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Cream Cheese and Chive Pastry Pinwheels
Photograph: Max Falkowitz
These pinwheels have a retro aspect to them I really like. That and they need all of three ingredients—which are completely adaptable to what you have on hand. Plus they can be made ahead of time, and stored for a couple days or frozen and baked off as needed. I like having these on hand for a quick snack or an impromptu first bite before a long brunch or dinner.
About This Recipe
| Yield: | serves 8 as an appetizer |
| Active time: | 30 minutes |
| Total time: | 3 hours |
| This recipe appears in: | How to Use Up Leftover Herbs |
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed but cold
- 12 ounces cream cheese or chevre, softened
- 3/4 cup minced herbs, packed (such as chives, dill, parsley, or tarragon)
- Optional additions: lemon zest, finely minced garlic
Procedures
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1
On a floured work surface, roll puff pastry out to between 1/16 and 1/8 inch thickness, about a 16 by 16 inch square. With an icing or offset spatula, spread cream cheese in a thin layer across pastry, leaving 1 inch of one side bare. Evenly sprinkle on herbs (as well as any optional additions) and add salt.
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2
Starting with the side opposite the bare 1 inch of pastry, roll pastry into a log. Wrap with plastic wrap and chill in freezer for about an hour, or until log is very firm but not rock hard.
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3
Ten minutes before retrieving log from freezer, heat oven to 375°F, with one rack in the upper third and another rack in the bottom third. Using a sharp knife, cut log into 1/4 inch slices and arrange on two parchment-lined aluminum baking sheets.
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4
Bake for 15 minutes, then rotate pans on racks and continue to bake until pastry is well-browned and crisp to the touch, about another 15 minutes. Transfer pinwheels to a cooling rack lined with paper towels to cool and drain before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature.
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5
To store, transfer pinwheels to a large, airy container and leave loosely covered in a cool dry place. Pinwheels will keep several days at room temperature. Frozen as a log, pastry will keep for weeks.
