Home » Appetizers » Spinach Feta Pinwheels

Spinach Feta Pinwheels

Name: Spinach Feta Pinwheels
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 16
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 egg whisked with 1 tablespoon of water; 1/2 cup crumbled feta (buy a block and crumble it yourself; 1/4 cup grated mozzarella; 1 green onion, chopped; 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt; A few grates of fresh nutmeg; 1 10-ounce package of frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and squeezed dry; 1 puff pastry sheet, defrosted

posted by Liz Berg on May 21, 2017 (updated 5/12/21)

Jump to Recipe

Flaky, buttery puff pastry is rolled around spinach, feta & mozzarella to create these outrageously delicious Spinach Feta Pinwheels!

I hosted my book club earlier this month. Our book selection was Exit West, a fictional account of a couple escaping the war-torn Middle East through magical doors. Through these “doors” they were transported to three different countries to the west, one being Greece. This spanakopita appetizer is a riff on the Greek spanakopita recipe, and is absolutely scrumptious!

Spinach Feta Pinwheels on a white serving tray

Table of Contents hide

1 Why You Should Make this Spanakopita Recipe

2 Frequently Asked Questions

3 What's the Difference Between Phyllo, Fillo, Filo, and Puff Pastry?

4 What is Spanakopita?

5 How Do You Store Puff Pastry Appetizers?

6 Tips for Working with Puff Pastry:

7 How to Make Pinwheels

8 More Appetizer Recipes Using Puff Pastry:

9 More Greek Recipes for Your Menu:

10 Ingredient Notes:

11 Spinach Feta Pinwheels

Why You Should Make this Spanakopita Recipe

It’s a fun twist on the traditional spanakopita, Some of the Greek spinach pie ingredients were incorporated into this spanakopita appetizer.
With spanakopita or homemade baklava, there’s fussy phyllo dough to fiddle with! Using puff pastry makes quick work of a yummy spinach puff pastry appetizer!
They are delicious!!!

Brushing the puff pastry with an egg wash before rolling helped keep the spirals from unfurling, though a little reshaping was necessary before and immediately after their time in the oven.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the Difference Between Phyllo, Fillo, Filo, and Puff Pastry?

Phyllo, Fillo, and Filo are just variations in the spelling of tissue-thin sheets of dough. The word means “leaf” in Greek as the sheets are as thin as a leaf. They’re also quite delicate and become brittle if left exposed to the air. For that reason, a damp towel is placed over filo when it’s out to be used in a recipe.

Puff pastry, or pâte feuilletée in French, is a laminated dough, formed when chilled layers of butter are formed between layers of dough by folding, chilling and refolding. Due to those layers of butter, the dough “puffs” when baked.

Both filo and puff pastry can be found in the frozen section of many grocery stores. They are generally not interchangeable in recipes.

What is Spanakopita?

This appetizer is based on spanakpita ingredients. It’s a Greek pie with phylllo as a top and bottom crust with sauteed spinach, onions, feta, and egg filling.

How Do You Store Puff Pastry Appetizers?

With feta cheese in the filling, these pinwheel appetizers should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Gently reheat before serving. They also can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Spinach Feta Pinwheels on a white square plate

Tips for Working with Puff Pastry:

Even though the traditional phyllo dough, which is used for spanakopita, is more finicky, you still need to understand how to work with puff pastry to get the best results when making these spinach pinwheels and more.

For the best tasting spinach feta pinwheels, look for an all-butter puff pastry brand. I use Dufour, but note that it will be much more expensive.
To prevent your pinwheels from unraveling while baking, make sure about 1/2-inch of one short end of your puff pastry is free of filling. Double-check that it’s brushed with egg wash, then roll up from the opposite end, so that the filling-free edge adheres to the rolled cylinder.
The pastry can warm up while you’re working with it. It bakes up best when chilled so I always pop it in the freezer while the oven heats up. If you have the time, you can cover the sheet pan with the pinwheels with plastic wrap and park them in the fridge until you’re ready to bake them.
PRO TIP: Puff pastry puffs up best when baked cold, but it also needs to be baked at a high temperature. I like to rechill the pinwheels in the fridge before baking, then bake at 400° as directed.
Brushing the puff pastry with an egg wash before rolling helped keep the spirals from unfurling, though a little reshaping was necessary before and immediately after their time in the oven.

How to Make Pinwheels

See detailed directions in the recipe card below.

Make the egg wash.
Make the filling.
Roll out the puff pastry and brush with the egg wash.
Top the surface with the cheese mixture, then the spinach.
.Leave about an inch free of toppings on one of the short sides. This will help the pinwheels seal.
Roll up the pastry like a jellyroll.
Slice, then bake after chilling for the best puff pastry rise.

More Appetizer Recipes Using Puff Pastry:

Puff Pastry Bacon Twists from A Family Feast
Muenster and Spinach Pinwheels
Cranberry Brie en Croute
Pepperoni Pinwheels
More Appetizer Recipes

Ingredient Notes:

Staples: Eggs, Garlic Salt
Nutmeg – Grate from a whole nutmeg if possible. Otherwise, just use a pinch of ground nutmeg
Frozen chopped spinach – defrost overnight in the refrigerator, then squeeze very dry before using. PRO-Tip: Use a potato ricer to remove excess liquid.
Feta, in a block – It’s better quality feta than what is already crumbled.
Mozzarella, grated – Pre-shredded cheese is fine.
Green Onions – Also known as scallions
Frozen puff pastry – with butter in the ingredients preferred. Dufour brand is great. Trader Joe’s also has this available during the holidays, so stock up!

Love this recipe? Please consider rating it in the comments below. You can also follow me on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST and INSTAGRAM

The Recipe: