey for added protein.
• Fresh herbs: Mix some fresh herbs like parsley or chives in with the cream cheese.
• Cheese: Substitute the white cheddar cheese with mild cheddar cheese, monterey jack cheese, or pepper jack cheese.

Storage instructions

Store: Keep and leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freeze: These do not freeze well.

Frequently asked questions

More pinwheel recipes

• Hot ham and cheese pinwheels
• Club sandwich pinwheels
• Chicken Caesar pinwheels
• BLT pinwheels
• Buffalo chicken pinwheels
• Crack chicken pinwheels