Name: Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry Pinwheels
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 2 sheets puff pastry; 3 Tablespoons dijon mustard; 12 thin slices deli ham; 2 1/2 cups shredded Swiss cheese; 1 egg; 1 Tablespoon milk; 1/3 cup raspberry preserves; 1-2 teaspoons dijon mustard (to taste)

These Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry Pinwheels are simple to make, endlessly adaptable, and perfect for parties! You’ll love the flaky pastry combined with gooey cheese and ham and served with a sweet and tangy raspberry dipping sauce!

Ham and cheese puff pastry bites on a wooden cutting board.

Table of Contents

Easy Ham and Cheese Puff Pastries

One of my all time favorite sandwiches is the Monte Cristo, which pairs the best parts of French toast with the best parts of a grilled ham and cheese sandwich. It’s usually served with powdered sugar and raspberry preserves for the ultimate sweet and savory comfort food.

I’m bringing all the delicious flavors of a Monte Cristo to these Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry Pinwheels, which can be enjoyed as a party appetizer or a super fun dinner. Think of them as the slightly fancier, holiday ready cousin of these Hawaiian Roll Ham and Swiss Sliders.

Here’s why I love this recipe:

It’s easy to assemble. These come together quickly, and don’t require a lot of hands on time.
It can be adapted based on what you love or have on hand. All kinds of meat and cheese combos work well her!
It’s a “measure with your heart” recipe. No need to dirty a bunch of measuring cups; your eyes can do the measuring for this one!
It’s make ahead friendly and great for parties. Fancy enough for holiday parties, but easy enough to throw together on a busy weeknight. My favorite kind of recipe!

I hope your family enjoys these as much as mine has!

Courtney

Key Ingredients

Ham, shredded Swiss cheese, dijon, puff pastry, and raspberry preserves on a marble background.

Puff pastry– You’ll need two puff pastry sheets (a standard box) for this recipe. I have tested these with Pepperidge Farm and Trader Joe’s all butter puff pastry and both work well.
Dijon mustard– This tangy condiment is the perfect foil for the ham, cheese, and sweet raspberry preserves.
Ham– Choose a thin sliced, flavorful deli ham. We like smoked honey ham or you could use very thinly sliced leftover crock pot ham.
Cheese– We normally make these with Swiss cheese, but Gruyere is also an excellent choice.
Egg– For a simple egg wash and a golden color.
Raspberry preserves– These pinwheels are tasty even without the dipping sauce, but the raspberry preserves really take them to the next level and make these taste like a Monte Cristo! You’ll want to use preserves rather than jam, so the mixture is a bit thinner and dippable.

How to Make Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry Pinwheels

Ham slices on top of a puff pastry sheet.

Step 1: Roll out the thawed puff pastries to a 12″ x 10″ rectangle. Spread with Dijon mustard, then top with ham.

Shredded Swiss cheese on top of ham and puff pastry.

Step 2: Top each pastry with 1 1/4 cups shredded cheese, leaving a 1/4″ gap on one of the long ends of the pastry.

Rolled ham and cheese puff pastry wrapped in saran wrap.

Step 3: Starting on the long end that has all the toppings, roll the puff pastries into a tight log. Wrap them with saran wrap and freeze for 20 minutes.

Step 4: Remove the puff pastry from the freezer and unwrap it, placing it seam-side down back on a cutting board. Using a serrated knife, cut it into about 1 inch slices. I usually get 10-11 slices per roll. Place each slice on parchment lined baking sheets.

Unbaked ham and cheese puff pastry rolls on a baking sheet.

Step 5: Whisk together the egg and milk, then brush the tops and sides of the rolls with the mixture, paying special attention to the seams. The egg wash works like a glue to keep the edges secured.

Freshly baked ham and cheese pinwheels on a baking sheet.

Step 6: Bake at 375 degrees for 21-24 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown. Whisk together raspberry preserves and a small amount of Dijon mustard, and serve as a dipping sauce.

Storage and Make-Ahead Instructions

Storage: Store leftover pastry bites in an airtight container for up to five days.
Reheating: Air fry leftovers at 375 degrees for 4-5 minutes to get them nice and crispy again!
Make ahead (fridge): Assemble the rolls up to 24 hours in advance, but instead of chilling them in the freezer, wrap and store them in the fridge. When you’re ready, slice and bake as usual.
Make ahead (freezer): Assemble the rolls, double wrap in saran wrap and a freezer bag, then freeze for up to 4 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then slice and bake as usual.

Ham and cheese puff pastries piled on a wooden cutting board.

Recipe Tips & Variations

For a classic Monte Cristo: Use both ham and turkey.
Substitute the meat with turkey, roast beef, or even prosciutto.
Substitute the Swiss cheese for cheddar cheese, havarti, or Colby Jack.
Sprinkle the top with Everything Bagel Seasoning before baking. Omit the raspberry preserves.
Go for a fresh, savory flavor profile by swapping the Dijon for pesto and omitting the preserves.

Ham and cheese pinwheels dipped in raspberry sauce.

More Party Appetizers to Try

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