Sweet and Spicy Cranberry Jalapeño Pinwheels – This recipe makes a quick and easy appetizer that’s perfect for any occasion.
In need of an appetizer to impress your family and friends for your next get-together or holiday party? Look no further than these Cranberry Jalapeño Pinwheels, a quick and easy appetizer that will fly off the plate!
Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Pinwheels: A Flavorful 5-Ingredient Appetizer
These scrumptious pinwheels, made with sweet cranberries, tangy cream cheese, spicy jalapeños, and fresh chives, rolled up in soft tortillas, are sure to become a staple at your next gathering. Best of all, they are so easy to make.
Ingredients Needed To Make These Sweet and Spicy Pinwheel Roll-Ups
- 2 garden spinach herb tortilla wraps (or large flour tortillas)
- 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1 Tablespoon jalapeño, seeded, finely diced
- 2 Tablespoons chives, chopped
How To Make Party Pinwheels
In a large bowl, add the cream cheese, cranberries, jalapeño and chives. Mix until well blended.
Place the tortillas on a clean flat surface, divide the mixture in half – add half the mixture to a tortilla and spread evenly edge to edge. Repeat with the other tortilla.
Roll tortillas tightly, cover in saran wrap individually, and place in fridge for 2–3 hours.
When ready, unwrap and using a serrated knife, cut each tortilla roll into 8–12 slices depending on desired size.
For a clean cut, wipe off the knife between slices.
Frequently Asked Questions for Cranberry Jalapeño Pinwheels
Spinach Herb Flour Tortillas Wraps and large plain flour tortillas work best. Spinach tortillas make a pretty appetizer for the holidays!
Green onion is a good substitute – use the green portion of the onion.
No, they are not too spicy. But if you like heat, be sure to add more. Taste test to see what you like best.
Yes, this is a great make-ahead appetizer. Just cut and serve when you’re ready. Be sure to cut right before serving. Cutting too early may cause the tortillas to turn dry.
This Cranberry Jalapeño Pinwheel recipe is my spin on a tried-and-true Pillsbury favorite, Cranberry Cream Cheese Crescent Bites. I adapted the original recipe into an easy-to-make pinwheel version!
I also came across a similar version on TikTok that uses green onions instead of chives and adds garlic salt for extra flavor. It’s another fun variation to try!
Please note: This is not a sponsored post. I have no affiliation with Pillsbury or the products mentioned in this post.
Want More Easy Appetizer Recipes Like This One?
Cranberry Jalapeño Pinwheels
Ingredients
- 1 block cream cheese (8 ounces) at room temperature
- 2 large garden spinach herb tortilla wraps or large flour tortillas
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 1 Tablespoon jalapeño, seeded, finely diced (add more if you like heat)
- 2 Tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add the cream cheese, cranberries, jalapeño and chives. Mix until well blended.
- Place tortillas on a clean flat surface, divide the mixture in half – add half the mixture to a tortilla and spread evenly edge to edge. Repeat with the other tortilla.
ROLL, WRAP AND CHILL IN REFRIGERATOR
- Roll tortillas tightly, cover in saran wrap individually, and place in fridge for 2–3 hours.
- When ready, unwrap and using a serrated knife, cut each tortilla roll into 8–12 slices depending on desired size. *For clean cuts and pretty pinwheels, wipe off the knife between slices when needed.
- Serve and enjoy!
- Store in refrigerator.
Notes
- This recipe is easy to adapt to your taste by adjusting the ingredients.
- Spinach Herb Flour Tortillas Wraps and large plain flour tortillas work best. Spinach tortillas make a pretty appetizer for the holidays!
- If you like more heat, add more jalapeño, or pinch of cayenne pepper,
- You can substitute chives with green onion.
- For a large crowd, you may want to double the recipe.
- Save time by making these a day ahead! Just cut right before you’re ready to serve. Cutting too early may make your tortillas dry.
Vicky Norman
There are so many good dips out there and this one simply ruined 2 blocks of cream cheese ( I doubled the recipe) thinking with the ratings, it must have been great… those ratings are probably from friends because it’s the most boring dip I’ve ever made. Lesson learned though! What a waste of my expensive cream cheese, tortillas and dried cranberries 😣
Mary Neumann
Hello Vicky – I’m so sorry to hear. This is not a dip, but a pinwheel, they are so easy to adapt to your taste if they were not hot enough for you (“boring”). If they don’t have enough heat/kick, you can add more jalapeño and a pinch of Cayenne. This is a pinwheel version of another favorite tried and true recipe, Cranberry Cream Cheese Crescent Bites.
Loralee Cleveland
I am not good in the kitchen but I believe the recipe is too small for the large wraps. Hope they taste alright.
Mary Neumann
Loralee, you are only using 2 tortillas, there is more than enough filling for each one when you divide the filling in half for each. You do not use the entire package of tortillas. Hope that helps!
Janna
Would you recommend adding a dry ranch mix to the cream cheese or would that be too much?
Mary Neumann
Hi Janna,
For this recipe, I would leave out ranch. You could try this recipe if you are looking for a ranch flavored Pinwheel: https://www.stephiecooks.com/cream-cheese-ranch-roll-ups/
Rebecca
Can you substitute green chilis for jalapeños?
Mary Neumann
Hi Rebecca – Yes you can, they just don’t have nearly the same amount of heat. You can add a little cayenne pepper if you want more heat.
Donna
Was going to ask the same question. What other than jalapeños can you use?