The classic flavor combination of cheddar cheese and apples come together in these delicious puff pastry pinwheel appetizers. You assemble them ahead of time and they are great warm or at room temperature, so they are perfect for parties.

Plate of golden brown puff pastry pinwheels with cheddar, apple and onion filling.

Flaky puff pastry wrapped around a savory filling of apples, thyme and cheddar cheese.  These fun appetizers are perfect for fall. 

Plus you can assemble them ahead of time and slice and bake them when you are ready.  They were a big hit with our crowd and I am sure they will be with yours as well.

Ingredients: puff pastry, apples, onion, cheddar cheese, butter and thyme ready to be made into pinwheels.

If you are looking for a tasty and flaky apple appetizer idea, you are in the right place. These yummy pinwheels are loaded with onion, apples, herbs and cheese.

Because you use store bought puff pastry, they are easy to put together. And the resulting appetizers are really flavorful.

Making the Apple Filling

You will want to dice your apples and onion relatively thin. That way it is easy to slice the puff pastry pinwheels when the time comes.

You can peel your apples if you want. I tend to leave the peel on.

Because they are diced fine, the texture isn’t a problem. Plus a lot of the nutrients are in the peel.

So to save time and add a little bit more color, I wash, core and dice the apple not worrying about the skins.

To remove some of the moisture, you will want to cook the apples and onion down a little bit. Do this in a large skillet with a little bit of butter, or use bacon grease if you have it.

Add salt, pepper and thyme to flavor the filling. Once the onions are translucent and everything is softened, remove the skillet from the heat and allow the filling to cool.

Assembling the Pinwheels

If you are using frozen puff pastry dough, make sure it is defrosted. Then lay the pastry out flat and roll it out just a bit.

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Spread the cooled apple mixture over the puff pastry. Make sure the filling is completely cooled so you don’t met the butter in the pastry dough.

Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the filling. We usually use sharp cheddar, but gruyere or gouda would be delicious as well.

Roll the dough around the fillings like you would a cinnamon roll. Wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least a half hour to get everything nice and chilled.

Now all you have to do is cut the logs of dough into slices and arrange them on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake until the puff pastry is golden and the cheese is just starting to brown.

Serving Your Apple Cheddar Appetizers

These pinwheels are fabulous served warm. However, they are also wonderful at room temperature.

So you don’t have to worry if they won’t all be eaten at once. Plus they travel well if you are taking them with you to a potluck or carry-in.

Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container and warm them for a few seconds in the microwave before eating them. They are best fresh, but they are pretty good rewarmed as well.

Hand holding apple cheddar puff pastry pinwheel appetizer with golden brown bits of cheese.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of apples should I use?

Any apple that is good for cooking will work in this pinwheel recipe. I used Jonagold this time, but most varieties will do.

Is cheese and apples a thing?

Yes! Apples and cheese, especially cheddar, have been paired together for centuries. Some people like to serve cheese with their apple pie. Others just like cheese and apple slices as a sweet and salty nosh. This appetizer is a great way to celebrate the pairing in a savory snack.

More Great Appetizer Recipes

Cheesy beef pinwheel appetizers are the perfect two bite snack. They are creamy, cheesy, zesty, salty and can be made ahead of time so you can enjoy your guests.

Sausage stuffed jalapenos are the perfect appetizer. They only take 4 simple ingredients to make and they are always a hit for parties or game day.

Toasted baguette slices topped with a mustard spread, ham and melted cheese are a perfect appetizer. Ham and cheese crostini are quick to put together and are a great addition to a party spread.

