Description
Spicy-meets-creamy baked jalapeño popper pinwheels deliver a crowd-pleasing appetizer packed with zesty flavor and irresistible texture. Cream cheese, crisp bacon, and jalapeños roll together into a mouthwatering party snack you’ll crave at every gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 can refrigerated crescent dough
- 4 ounces (113 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped jalapenos (seeds removed for less heat)
- 2 tablespoons bacon bits (optional)
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 375F (190C), creating an ideal baking environment for the pinwheels.
- Carefully unfurl the crescent dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, ensuring a flat, even surface.
- Combine cream cheese, cheddar, chopped jalapenos, crispy bacon bits, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl, blending until the mixture reaches a smooth, uniform consistency.
- Generously spread the zesty cheese mixture across the dough, maintaining a small uncovered border to prevent overflow during rolling.
- Tightly roll the dough from one end to the other, creating a compact cylindrical shape that will yield perfect pinwheel slices.
- Using a sharp knife, cut the rolled dough into precise 1-inch sections, revealing the spiraled interior.
- Arrange the pinwheels on the baking sheet, spacing them to allow even heat circulation and prevent sticking.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, watching for a golden-brown exterior that signals crispy, perfectly cooked appetizers.
- Remove from the oven and let cool briefly before serving these spicy, cheesy delights while still warm.
Notes
- Customize heat levels by removing jalapeno seeds for milder flavor or adding extra chopped peppers for spice enthusiasts.
- Use dairy-free cream cheese and vegan bacon bits to transform this recipe into a plant-based appetizer that everyone can enjoy.
- Enhance pinwheel texture by chilling the rolled dough for 15 minutes before slicing, which helps create cleaner, more precise cuts and prevents filling from squeezing out.
- Prep these appetizers ahead of time by assembling and refrigerating unbaked pinwheels up to 24 hours in advance, perfect for stress-free party planning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 280 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg