Puff pastry cinnamon pinwheels

Puff pastry cinnamon pinwheels are a sweet and easy treat you can bake in less than thirty minutes. These little bites are great for a quick snack or a last-minute dessert.

These cute swirls are an excellent reason to keep a sheet of puff pastry dough in the refrigerator. It can make miracles when you need a quick snack, and it’s all done with only a few ingredients. There’s nothing like that winter magic smell of cinnamon from the kitchen!

Why you’ll love these pinwheels

• They are sooooo easy to make. Of all our puff pastry recipes, like puff pastry fruit tarts, brie and pear puff pastry bites, puff pastry pizza tarts and puff pastry mushroom tarts, these cinnamon pinwheels are the quickest and the easiest to make.
• The combination of flaky puff pastry and sweet cinnamon-sugar filling is irresistibly delicious.

• You need only three ingredients to make these pinwheels. They will be your best $3 spent.

• They’re incredibly speedy to make so you can enjoy a fresh, homemade snack in minutes without much hassle. Five minutes of preparation and 12 minutes of baking your pinwheels in the oven will yield the sweetest and most godly-smelling crunchy snack on the table.

• They are perfect for afternoon tea or coffee. Quick and easy to make, even the fanciest guests will absolutely adore these puff pastry cinnamon pinwheels.

What you’ll need to make them

PUFF PASTRY SHEETS – To make puff pastry cinnamon pinwheels, it’s best to use pre-rolled puff pastry sheets that are made with all-butter, if possible. All-butter puff pastry offers a richer flavor and flakier texture than those made with other fats. Successful baking also depends on the flour that puff pastry is made of. However, you will probably find appropriate puff pastry sheets in any supermarket.

When baking, the butter in the puff pastry causes the dough to rise and become deliciously puffy and crispy. Therefore, the sheets you are using must be cold. The recipe works best if you keep them chilled in the refrigerator until needed.

CINNAMON POWDER – To make puff pastry cinnamon pinwheels, use ground cinnamon with a warm, sweet, and slightly spicy flavor. Ceylon cinnamon, also known as “true cinnamon,” is an excellent choice because it has a delicate, sweet taste that isn’t overpowering.

SUGAR – Use either granulated white sugar or light brown sugar. Granulated sugar provides a sweet, simple flavor with a light crunch, while light brown sugar adds a richer, caramel-like taste that pairs perfectly with the cinnamon. You can also mix both for a balanced sweetness.

POWDERED SUGAR – If you have a food processor, you can grind the sugar to make powdered sugar. We’ll sprinkle it on baked pinwheels, although you can easily skip this step or – use a sweetener.

AN EGG – An egg yolk wash with a tablespoon of milk will give your cinnamon pinwheels a golden shine, making them even crispier.

MILK – Only two tablespoons will do the job: one for the filling and one for the egg wash.

Recipe variations and modifications

• If available, use whole wheat puff pastry for a slightly healthier alternative. Reduce the sugar and substitute it with a mix of cinnamon and unsweetened applesauce for a less sweet variation.
• Consider experimenting with additional spices such as nutmeg, allspice, or cardamom to enhance the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Alternatively, pumpkin pie spice could also be a favorable addition.
• Drizzle the pinwheels with a simple powdered sugar glaze composed of powdered sugar, milk, or water. Alternatively, choose cream cheese frosting or enhance the glaze with vanilla or almond extract.
• Replace the cinnamon mix with peanut butter and sprinkle it with ground nuts.
• Chocolate puff pastry pinwheels are another delicious option when combined with ground hazelnuts, almonds or walnuts.
• Fill them up with Nutella and crispy ground pistachios. What a delightful treat!
• Generously spread a delectable layer of fruit preserves, such as apple, apricot, or raspberry. For an added delightful crunch and burst of flavor, sprinkle in finely chopped dried fruits like raisins and cranberries or chopped nuts such as pecans or walnuts.,

How to make puff pastry cinnamon pinwheels?

STEP 1: Preheat the oven to 200 °C/392 °F. Cover the baking sheet with parchment paper.

PREPARATION AND ASSEMBLING

STEP 2: The butter should be at room temperature before mixing with cinnamon. Ensure your puff pastry sheet is chilled when you start working with it.