Plate of golden brown puff pastry pinwheels with cheddar, apple and onion filling.
4.70 from 13 ratings

Apple Cheddar Pinwheels

Author: Carlee
Servings: 30 Pinwheels
Flaky puff pastry wrapped around a savory filling of apples and cheddar cheese. These fun appetizers are perfect for fall. Plus you can assemble them ahead of time and slice and bake them when you are ready. They were a big hit with our crowd and I am sure they will be with yours as well.
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Additional Time 30 minutes
Total: 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 2 large apples use ones that are good for baking
  • ½ cup mild onion diced
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar grated
  • 17 oz container puff pastry

Instructions

  • If using frozen puff pastry, defrost it.
    17 oz container puff pastry
  • Wash and core the apples, then finely dice them. Peeling it is not necessary but you can if you prefer.
    2 large apples
  • In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium to medium-high heat. Sauté the onion and apples until the onions are translucent. Stir in the salt, pepper and thyme. Then cool the apple mixture completely.
    2 Tablespoons butter, ½ cup mild onion, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • Unroll the puff pastry. Spread with apple mixture and sprinkle with grated cheddar.
    2 cups sharp cheddar
  • With a long side of the dough facing you, roll the dough around the apple mixture. (You want the roll to be long.) Wrap in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least a half hour.
  • Preheat your oven to 450°F and line a baking sheet or two with parchment paper.
  • Cut the roll into 1/2-inch slices and arranged pieces on the lined baking sheets. Bake for 12-14 minutes or until golden.
  • Serve warm or at room temperature.

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Nutrition Information

Serving: 1Pinwheel | Calories: 127kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 94mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g
“Cooking With Carlee” is not a dietitian or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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4.70 from 13 votes (13 ratings without comment)

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51 Comments

  1. I just made these and they are awesome. I love that they can be made ahead and baked when it works. Not sure why others didn’t have them turn out, maybe they used too much cheese or the oven wasn’t hot enough. I baked them for 10 minutes and it was a perfect amount of time (my oven is hot). Thanks for sharing.

    1. I am so glad you liked them! I just bought ingredients so I can make another batch during the holidays.

  2. I made these ***exactly*** by the recipe. They were HORRIBLE! Even after baking on parchment for 30 minutes in a new high end convection oven, these were soggy and very greasy on the bottom and barely cooked on top. To experiment, I left four in the oven for a total of 45 minutes to no avail. There was no browning on top and the cheddar cheese leaked out of the bottoms of all of the pinwheels and burned on the ones I baked longest. My taste testers were “meh” on the flavor, but that’s personal preference. Sorry, back to the drawing board on this recipe.

    1. I'm sorry that was your experience, I am not sure what could have gone wrong. They've worked out well for me and I've seen pictures from others who have made them as well. It's always disappointing when things don't work out like we'd like, especially on Thanksgiving!

  3. Yay!!! Apple Week is here! Your pinwheels are a fun start. Off to view what the others have shared.

    1. Hooray for appleweek!

  4. Mine fell apart 🙁 I would maybe change your recipe to say to chop the apples super fine. Mine were so chuncky that everything fell apart in transit to baking sheet

    1. Oh no! Chopping them very definitely helps. I'm sorry you had problems!

  5. Anonymous says:

    So bland. Looked cute. Will not make again.

    1. I'm sorry you found them to be bland. They went over really well here. You could definitely amp them up with stronger cheese or a bit more spice if you'd like.

  6. Anonymous says:

    Has anyone made these and then put them in the freezer unbaked?

    1. I haven't done it with this particular recipe, but I have done it with similar recipes and it worked great. I can't see why it wouldn't work here.

  7. Anonymous says:

    This look divine. Could I bake them then refrigerate to use the next day?

    1. It would probably be better to make them up to the point of slicing and baking them. Just wrap the rolled log in plastic wrap and when you are ready to serve them, just slice, bake and serve. I would be afraid they'd get soggy if you refrigerate them baked, but I've never tried it. Or bake them a couple of hours ahead and just store them in an airtight container until they are ready to serve.

  8. Anonymous says:

    These are incredible! I've made them a few times already and they're a new favorite among friends. I'd like to make them for Thanksgiving — how well do you think they'd hold up if they were refrigerated overnight and then just cooked on Thanksgiving?

    1. Thank you so much!! You can definitely make them a day ahead. Just wrap the log of rolled dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate. You could probably make it even further ahead and freeze it, then thaw in the refrigerator overnight. I haven't tried freezing it though, but I can't imagine it would hurt anything.

