Description
Celebrate the holidays with these festive Christmas Tree Appetizers featuring creamy brie and mozzarella cheese, savory turkey slices, and tangy dried cranberries all rolled in spinach wraps. Perfectly arranged into a charming Christmas tree shape, these pinwheels make an eye-catching and delicious party snack that requires no cooking except optional baking for the decorative cheese star topper.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Mixture
- 12 oz soft brie cheese (room temperature)
- 1 cup fresh mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- 4 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped)
- ¾ cup dried cranberries
Wraps and Filling
- 4 spinach wraps
- 1 lb sliced deli turkey
Decoration
- 8 sprigs fresh rosemary
- Refrigerated pie crust (for optional star topper)
- Egg wash (for optional star topper)
Instructions
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the brie cheese and shredded mozzarella. Use an electric mixer to whip the cheeses together until smooth and combined. If the mixture is too firm to mix well, microwave it for 30 seconds to soften. Stir in ¼ cup of dried cranberries and 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley.
- Assemble Wraps: Lay out each spinach wrap and spread ¼ of the cheese mixture evenly over one side using a rubber spatula. Sprinkle additional parsley and dried cranberries on top. Arrange 4-6 slices of deli turkey at the bottom edge of each wrap. Roll the wrap tightly from the bottom up, allowing some cheese mixture to slightly ooze out if needed. Repeat for all four wraps, then refrigerate for about 5 minutes to firm up.
- Cut Pinwheels: Using a sharp knife, first cut each wrap in half. Then slice each half into 4 slices approximately ½ inch thick, resulting in about 32 pinwheels total. The end pieces may be smaller; save or enjoy these separately.
- Arrange Christmas Trees: On a serving platter or board, build each Christmas tree by placing one pinwheel for the trunk at the bottom. Above it, arrange a row of five pinwheels, then rows of four, three, two, and finally one pinwheel at the top, forming a tree shape. This uses 16 pinwheels per tree. Repeat for the second tree.
- Optional Star Topper: Using a star-shaped cookie cutter, cut a star from brie cheese. Then cut two star shapes from refrigerated pie crust and a long strip for the edges. Place the brie star between the two pie crust stars, using egg wash to bind the crust edges around the cheese. Freeze the assembled star for at least 1 hour. Preheat oven to 375℉ and bake the star topper for 15-20 minutes until golden. Place the baked star atop each Christmas tree for a festive finishing touch.
Notes
- For easier rolling, ensure the cheese mixture is soft but not overly runny.
- Pinwheels can be made a few hours ahead and stored covered in the refrigerator.
- The optional star topper adds a charming detail but can be omitted for a simpler presentation.
- Use a sharp knife and a gentle sawing motion for clean pinwheel slices.
- Fresh rosemary sprigs add a festive garnish and aroma alongside the trees.
