Prosciutto Gruyere Pinwheels
Using storebought puff pastry makes these Prosciutto Gruyere Pinwheels a snap to prepare! These easy appetizers are ideal for any occasion! Try them on game day, for cocktail or dinner parties, or big family gatherings!
Puff Pastry Appetizers are always a hit! Just stock up on a few items like frozen puff pastry, a chunk of Gruyere cheese, and packaged prosciutto. You’ll be happy you did as these make an elegant starter!
Why You Must Make
- They’re super easy to make using frozen puff pastry.
- The results are tasty and elegant!
- Who doesn’t like the combo of ham and cheese AKA prosciutto and Gruyere???
Between cookie exchanges, Christmas parties, and New Year’s celebrations, my kitchen is hopping this time of year. I was invited to cocktails with some fun ladies one Friday night, and I knew I couldn’t arrive empty-handed.
I pulled some puff pastry from my freezer and started brainstorming about the delicious savory pinwheels I could make. This prosciutto, Gruyere, and basil version was perfect with a nice crisp glass of white wine around a roaring fire.
Expert Tips
- Use an all-butter puff pastry brand like Dufour or Trader Joe’s. The flavor is so much better!
- Once the puff pastry is thawed, give it a quick roll to smooth the seams.
- Brush with an egg wash before adding the fillings to help the filling adhere to the puff pastry along with sealing the ends after rolling.
- Layer the filling ingredients evenly so each slice will have equal amounts of Prosciutto and Gruyere cheese.
- Remember that puff pastry works best when the dough is cold and the oven is hot.
- If your kitchen is warm or your dough sits out too long, it would be wise to put your baking sheet with the unbaked pinwheels into the refrigerator to cool off for a bit.
- PRO-Tip: The rule of thumb for the flakiest puff pastry is to bake it COLD in a HOT oven.
Frequently Asked Questions
Puff Pastry or Pate Feuillettée is a “rich, delicate, multilayered pastry.” The latter is a French term that translates to “pastry made leaf-like.”
It’s most commonly made by placing butter between two layers of pastry dough, rolling it, folding it, then resting and chilling. This is called lamination and was first mentioned in a Spanish cookbook in the early 1600s.
This process is repeated a few times making many, many layers of dough and butter. When baked, the butter releases steam, resulting in multiple layers of flaky pastry. Croissants and Palmiers are both made with puff pastry dough.
First, the filling ingredients are spread evenly over the puff pastry. Using a piece of parchment or a Silpat under the sheet of pastry to guide the rolling, start at the long end and lifting the parchment, begin to roll tightly until the dough forms a cylinder.
Since the pinwheels contain prosciutto, a perishable ingredient, they need to be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat to serve. They will be good for up to 4 days if stored properly.
Yes, they freeze well. Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. Reheat to serve.
You can also freeze the unbaked slices on a sheet pan, then store those in a freezer-weight Ziploc bag for up to a month. Bake frozen, but add a few more minutes of cooking time.
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- More of the Best Appetizer Recipes
Prosciutto, Gruyere and Basil Pinwheels
An easy semi-homemade appetizer using puff pastry and packaged prosciutto
Ingredients
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1/2 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- 4 ounces, very thinly sliced prosciutto
- 1 14 ounce sheet all butter frozen puff pastry, thawed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400º. Line two baking sheets with parchment and set them aside.
- Beat egg and water together in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Lightly flour work surface. Roll out puff pastry lightly...just to smooth. Brush surface with beaten egg. Sprinkle basil over the surface, then sprinkle with cheese. Arrange prosciutto over top of the cheese.
- Starting at the long side, roll up the dough like a jelly roll.
- Slice at scant 1/2 inch intervals and place rounds on baking sheets. Brush with egg wash.
- If the dough has become warm, pop in the refrigerator to chill for a bit.
- Bake for 15 minutes or till golden brown. Remove to wire racks and cool 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Puff pastry bakes best when it's cold. If your sliced unbaked pinwheels have gotten warm, pop them in the refrigerator to chill before baking.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
20Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 184Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 325mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 3g
54 Comments on “Prosciutto Gruyere Pinwheels”
Love this! I always have puff pastry around, just for something quick but special like this. And you can’t beat Gruyere!
I always wonder if your ears are itching (isn’t that the saying when someone talks or thinks of you?) because I always think of you when I make these quick and easy hors d’œuvres. In fact, I have a bunch in my freezer right now. They are a huge hit. I usually use Serano ham and gruyere but it’s the same. And I love your idea of baking them in a muffin tin so that they stay relatively circular. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Liz and family.
Still lovin’ all of the different pinwheels you make, they’d be welcome any time! Never heard of the Gourmet Garden products, just googled… Looks like a great idea. Happy New Year Liz!
PS-Don’t expect the Eagles to go too far this year, might just have to look for a cheese head for the inflatable:@)
Liz, these look like a fun recipe to try and I’d love them if I could do them a day ahead. Thanks for the great appetizer.
I love puff pastry pinwheels and I definitely think you’ve improved on a classic!
Now these are some beautiful looking pinwheels. I bet your kitchen is hopping… it’ usually pretty busy.. but this time of year is crazy fun with all that’s going on. 🙂
Now, these are the perfect party appetizers. Pinning this for this weekend.
So elegant and tasty! I could eat that entire tray.
I love pinwheels of all sorts – one of my favorite appetizers. They’re so easy, but people are always like “you MADE these?!?!” Prosciutto and gruyere sounds just terrific.
These would be a huge crowd pleaser with my family. They are so pretty too. I love just having lots of good snacks around during the holidays.
I have a serious obsession with pinwheels, but I can’t believe I’ve never tried a baked version! This will be made for Christmas!
With prosciutto, cheese, and basil….It is so my type of starter!!!! Pinned!
Beautiful!
My kitchen is also in hyper-drive. I feel like I’m living on adrenalin and every day needing more and more of it until Dec 25. These pinwheels looks really good and I love that range of herbs – so convenient and handy! xx