Cranberry and Feta Christmas Pinwheels Recipe
Introduction
Cranberry and Feta Christmas Pinwheels are a festive and flavorful appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings. These bite-sized treats combine creamy cheese, tangy cranberries, and fresh herbs wrapped in spinach tortillas for a colorful and tasty snack.

Ingredients
- 1 (8-ounce) tub spreadable cream cheese
- 2-3 teaspoons milk
- 1 cup sweetened dried cranberries, chopped
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
- 4 spinach herb tortilla wraps
- Sprigs fresh rosemary (for garnish)
- Cheddar cheese, cut into star shapes (for garnish)
Instructions
- Step 1: Finely chop the green onions and dried cranberries, then set them aside.
- Step 2: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese and milk. Stir until the mixture is creamy and smooth.
- Step 3: Add the crumbled feta cheese, chopped green onions, and dried cranberries to the cream cheese mixture. Mix well to combine evenly.
- Step 4: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over each of the four spinach tortilla wraps. Roll each tortilla tightly into a log shape. Wrap each log in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
- Step 5: Remove the chilled tortillas from the fridge and use a serrated knife to cut each roll into 12 pinwheel slices.
- Step 6: Arrange the pinwheels on a serving board in the shape of a Christmas tree. Garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs and cheddar cheese stars if desired.
- Step 7: Serve immediately and enjoy your festive holiday appetizer!
Tips & Variations
- For a tangier flavor, substitute feta with goat cheese or add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to the cream cheese mixture.
- Use whole wheat or sun-dried tomato tortillas for a different color and taste.
- Include finely chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans for a crunchy texture.
- Prepare the pinwheels a day ahead and keep wrapped in the refrigerator to enhance the flavors.
Storage
Store the pinwheels wrapped tightly in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. For best taste and texture, consume within this time frame. To serve, let them sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before plating. These pinwheels are best enjoyed fresh and are not recommended for freezing.
How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use fresh cranberries instead of dried?
Fresh cranberries are much tarter and contain more moisture, which may affect the texture and flavor balance. If using fresh, consider lightly cooking them with sugar before adding or use fewer cranberries to maintain the taste.
How do I make the cheddar cheese stars for garnish?
Use a small star-shaped cookie cutter to cut star shapes from a block or slice of cheddar cheese. If you don’t have a cookie cutter, you can carefully cut stars freehand with a sharp knife or skip this garnish for simplicity.
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Cranberry and Feta Christmas Pinwheels Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 48 pinwheels (12 pieces per tortilla wrap x 4 wraps) 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Cranberry and Feta Christmas Pinwheels are festive, colorful appetizers perfect for holiday gatherings. Made with creamy spreadable cream cheese, tangy feta, sweet dried cranberries, and fresh green onions rolled inside spinach herb tortillas, they create a delightful blend of flavors and a visually appealing treat shaped like a Christmas tree.
Ingredients
Filling
- 1 8-ounce tub spreadable cream cheese
- 2–3 teaspoons milk
- 1 cup sweetened dried cranberries, chopped
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
Wraps
- 4 spinach herb tortilla wraps
Garnish
- Sprigs fresh rosemary (to garnish)
- Cheddar cheese, cut into the shape of a star (to garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare ingredients: Finely chop the green onions and dried cranberries, then set them aside for mixing.
- Make the cream cheese mixture: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the spreadable cream cheese and milk. Stir thoroughly until the mixture is creamy and smooth, ensuring a spreadable consistency.
- Combine filling ingredients: Mix the crumbled feta cheese, chopped green onions, and chopped dried cranberries into the cream cheese mixture until evenly incorporated.
- Assemble the pinwheels: Evenly spread the cream cheese filling across each of the four spinach herb tortilla wraps. Roll each tortilla tightly to enclose the filling. Wrap each roll in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up for easier slicing.
- Slice into pinwheels: Using a serrated knife, carefully cut each chilled tortilla roll into 12 equal pieces, creating bite-sized pinwheels.
- Arrange and garnish: Arrange the pinwheels on a serving board in the shape of a Christmas tree. Garnish the display with fresh rosemary sprigs to mimic branches, and top with cheddar cheese stars to complete the festive look.
- Serve and enjoy: Present these charming holiday appetizers to your guests for a delicious and visually delightful treat.
Notes
- Chilling the rolled tortillas is essential to ensure clean slicing and to maintain the pinwheel shape.
- You can adjust the amount of milk in the cream cheese mixture to achieve your preferred spread consistency.
- For a savory twist, add finely chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts to the filling.
- Use a serrated knife for cutting to prevent squishing the pinwheels and to achieve neat slices.
- These pinwheels can be made a day ahead and refrigerated, keeping them fresh for holiday parties.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: holiday appetizer, Christmas appetizer, pinwheels, cranberry feta appetizer, no cook recipe, festive snacks, spinach tortilla wraps

