Jalapeño Popper Pinwheels – The Life of the Party!

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These jalapeño popper pinwheels are crispy, cheesy, spicy little bites of joy—perfect for game day, tailgating, backyard BBQs, birthday parties, or any celebration that needs a fun finger food!

With creamy cheese, smoky bacon, and just the right kick of jalapeño, these puff pastry rolls are the kind of snack that disappears fast.

Whether you’re hosting the big game or bringing a dish to a potluck, this easy party appetizer will be a crowd favorite.

 

A picture of a set of jalapeño popper pinwheel sandwiches stacked on a plate.

 

Ingredients You’ll Need For This Recipe:

  • 8oz softened cream cheese
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese
  • 2 medium diced jalapeno peppers, seeds removed
  • 6 slices crumbled, cooked bacon
  • 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • puff pastry sheet or 2 pack of small puff pastry sheets
  • 3 tbsp melted butter
  • 2 tsp fresh minced garlic
  • 2 tsp chopped cilantro
  • 1 tsp salt

 

A picture of ingredients needed to make jalapeño popper pinwheel sandwiches.

 

Step-by-step Guide:

1 – Preheat oven to 375 °F

2 – In a bowl, combine cream cheese, cheddar, jalapeños, bacon, garlic powder, pepper, and salt.

 

A picture of cream cheese, shredded cheddar, bacon, jalapeño, and spices together in a bowl unmixed.

 

3 – Mix together with a fork or spoon until well incorporated.

 

A picture of cream cheese, shredded cheddar, bacon, jalapeño, and spices mixed together in a bowl.

 

4 – If using a whole puff pastry sheet, roll it out then spread the filling all over it, leaving an inch of the edge with no filling.

5 – For small pastry sheets, leave half an inch of the edge with no filling.

 

A picture of a cream cheese mixture being spread onto a small puff pastry sheet.

 

6 – Brush the edges with water to help seal.

7 – Roll the puff pastry sheet into a log .

 

A pictur of a puff pastry with filling rolled into a log shape.

 

8 – Cut into 12 pieces for a full sheet, or 2 pieces for a small sheet.

 

A picture of a filled puff pastry being cut in half.

 

A picture of a puff pastry cut in two, with a hand holding one half to show the filling in the middle.

 

9 – Place the pinwheels into an oven tray.

 

A picture of uncooked puff pastry pinwheels in a baking pan.

 

10 – Melt the butter in a small bowl.

 

A picture of melted butter in a bowl with a spoon.

 

11 – Add the garlic, salt and cilantro. Mix until blended.

 

A picture of melted butter, chopped garlic, cilantro, and salt in a bowl.

 

12 – Brush the pinwheels with the garlic butter mix.

 

A picture of garlic butter being brushed over uncooked jalapeño pinwheels in a baking pan.

 

13 – Bake for 30 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown.

14 – Remove from oven and allow the pinwheels to cool for 5-10 minutes.

 

A picture of fully baked jalapeño popper pinwheels in a baking pan.

 

15 – Use a spatula to remove the pinwheels and serve while hot. Enjoy!

 

A close up picture of jalapeño popper pinwheels stacked together on a plate.

 

Pro Tips for Success:

  • Wear gloves when handling jalapeños to avoid any burning if you touch your eyes later—trust us on this one.

  • Go vegetarian by skipping the bacon—add a dash of smoked paprika for that savory vibe.

  • Make ahead and chill the rolled log in the fridge for 20 minutes before slicing—it helps the pinwheels keep their shape.

  • Use parchment paper on your baking tray to prevent sticking and make clean-up super easy.

  • Add extra crunch with a sprinkle of crushed tortilla chips on top before baking.

  • Want it even cheesier? Mix in a bit of mozzarella for a gooey melt.

  • Double the batch if you’re feeding a crowd—these go fast and reheat well in the oven.

 

A picture of jalapeño popper pinwheels on a wooden cutting board, displayed next to whole jalapeño peppers.

 

These Jalapeño Popper Pinwheels are everything a party snack should be—cheesy, a little spicy, and totally irresistible.

They’re easy to make, fun to eat, and guaranteed to bring the heat to your next BBQ, game day, or potluck.

So go ahead, roll up a batch, and get ready for the compliments!

 

A picture of a set of jalapeño popper pinwheel sandwiches stacked on a plate.

Jalapeño Popper Pinwheels

Yield: 12
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 8oz softened cream cheese
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese
  • 2 medium diced jalapeno peppers, seeds removed
  • 6 slices crumbled, cooked bacon
  • 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • puff pastry sheet or 2 pack of small puff pastry sheets
  • 3 tbsp melted butter
  • 2 tsp fresh minced garlic
  • 2 tsp chopped cilantro
  • 1 tsp salt

Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 375 °F.

    2. In a bowl, combine cream cheese, cheddar, jalapeños, bacon, garlic powder, pepper, and salt.

    3. Mix together with a fork or spoon until well incorporated.

    4. If using a whole puff pastry sheet, roll it out then spread the filling all over it, leaving an inch of the edge with no filling.

    5. For small pastry sheets, leave half an inch of the edge with no filling.

    6. Brush the edges with water to help seal.

    7. Roll the puff pastry sheet into a log .

    8. Cut into 12 pieces for a full sheet, or 2 pieces for a small sheet.

    9. Place the pinwheels into an oven tray.

    10. Melt the butter in a small bowl.

    11. Add the garlic, salt and cilantro. Mix until blended.

    12. Brush the pinwheels with the garlic butter mix.

    13. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown.

    14. Remove from oven and allow the pinwheels to cool for 5-10 minutes.

    15. Use a spatula to remove the pinwheels and serve while hot. Enjoy!

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