Apple Cheddar Pinwheels

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Thanks for sharing!