These Turkey Cranberry Pinwheels are the perfect appetizer! Deliciously creamy with a hint of sweetness, this simple tortilla roll ups recipe is sure to be a hit with friends and family! More appetizer favorites: Veggie Crescent Bites, delicious Crab Melt, and savory Baked Beef Flautas!
This recipe is sponsored by Safeway.
Turkey Cranberry Pinwheels
If there ever was an appetizer that everyone loved, pinwheels would have to be it. Handheld, portable little bites of bliss, these delicious tortilla roll ups are a cinch to make and even easier to eat.
Not only are they great for parties, BBQs, picnics and more, they are perfect for school lunches, snacks, etc. I mean, we’re talking super versatile and did I mention pretty?
The color combination is also super ideal for holiday parties too. Little pops of garnet and green, love it! Pinwheel recipes are the perfect appetizer for entertaining!
This past week I had the opportunity to attend a grand re-opening of a local Safeway store in El Dorado Hills. The event was crazy fun with a ribbon cutting ceremony, tons of games, prizes, and lots of excitement.
The store is gorgeous. Like truly incredible. I spent a blissful 3+ hours there just walking the aisles and admiring the products, produce, and pretty flowers. If you’re anywhere nearby, it’s worth the trip, trust me.
The bakery department is worth the trip alone. I took a quick video and shared on Instagram stories (you can still see them in my highlight reel!) and people were instantly writing in wanting to know WHERE THIS STORE WAS. Amazing cakes, amazing prices!
This store has an impressive wine selection, a meat and seafood counter that can’t be beat, a jaw-dropping floral department and the most gorgeous display of produce I’ve ever seen.
After loading up my cart with all kinds of goodies, I swung by the deli area to grab something to eat on the drive home. It was a turkey cranberry wrap and after one bite, I knew I wanted to take those flavors and turn it into a fun pinwheel appetizer.
What You’ll Need to Make Tortilla Roll Ups
These pinwheel sandwiches are super simple to make and you only need a handful of ingredients to pull them together:
- tortillas or wraps – I used a combination of wraps and burrito size tortillas for these pinwheels. You can of course use smaller tortillas if you prefer, your pinwheels will just be smaller
- cream cheese – make sure the cream cheese is adequately softened so you can really mix in the cranberries and chives
- dried cranberries – the cranberries add an unexpected sweetness to these wraps that is so delicious, don’t leave them out!
- chives or green onions – I used chives because they are both mellower and smaller but either will work.
- turkey slices – oven roasted turkey works great here and if you can’t find deli meat, leftover turkey, thinly sliced would be delicious
- Havarti cheese – I chose Havarti because it’s a semi-soft cheese that is mellow and pliable. You don’t want a hard cheese here UNLESS you shred the cheese. The tortillas won’t roll nicely if you have big chunks of hard cheese in there.
- Romaine lettuce – spinach or butter lettuce could be substituted
How To Make Pinwheel Sandwiches
Tortilla roll ups are incredibly easy to make and these turkey pinwheels are no exception. Let’s do this!
- Combine softened cream cheese, chopped chives, and dried cranberries in a small bowl.
- Spread an even layer of the cream cheese mixture over two tortillas placed side by side, slightly overlapping.
- Layer on turkey, cheese, and lettuce.
- Starting at the short end, roll tortillas up tightly and chill for 1 hour before serving.
- When ready to serve, slice into one inch pieces and place on a plate or serving platter.
Variations To Try
The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to pinwheels. Here are some of our favorite variations:
- Swapping out turkey for another deli meat is a quick way to change up this easy appetizer. Try ham, roast beef, or salami.
- Any cheese will work in this recipe but be sure to pair up the cheese with a complementary protein. For example: salami with provolone, roast beef with cheddar or Swiss, ham with cheddar or Swiss. If you use a hard cheese, instead of using cheese slices, grate the cheese and incorporate it into the cream cheese mixture.
- Instead of Romaine try spinach, butter lettuce, or arugula.
Tips for the BEST Pinwheels
- Don’t forget to soften the cream cheese. It has to be soft so you can spread it easily and mix in the chives and cranberries.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly and generously. If the cranberries are all one side, move them around.
- Use fresh tortillas or wraps that are nice and soft so they don’t crack or split when you roll them.
- Roll the tortillas as tightly as possible. This helps keep the pinwheels tight when they are sliced.
- Use toothpicks to keep them from unrolling.
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Appetizer Recipes to Try
- Best Ever Charcuterie Board
- Crab Melt
- Baked Bacon Cheese Dip
- Easy Jalapeño Popper Bites
- Cranberry Pecan Brie Bites
How To Make Pinwheels
Turkey Cranberry Pinwheels
Ingredients
- 4 tortillas burrito size or wrap size
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 3 tablespoons chopped chives or green onions
- 12 ounces turkey slices
- 8 ounces Havarti cheese slices
- Romaine lettuce ribs removed
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine softened cream cheese, chopped chives, and dried cranberries. Mix until combined.
- Spread an even layer of the cream cheese mixture over two tortillas placed side by side, slightly overlapping.
- Layer on turkey, cheese, and lettuce.
- Starting at the short end, roll tortillas tightly and place in the fridge for 1 hour to set up. If chilling for longer than one hour, wrap tightly in plastic wrap before placing in the refrigerator.
- When ready to serve, slice into one inch pieces and place on a plate or serving platter.
- Leftovers can be stored, tightly wrapped, in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Nutrition
Charlene says
Absolutely love cranberry sauce and turkey sandwiches with a little bit of Mayo. Have to try this roll up!