  9. Anonymous says:

    Do you prefer to serve these hot or at room temperature?

    1. I serve them at room temperature. They cool really quickly, so you can more or less serve them straight from the oven though. I hope you enjoy them!

  10. Cassie Tucker says:

    These look absolutely delicious! I bet they would taste amazing with anything.

    Thanks for sharing with the Tips and Tricks Link Party!

  11. YUM! These sound amazing!

  12. Hi Carlee, don't you ever run out of recipe ideas. This recipe is so simple, but not something I would ever think to do. At first I thought they were made with a bread dough, but using ready made puff pastry makes this recipe even simpler!

    xx

    1. Unfortunately my list of things to make is longer than there are hours in the day 😉 I even put reminders in my phone calendar sometimes because I think of stuff I want to try off season… I think it maybe be a sickness!

  13. OMW Carlee, these all sound and look so delicious, #WAYWOW. I have got to try the apple cheddar pinwheels and that slow cooker apple cider pull pork.

    1. Thanks, Michelle! Aren't all of these apple treats the best?

  14. Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies says:

    Oh yeah…. I am so making these!!!

    1. You should! They are so easy and really good!

  15. I was instantly drawn to this post, because I am a huge fan of cheese and the picture just looked delicious. I need to try these, although is it bad when I am thinking I wouldn't want to share them? # WAYWOW

    1. Make two batches! Share one and hide the other 😉 Thanks for stopping by!

  16. Jessica Jarrell says:

    I can't get over how cute these are! I don't think I've had cheddar and apple together since I was a kid. Now I'm wondering why that's the case, LOL. These look so yummy Carlee! 😀

    1. Ha! It's time to start putting them together again! Thanks, Jessica!

  17. These sound fantastic. At the catering company I work for we do a pinwheel with sausage, mushroom and parmesan, I am definitely forwarding this to my boss to use as a fall alternative to the regular pinwheels. I am sure that everyone will be reaching for a second as soon as they get a bite of the first.

    1. Oooh, that version sounds delicious too! A little sausage with the apples would be good too. So many possibilities! Thanks, Nikki!

  18. Such a great looking appetizer! I love cheddar and apples together!

    1. Thank you, Heather! It's one of those classic combos!

  19. Disco David says:

    Brilliant! I doff my cap to the expert.

    1. Thank you! We really need to work together on a meal, you smoke the meat and I'll make the fixin's.

  20. Oh yum! I am so glad I stopped by today. I could live off of appetizers! Believe it or not, I have never used puffed pastry. I usually use crescent rolls for things like this, but am definitely going to try this soon. Thanks for sharing!

    1. Me too! Well, appetizers and desserts anyway 😉 Puff pastry is a lot of fun to play with and gives a good crunch. You'll have to give it a try. I should try these with crescents too though, I bet that would be good as well! Thank you!

  21. I love apple and cheddar together and I have a feeling I wouldn't be able to stop eating these! Look great.

    1. It's easy to keep reaching back for more. Thanks, Caroline!

  22. Andrea Nine says:

    I have always loved apples with cheddar cheese so talk about the perfect appetizer this time of year! Johnagolds are always my favorite for baking. I love that you added some thyme in there, seems like the perfect seasoning complement. This Apple extravaganza has got me so excited!

    1. I love Johnagolds too! I picked up a bunch of honey crisp for just eating and have been doing some baking with pink ladies. It is fun watching the rotation of apples at the orchard. I can't wait to go get more! Thanks, Andrea!

  23. A Day in the Life on the Farm says:

    The older I get the more I prefer small casual gatherings over large shindigs. These are the perfect little apps to set out for folks to enjoy with a cocktail before dinner.

    1. I like doing the big ones too, it gives me a good excuse to make a ton of food. It's just hard to keep the food coming and feel like you got to spend any quality time with your guests. So small and casual was a good break! Thanks, Wendy!

  24. Looks like a perfect accompaniment to my Friday night glass of wine!

    1. That sounds like a pretty great Friday night! Thanks, Shelby!

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