Experimental Recipes :: Spinach (and bacon) Pinwheels

As I reached into the freezer to lay out the evening meal, my hand landed upon a pack of puff pastry. I flipped it over to discover an interesting recipe for Spinach-Cheese Swirls by Pepperidge Farm.  I tweaked the original  swirl recipe to yield a similarly looking, but definitely different tasting Pinwheel. The results were sublime.

Let's make some!

Ingredients:

1 puff pastry (half pack) from Pepperidge Farm - you can find these in your grocer's freezer section

1 egg

1/2 Cup of Horseradish Jack cheese, grated (or any other variety of Jack)

1/4 Cup of Parmesan cheese, grated

1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder

2 Cups fresh spinach, finely chopped (a 10 oz. package of frozen spinach, thawed and drained will work as  well, but fresh is better)

Directions:

Thaw puff pastry sheet according to box directions. You can place the pastry in the fridge the night before to thaw or you can do the speedy method as noted on the package. Heat your oven to 400 degrees. I recommend lining a cookie sheet with parchment paper to avoid sticking, otherwise make sure you lightly grease the pan.

In a small bowl, mix the egg and water. This will become your egg wash. In a separate bowl, mix the cheeses and garlic powder together. Add the spinach and stir well.

On a well floured surface, gently unfold the pastry. Brush the top side of the pastry with the egg wash. A silicon brush works well. Place the spinach cheese mixture on top of the pastry.

 Roll the puff pastry into a jelly roll, minding the ends stay straight. Seal the seam by gently pressing the puff pastry together.

Slice into 1/2 inch segments and place cut side down on the baking sheet. Lightly brush with the egg wash.

{At this point, I also added real bacon bit pieces on top of half of the Pinwheels. My boys loved this version better; however, my husband enjoyed both varieties.}

Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from the baking sheet and allow to cool a minute on a wire rack.

The Spinach Pinwheels were a success in my home! I hope everyone at your house enjoys them as much as we did. This recipe is simple and can easily be adapted by using different add-ins, cheeses, spices, and veggies. A fruit variation would be delicious!