These easy pizza pinwheels are made with ready rolled puff pastry, delicious tomato sauce and cheddar cheese. This freezer-friendly recipe is perfect for snacks, lunch boxes and picnics. Plus they're a great puff pastry recipe for babies and toddlers.
Whether you're after easy toddler lunches, a recipe to cook with your kids or a lunch box filler for older kids puff pastry is your friend.
There is so much that you can make with it. Not only is it readily available in most supermarkets, it's also easy to use, freezable and usually dairy free - so suitable for vegans.
And in addition it's the perfect vehicle to add fruit or veggies to.
These puff pastry pizza pinwheels are one of my favourite puff pastry recipes. We often make them for last minute weekend lunches and then freeze a few extras for that week's lunch boxes.
Great for snacks, lunches and picnics
These puff pastry pizza pinwheels are so easy to make and they are perfect for hungry kids to snack on.
If you’ve got some tomato sauce or, even better, hidden veg sauce already made up or in the freezer then they take just a matter of minutes to prepare.
In the past we've had these for lunch, at picnics, for playdates, on the walk home from school and even for dinner.
And they're always popular.
Babies and toddlers love them
Puff pastry pinwheels are easy to pick up so they're great for baby led weaning and toddler lunches.
Kids can make them
They're also a great recipe to get kids cooking as they are so easy. Even tiny kids can make these pizza swirls using ready rolled puff pastry.
In my work as a toddler cookery teacher I often make pizza pinwheels with the children.
It's as simple as:
- unrolling the pastry
- spreading the tomato sauce on - use the back of a spoon to avoid the pastry being cut by a knife
- sprinkle grated cheese
- add oregano
- roll up
- slice
- bake
Can you make these pizza pinwheels vegan?
Yes - it's very easy to make vegan pizza swirls.
Most ready made puff pastry is vegan - but always check the ingredients just in case.
Use grated dairy free cheese and voila! A delicious and easy vegan lunch or snack.
Storage
Fridge
Once baked allow to cool completely on a wire rack. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Can be eaten cold or reheated in the oven.
Freezer
Pizza pinwheels can be frozen.
Allow to cool then transfer to a board or tray. Freeze for an hour (this is to stop them sticking together) then transfer to a freezer box or bag. Label and date and store for up to three months.
I often freeze my pizza swirls as they are so useful for lunch boxes. If I put one frozen in my child's lunchbox in the morning it's defrosted in time for lunch.
Alternatively you can put them frozen in a hot oven for 5-10 minutes and they heat up beautifully.
More puff pastry recipes
I've made lots of variations of these pizza pinwheels over the years. Puff pastry really is useful as a way to get my kids to eat things they would otherwise turn their noses up at.
And because of this I usually have a roll of ready made puff pastry in the fridge or freezer, ready to turn into one of the following:
- Pesto and cheese twists
- Easy spinach pesto palmiers
- Apple and mincemeat puff pastry swirls
- Butternut squash cheese straws
- Beetroot, walnut and goat's cheese palmiers
- Puff pastry pizza
- Potato curry puffs
If you love pizza as much as we do you might also like pizza toast, homemade pizza crackers or these pizza crepes.
How to make easy pizza pinwheels
If you have made this recipe I would love it if you’d leave a comment and rating below. Thank you!
Please do not reproduce this recipe without permission.
Really easy pizza pinwheels recipe
Ingredients
- 320 g sheet of ready-rolled puff pastry
- 100 g tomato sauce* or you could use passata
- 50 g grated cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas mark 6.
- Line a baking tray with a sheet of baking paper.
- Roll out your sheet of puff pastry.
- Spread 100g tomato sauce over the top.
- Sprinkle over the 50g grated cheese.
- Add 1 teaspoon dried oregano.
- Roll up along the long side until you have a long thin swiss roll shape. For best results chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before proceeding.
- Cut into 12 small pieces and place on the baking tray leaving a few centimetres between them as they’ll grow in the oven!
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
- If not eating straight away allow to cool then store in an airtight container. Best eaten within a day or two. Can be frozen.
Notes
- Instead of tomato sauce you could use a hidden vegetable sauce.
- Nutritional information is approximate and is intended as a guide only.
Nutrition
Pin really easy pizza pinwheels for later
Looking for picnic ideas? You might like these healthy picnic ideas.
HAVE YOU TRIED THIS RECIPE?
If you loved this recipe why not let me know by leaving a rating and comment below? Alternatively you can let me know on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.
KEEP IN TOUCH
Subscribe to get recipes and news straight to your inbox. Read more about Sneaky Veg
Holly
Hi, this may make me sound totally thick but by tomato sauce in the ingredients do you mean actual ketchup or a pizza topping tomato sauce? Thank you!
Mandy Mazliah
Hi Holly, I usually use either a pizza topping tomato sauce or sometimes passata.
Zara
Hi, these look great. Could I pre make these the day before and keep them in the fridge and pop them in the oven on the day?
Thanks
Mandy Mazliah
Hi Zara, definitely - they actually cook better if they've had time in the fridge to firm up before baking. Hope you enjoy them
Aileen
So easy to make! These fed 15 kids at my son's 8 year old birthday party and we quickly ran out.
Mandy Mazliah
Thanks Aileen - they're just perfect for a party aren't they!
Stephanie
Do I have to keep them refrigerated after baking or just in an airtight container?
Mandy Mazliah
I usually keep mine refrigerated
Mel
Can these be frozen? And if so how should I defrost and cook them after they’ve defrosted? Xxxxx
Mandy Mazliah
Yes they freeze really well. I often take them out in the morning for my son's lunchbox and they've defrosted by lunchtime. My kids enjoy them cold but if you want to reheat them you could put them back in the oven (once defrosted) for five minutes. I wouldn't recommend microwaving them.
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins
Ooooh yummy! The kids would love these and would also love to help making them. Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
Mandy Mazliah
Yes I made these while the kids were at school but they'd be a great thing to make together X
Intolerant Gourmand
Yum!! Yes please Mandy, what a great idea! x #cookblogshare
Mandy Mazliah
Thanks! These were really tasty X
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain
Ooh yes please!! These are great Mandy, they're so much fun with that lovely swirl and made even better having been made with scrummy puff pastry!! YumAngela x
Mandy Mazliah
Thanks Angela - they really are so simple to put together X
Sarah James
Delicious Mandy, perfect for a snack and I love how they're so quick to make.
Mandy Mazliah
Thanks Sarah - I love a quick homemade snack!
Cliona
Delicious! Any new way to enjoy pizza is a winner in my books!!!!
Mandy Mazliah
Thanks Cliona!
Mandy Mazliah
Thanks Cliona!
Helen @ family-friends-food.com
Great timing! I have puff pastry and cheese in the fridge that need using up. I know what we're having for dinner tonight!!
Mandy Mazliah
Oh fantastic! I hope you enjoy them - let me know what you think x