Pepperoni Pinwheels
Did someone say pizza party? These pepperoni pinwheels pack all of your favorite things about pizza into a delicious little roll-up. Perfectly cheesy and wonderfully dippable!
Pepperoni Pinwheel Recipes
Look, it's no secret that I love pizza. I'll eat it in any form! Whether it's a homemade pizza, some greasy delivery pizza, or even a pizza muffin — it will bring a smile to my face. But something about the pepperoni pinwheels makes those delicious pizza flavors even MORE enjoyable, making them a number one in my list of favorite appetizers.
My kids love these lovely little pepperoni rolls too — the whole family does! I mean, who wouldn't love ooey gooey cheese and flavorful pepperoni nestled in between layers of homemade pizza dough. Seriously, these pepperoni cheese rolls are absolutely drool-worthy.
These pepperoni pinwheels have been a go-to game day recipe. They're the perfect party appetizer since they're easy to make, simple to serve and always a crowd hit. It's a total no brainer!
But hey, this pepperoni pizza pinwheels recipe can even be used for easy dinners. It would be such a fun twist on a Friday pizza night! This family friendly recipe is sure to be a hit, no matter where or when you serve it.
Why You'll Love this Recipe
Do I really need to list reasons why you'll love pepperoni pizza in pinwheel form? It's such an easily love-able recipe:
- If you're looking for an even easier way to serve traditional pizza, then you've gotta check out these pinwheels. They're the exact same ingredients, just made into an easily shareable form!
- It only takes about 30 minutes to make these pepperoni pizza rolls. You'll be shocked at how easy it is.
- These are a wonderful school-lunch option. Send tasty pizza rolls with your kiddos instead of a sandwich!
Ingredients
With just four simple ingredients, you can make the best pepperoni pinwheels ever:
- pizza crust
- pizza sauce
- shredded mozzarella cheese
- pepperoni slices
Substitutions and Variations
You can use store-bought pizza dough or homemade pizza dough. Both will work great! Crescent roll dough is a good substitute too, though the texture will be a bit different.
Store bough pizza sauce and homemade pizza sauce would both be delicious.
Need a more lean option? Grab some turkey pepperonis instead of regular pepperonis!
Feel free to brush the top with a garlic butter mixture or sprinkle on some pizza seasoning or Italian seasoning while they're still warm.
How to Make Pepperoni Pinwheels
Follow these step by step instructions and in no time you'll have this delicious appetizer read to serve:
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
On a floured surface, roll out the prepared pizza dough into a large rectangle that is about ½ inch thickness. Then spread the pizza sauce evenly over the entire surface of the dough, leaving a ½ inch border around the edges.
Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce and evenly distribute the pepperoni slices over the cheese.
Starting from one of the short sides, begin tightly rolling the dough into a log. Then use a sharp knife to cut the log into ¾ inch to 1 inch thick slices.
Place the slices on a baking sheet, gently tucking the edge to reshape them into circles if necessary.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the pinwheels are golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!
How to Store Pepperoni Pinwheels
Allow the leftover pinwheels to cool completely and then transfer to an airtight container or zip top plastic bag. Store in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw before reheating. For best results, reheat leftovers in the oven or toaster oven until warmed through.
What to Serve with Pepperoni Pinwheels
Serving this easy appetizer at a party? Then pair it with other appetizer favorites like dry rub wings or buffalo chicken meatballs. These crowd-pleasing pepperoni pinwheels pair wonderfully with simple apps like an easy vegetable tray too.
These rolls are even tasty with things like parmesan risotto or baked rigatoni as a quick meal for dinner time. Don't forget the marinara sauce or ranch dressing for dipping!
Tips for Success
Pizza lovers are going to love these yummy little bites. With a few simple tips and tricks, you can ensure this pizza pinwheel recipe turns out perfect
- For the most gooey, cheesy results, shred your own mozzarella instead of buying pre-shredded. The pre-shredded stuff just doesn't melt as well as freshly shredded cheese!
- Use a very sharp knife to cut through the long roll so that you don't mush the log while slicing. A dull knife will likely result in quite a few misshapen pinwheels.
- Make sure you evenly spread out the shredded cheese and pepperoni so that every pinwheel has the same amount!
FAQ
If you end up with soggy pinwheels, you may have used too much pizza sauce. Some pepperonis are more greasy than others, so you could have just used too many pepperonis as well. For best results, try to spread sauce into an even, thin layer and don't overload on pepperonis.
Start on a short end of the rectangle and then roll in small increments. Keep the slack tight, but not so tight that you are stretching the dough. Keep rolling until you reach the other end of the rectangle!
More Pizza Recipes
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Pepperoni Pinwheels
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pizza crust homemade or store-bought
- ½ cup pizza sauce homemade or store-bought
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup pepperoni slices
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- On a floured surface, roll out the pizza dough to about ½ inch thickness.
- Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a ½ inch border around the edges.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce.
- Distribute the pepperoni slices evenly over the cheese.
- Starting from one of the short sides, tightly roll the dough into a log.
- Using a sharp knife, cut the log into ¾ inch to 1 inch thick slices.
- Place the slices on a baking sheet, gently tucking the edge to reshape them into circles if necessary.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the pinwheels are golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes before serving.