In a small bowl, carefully whisk together the butter, cinnamon powder, sugar and one tablespoon of milk. When finished, you should get a smooth and fluffy paste that’s easy to spread.

STEP 3: Gently unroll the puff pastry sheet, then evenly spread the flavorful mixture across the entirety of the sheet using a spatula or long knife.

STEP 4: Roll up your puff pastry along the long edge. It should be rolled tightly and evenly.

STEP 5: At this point, we suggest you return your roll to the refrigerator for 10 minutes or leave it in the freezer for five minutes; it will be much easier to slice it afterward. Because puff pastry contains a lot of butter, it will bake and puff nicely only if it’s properly chilled before baking.

When ready, use a very sharp knife to cut the roll into equal slices 1 cm ( 0.4 inches) thick.

STEP 6: Reload the slice on a baking sheet with parchment paper. You must be relatively quick during this process so your puff pastry won’t warm up too much before baking.

STEP 7: Mix the egg yolk with a tablespoon of milk. Brush each pin lightly with the eggwash using a pastry brush.

BAKING

STEP 7: Bake at 200 °C/392 °F for 12-15 minutes, depending on the oven, until your cinnamon pinwheels are puffed and beautifully golden.

STEP 8: When ready, it’s best to leave them to stand for 10 minutes. When they’re finally cooled, sprinkle the pinwheels with powdered sugar.

We never buy powdered sugar, but we usually make a homemade version using a small, old coffee grinder.

STEP 8: And that’s about it! Your delicious puff pastry cinnamon pinwheels are ready to eat.

Serve these beauties with your favorite cup of tea or coffee, and enjoy!

Recipe notes and tips

Ensure the butter is at room temperature before using it for the cinnamon mixture. Mixing it with the other ingredients will be much harder if you use cold butter.

After coating the pastry sheet with cinnamon butter, roll it up as tightly as possible and slice the pins with a very sharp knife.

Puff pastry needs to be chilled before baking. If the whole process has taken too long and you notice that the pastry is not cold and solid anymore, it’s best to put the entire roll back in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes to ensure it’s cold enough. You can also reduce that time to 5 minutes in the freezer.

Puff pastry cinnamon pinwheels taste best when served fresh from the oven. However, they must be slightly chilled before being sprinkled with powdered sugar so the sugar won’t melt.

And just a hint: The longer you keep premade puff pastry sheets in the refrigerator, the better they’ll get. Still, be mindful of the expiry date.

Serving suggestions

Coffee – Pair these little delights with a strong espresso, a creamy cappuccino or a homemade cup of Turkish coffee. The bold flavors of coffee perfectly complement the sweet, spiced pinwheels. Or bring on the creamy hot chocolate for a comforting winter treat.

Tea – Serve them with a chai tea or spiced herbal blend. A classic black tea or a homemade mild elderflower tea also pairs well with these pinwheels.

Wine – Combine them with a sweet dessert wine, such as Moscato or a late-harvest Riesling. These wines’ fruity and floral notes complement our swirls’ sweetness and cinnamon aroma. Pair them with a warm glass of mulled wine during the colder months, preferably with cinnamon.

Ice cream – Serve the pinwheels warm with a scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream. You might also want to try our homemade no-churn baobab ice cream.

Puff pastry cinnamon pinwheel storage

You can store your pinwheels in the refrigerator in an airtight container or a covered bowl for up to three days. At room temperature, these rolls will last up to two days.

If you wish to store the leftovers of your baked cinnamon rolls in the freezer, place them on a baking sheet and put the sheet in the freezer. When frozen and solid, reload them into an airtight container or a bag. They will last up to two months in the freezer.

There’s no need to thaw already-baked rolls; place them on a baking sheet and warm them in the preheated oven at 200 °C/392 °F.

FREEZING UNBAKED PUFF PASTRY PINWHEELS

If you want to prepare your pinwheels in advance, you can freeze the rolled-up puff pastry before baking. Again, put the whole sheet of pinwheels in the freezer. When frozen and solid, you can pack them in a container or a bag.

When you want to use them, it’s best to thaw them in the refrigerator overnight and then bake them in the preheated oven at 200 °C/392 °F for 12-15 minutes until golden.

FAQ

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This recipe was featured at Miz Hellen’s Full Plate Thursday and Crazy Little Love Birds.

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