Description
Create a festive and delicious Pinwheel Christmas Tree Appetizer using creamy seasoned cream cheese, colorful olives, and red peppers, all rolled up in tortillas and arranged to resemble a charming holiday tree. This no-cook, make-ahead appetizer is perfect for holiday parties and gatherings, offering a delightful combination of flavors and vibrant presentation with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Mixture
- 16 oz cream cheese (2 blocks), room temperature
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon fresh dill, minced
- ¼ cup green olives, sliced
- ¼ cup black olives, sliced
- ¼ cup red peppers, finely chopped
Wraps and Garnishes
- 4 large tortillas (2 plain and 2 green spinach)
- Fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish
- Cherry tomatoes for garnish
- Decorative holiday picks (optional) for serving
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Chop the red peppers finely and slice green and black olives if not already sliced to ensure even distribution in the cream cheese mixture.
- Make Cream Cheese Filling: In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, and lemon juice. Use a hand mixer to blend until smooth and lump-free, creating a creamy base for the pinwheels.
- Add Vegetables and Herbs: Gently fold in the minced fresh dill, sliced green and black olives, and finely chopped red peppers into the cream cheese mixture, mixing evenly without overbeating.
- Spread on Tortillas: Place one tortilla flat on a clean surface. Using an offset spatula or the back of a spoon, spread about ½ cup of the cream cheese mixture evenly across the entire surface of the tortilla, extending to the edges.
- Roll and Wrap: Carefully roll up the tortilla tightly to form a log. Wrap the roll snugly in plastic wrap. Repeat this process with all four tortillas and their corresponding cream cheese mixture.
- Chill and Slice: Place wrapped rolls in the freezer for 30 minutes to firm up, which will make slicing easier. After chilling, remove the plastic wrap and slice each roll into ¾-inch thick pinwheels.
- Assemble Christmas Tree: Arrange the pinwheel slices on a festive platter or wooden serving board in the shape of a Christmas tree. Use fresh rosemary sprigs to mimic pine branches and place cherry tomatoes as colorful ornaments. Optionally, add decorative holiday picks for extra festive flair.
Notes
- You can prepare the pinwheels in advance by rolling and refrigerating the tortillas, then slicing just before serving to keep them fresh.
- To make this recipe gluten free, select gluten-free tortillas from your grocery store.
- Try different varieties of olives, such as kalamata, garlic or blue cheese stuffed, or marinated olives, to customize the flavor.
- If you prefer, substitute the red peppers with drained jarred pimientos for a sweeter taste.
- Store leftover pinwheels in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 pinwheels
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
