Pizza Pinwheels Recipe

Refrigerated pizza dough: This is the base of your pinwheels, providing the doughy, chewy texture.

Pizza sauce: Adds the classic tomato flavor that pairs perfectly with the other ingredients.

Mozzarella cheese: Melts beautifully to create a gooey, cheesy layer.

Pepperoni: Adds a savory, slightly spicy flavor to each bite.

When rolling out the pizza dough, make sure to do so on a lightly floured surface to prevent sticking. Use a rolling pin to achieve an even thickness, which ensures uniform cooking. When spreading the pizza sauce, leave a small border around the edges to prevent overflow when rolling. For a more flavorful twist, consider adding a sprinkle of Italian seasoning or garlic powder over the mozzarella cheese before adding the pepperoni. When rolling the dough into a log, roll it as tightly as possible to keep the ingredients compact, which helps maintain the shape of the pinwheels during baking. Use a sharp knife to cut the log into 1-inch slices to ensure clean cuts and even pieces.

• refrigerated pizza dough - Substitute with puff pastry: Puff pastry provides a flaky and buttery texture, which can add a different but delightful twist to the pinwheels.

• refrigerated pizza dough - Substitute with crescent roll dough: Crescent roll dough is easy to work with and offers a slightly sweet and tender crust.

• pizza sauce - Substitute with marinara sauce: Marinara sauce has a similar tomato base and flavor profile, making it a suitable replacement.

• pizza sauce - Substitute with pesto sauce: Pesto sauce offers a fresh, herby flavor that can provide a unique and delicious variation.

• shredded mozzarella cheese - Substitute with shredded cheddar cheese: Cheddar cheese melts well and adds a sharp, tangy flavor.

• shredded mozzarella cheese - Substitute with shredded provolone cheese: Provolone cheese has a mild and creamy texture that complements the other ingredients.

• sliced pepperoni - Substitute with sliced salami: Salami has a similar texture and flavor profile, making it a good alternative.

• sliced pepperoni - Substitute with cooked crumbled sausage: Sausage adds a savory and slightly spiced flavor that pairs well with the other ingredients.

• Allow the pizza pinwheels to cool completely at room temperature before storing or freezing.
• For storing in the refrigerator:
  1. Place the cooled pizza pinwheels in an airtight container or wrap them tightly with plastic wrap.
  2. Store them in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
  3. To reheat, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake for 5-10 minutes until warmed through. Alternatively, you can microwave them for 1-2 minutes until heated.
• For freezing:
  1. Arrange the cooled pizza pinwheels on a baking sheet in a single layer, ensuring they do not touch each other.
  2. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 1-2 hours until the pizza pinwheels are frozen solid.
  3. Transfer the frozen pizza pinwheels to a resealable freezer bag or airtight container, removing as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn.
  4. Label the bag or container with the date and contents.
  5. Store in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
  6. To reheat, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the frozen pizza pinwheels on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes until heated through and golden brown.

• Oven Method:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Place the pizza pinwheels on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  3. Cover them loosely with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning.
  4. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
  5. Remove the foil for the last 2-3 minutes to crisp up the edges.

• Microwave Method:

  1. Place the pizza pinwheels on a microwave-safe plate.
  2. Cover them with a damp paper towel to keep them from drying out.
  3. Microwave on medium power for 1-2 minutes, checking halfway through.
  4. Let them sit for a minute before serving to allow the heat to distribute evenly.

• Air Fryer Method:

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 320°F (160°C).
  2. Arrange the pizza pinwheels in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
  3. Heat for 5-7 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even heating.
  4. Check for crispiness and heat; if needed, add an extra 1-2 minutes.

• Stovetop Method:

  1. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-low heat.
  2. Place the pizza pinwheels in the skillet and cover with a lid.
  3. Heat for 5-7 minutes, flipping halfway through to ensure even warming.
  4. Remove the lid for the last 1-2 minutes to crisp up the edges.

• Toaster Oven Method:

  1. Preheat your toaster oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Place the pizza pinwheels on the toaster oven tray.
  3. Heat for 8-10 minutes or until warmed through and crispy.
  4. Let them cool for a minute before serving.

• Oven: Used to bake the pizza pinwheels at the specified temperature until they are golden brown.

• Rolling pin: Helps to roll out the pizza dough evenly on a lightly floured surface.

• Baking sheet: A flat surface to place the sliced pinwheels on for baking.

• Knife: Used to cut the rolled dough into 1-inch slices.

• Cutting board: Provides a stable surface to cut the rolled dough into slices.

• Measuring cups: Ensures accurate measurement of the pizza sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese.

• Spatula: Useful for spreading the pizza sauce evenly over the dough.

• Cooling rack: Allows the baked pinwheels to cool down evenly before serving.

Use pre-shredded cheese: Save time by using pre-shredded mozzarella cheese instead of shredding it yourself.

Pre-sliced pepperoni: Opt for pre-sliced pepperoni to avoid the hassle of slicing it.

Ready-made dough: Utilize refrigerated pizza dough to skip the dough-making process.

Line baking sheet: Line your baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.

Batch preparation: Prepare multiple pizza pinwheels at once and freeze extras for quick future snacks.