Fiesta Pinwheels

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Fiesta Pinwheels are an easy snack or appetizer recipe made with a tortilla filled with your favorite taco flavors then rolled and cut into pinwheels!

Years ago we had my cousins bridal shower at our church.   We made all of the food except for a few items brought from friends or family.   My cousins friend made Fiesta Pinwheels as an appetizer and none of us knew what to expect.

What are Pinwheels?

Pinwheels are a type of appetizer or snack made by spreading a filling, such as cream cheese or  hummus, onto a flatbread or tortilla.  Then you roll it tightly into a log shape and slice it into rounds which look like pinwheels. They can be filled with a variety of ingredients like deli meats, cheeses, vegetables, and herbs. They’re often served cold and are popular at parties, potlucks, or as a quick and easy snack for kids

Turns out they were easy to make and delicious!  I asked for the recipe and it came within the week.   After looking at the ingredients I was happy to see that I had everything I needed except green onions.  I figured I could grab those at the market.

One of the things I like about these Fiesta Pinwheels is that they are made with ingredients that I always have on hand.  That means that if we are having people over at the last minute I can whip these up with what I have in my refrigerator.  They are basically a spicy Mexican type wrap cut into bite sized pieces.

I have a lot of Mexican recipes but not too many appetizer recipes.  One of my favorites is 5 Minute Restaurant Style Salsa. I also really enjoy Mexican Pasta Salad as an appetizer or side. People go crazy for my Mexican Street Corn Nachos.

While you can make them and serve them immediately, they taste better when they’ve been refrigerated for several hours before serving.  The filling is made of cream cheese, sour cream, salsa, cheese, green chilies, and taco seasoning.

Can I add other things to my filling?

You could add other things to your filling.  I think adding a few tablespoons of chopped jalapenos would be good.  You could also add in a cup of shredded chicken to make it heartier.    A half cup of black beans would be good as well.  Feel free to add additional herbs and spices as well!

Ingredients:

• cream cheese (use full fat cream cheese)
• sour cream (I used light but you can use full fat)
• salsa (use mild, medium, or hot depending on your heat preference)
• taco seasoning (use a packet or make your own using this recipe)
• canned green chilies (or substitute chopped jalapenos)
• Mexican blend shredded cheese (or cheddar cheese)
• green onions
• flour tortillas

To make the filling combine the cream cheese, sour cream, salsa, and taco seasoning in a bowl.  Mix well until combined.  You may need to use the spoon to really smash the cream cheese into a paste.

Add the green chilies, cheese, and green onions and mix well.

Lay the tortillas on a cutting board.  Spoon the filling onto the tortillas making sure to leave a half inch edge around the outside.   Don’t overfill.

Roll the tortillas up tightly and put on a plate.  Refrigerate the tortillas for at least two hours or overnight.

When ready to serve slice the pinwheels into 1 inch rounds.   Serve with a small bowl of sour cream and a small bowl of salsa.

How do I store the pinwheels?

Before cutting simply store them on a plate in the refrigerator.   Once they are cut they will keep for 2-3 days.  Keep them in an air tight container or a zip top baggie in the refrigerator.

These pinwheels are a delicious appetizer or snack that are perfect for summer parties or entertaining because they don’t need to be cooked.  If you leave out the green chilies they’d also be great to put in kids lunches.

You can add or take out whatever you like but make sure to leave the cream cheese and sour cream as that is the base for these pinwheels.