Ham and Cheese Pinwheels

Name: Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound pizza dough, thawed; 1/3 cup mayonnaise; 2 tablespoons dijon mustard; 8 ounces thinly-sliced deli ham; 1 ½ cups sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded; 1 large egg, lightly beaten (for egg wash); 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped (optional, for serving)

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Freshly baked from the oven, these Ham and Cheese Pinwheels are warm and tender with ooey, gooey melty cheese, sweet ham, Dijon mustard, and mayo. They're easy enough to make for dinner on busy weeknights but also make an excellent appetizer for parties or a perfect item for your kid's school lunch!

Freshly baked from the oven, these Ham and Cheese Pinwheels are warm and tender with gooey melty cheese and sweet ham. Perfect for lunch or dinner! | aheadofthyme.com

Normally, when you think of savory pinwheels, you think of cold rolled up sandwiches made with flour tortillas. Although those are good in their own right, tortilla pinwheels are nothing like this baked version! This ham and cheese pizza rolls are a savory cross between Cinnamon Rolls and Turkey and Cheese Sliders. Despite the major glow-up, these baked pinwheels require just about the same amount of time and effort, and your guests will beg you for the recipe. My secret ingredient? Use premade pizza dough to skip ahead to shaping!

Why You'll Love These Ham and Cheese Pinwheels

Warm and cozy. These ham and cheese pinwheels are the perfect party appetizers for the cooler months of the year. Serve them on game day, for Christmas morning brunch (it's a great way to use leftover Christmas ham!), or as a filling appy on New Year's Day. They straddle the line between appetizer and main course and can go either way. So satisfying!
Feed a crowd. Since one tray makes enough for 12 servings, there are plenty of pinwheels for the whole crew! The recipe is easy to double, too. We even like to send the leftovers in school lunches as an alternative to ham and cheese sandwiches!
Minimal prep. I know that the thought of hand-rolling pastries sounds time-consuming, but it doesn't have to be! This easy recipe can be made with store-bought pouches of pizza dough, so you can skip kneading and rising. Roll out the dough, add the toppings, then roll it up, cut, and bake. So simple!

Ingredient Notes

To make this delicious Ham and Cheese Pinwheels, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

pizza dough - either make a batch of your favorite homemade pizza dough or grab a pouch of the premade stuff from the store.
sauce - we add in some mayonnaise and dijon mustard. Mayo adds a creamy, tangy flavor that balances the Dijon well.
deli ham - thinly sliced. Feel free to use whichever variety of ham you prefer (honey baked, black forest, etc). You can also thinly slice any leftover ham from the holidays!
cheese - we use sharp white cheddar cheese but you can use any melty cheese such as mozzarella, swiss cheese, etc. It's easiest to use shredded cheddar cheese, which can be sprinkled over the ham for easy rolling.
egg - lightly beaten for egg wash to give the pinwheels a lovely golden color.
parsley - optional for serving.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, a rolling pin, a small bowl, a sharp knife or bench scraper, a baking sheet, parchment paper, and a pastry brush.

How to Make the Best Ham and Cheese Pinwheels

Shape dough. Transfer prepared pizza dough onto a lightly oiled surface and gently flatten into a 10x14-inch rectangle using a rolling pin.
Make the sauce. In a small mixing bowl, mix mayonnaise and mustard until smooth.

Assemble. spread evenly over the dough, leaving a ½-inch border on all sides. Then, add deli ham slices over the sauce and sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over the ham.

Roll. Roll up the dough tightly lengthwise into a log and pinch the end edges to seal.
Slice. Cut the rolled dough into 12 even pieces using a knife or bench scraper, about 1-inch wide each.

Bake. Arrange the rolls flat on a large half sheet baking tray lined with parchment paper. Brush a little bit of egg wash over each roll. Bake in a 400F preheated oven for 20 minutes until golden brown.

Serve. Let the rolls cool for 5-10 minutes. Then, sprinkle chopped parsley on top and serve immediately.

Recipe Variations

Use different cheeses. Ham and cheddar go well together, but Swiss cheese is a good swap. Look for a shredded Swiss cheese mixture with gruyère for a nice melt. Mozzarella cheese is a great choice, too.
Use different meat. I also enjoy these with roast beef, turkey, or any type of cured deli meat.
Use puff pastry. This version will have a totally different texture than pizza dough, but flaky puff pastry is a great swap. Be sure to give the rolls plenty of space to expand, and make sure the oven is nice and hot before you add them in. Crescent roll dough works well, too!
Play with toppings. Want to get fancy? Try sprinkling different toppings over these easy ham and cheese roll ups, either before or after baking. Before baking, try poppy seeds or white sesame seeds. After baking, drizzle a little hot honey or sprinkle chopped green onions. You can also brush them with melted butter for a soft texture and delicious buttery flavor!

How to Serve

These Ham and Cheese Pinwheels are delicious served on their own, or paired with a warm and cozy soup such as:

For more recipes, see our 60 Best Soup Recipes.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Let them rise. After shaping the rolls, let them rise in a warm place for 15-20 minutes before baking for an even softer texture.
Use a very sharp knife. It can be tricky to cut through the dough without smashing it to pieces. Use a sharp serrated knife or a granton edge knife to saw neatly through the slices of ham.
Prep the day before. If you want to serve this ham and cheese pinwheels recipe at your next party, prep them the day before, then wrap the whole tray with plastic wrap, and pop them in the fridge. Before your guests arrive, preheat the oven, remove the plastic, and bake like normal.

Storing and Freezing Instructions

How to Store

Store any leftover pinwheels in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

How to Reheat

Either microwave each roll individually for 1-2 minutes or pop them in the oven at 350 F for 5-7 minutes.

How to Freeze

Leftover roll ups can be wrapped in plastic wrap and stored in the freezer for several months. Thaw in the fridge then bake like normal.

FAQ

How long do you bake ham and cheese pinwheels?

This recipe takes just 20 minutes in a 400 F oven. You will also need about 5-10 minutes to let the rolls cool before serving.

What type of dough is best for ham and cheese pinwheels?

Although there are many types of dough out there, I prefer to use pizza dough. It's soft, tender, and chewy, with a mild flavor that lets the ham and cheese stand out. You can substitute rolls of crescent dough or even use puff pastry for a flaky, buttery texture, but a bag of storebought pizza dough works surprisingly well.

What sort of sauce is best for ham roll ups?

There are lots of sauces that go well with sliced ham, but I like to keep things simple with a mixture of mayo and dijon. Combined together, you get a slightly sharp, creamy, tangy sauce that pairs perfectly with ham and the sharp cheddar cheese. Feel free to use honey dijon or flavored mustard to give the recipe a fun twist with a similar flavor profile.

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