Festive holiday cream cheese pinwheels are an easy appetizer for your next party. Creamy, colourful and crowd-pleasing. Perfect for Christmas, New Year’s and more. You can even use them for holiday brunches too.
It wouldn’t be the holidays without all the wonderful flavours of the season. Festive Holiday Croissants, Lentil Tourtiere, Mini Cream Cheese Balls , Cranberry White Chocolate Rolls and this Goat Cheese Log are a few of our favourites.
The perfect make-ahead party appetizer. Cream cheese pinwheels packed with holiday flavours. Festive and so easy to make.
Are you holiday ready? Shopping, baking, wrapping, and entertaining seem to keep us busy. We all need some easy recipes to get us through the festive season.
I know when it comes to entertaining, I like to spend time with my guests, not time in the kitchen. Appetizers are easy to prepare. This ricotta cheese dip is always a hit, along with these Boursin cheese stuffed dates.
Ingredients For Holiday Cream Cheese Pinwheels
With lots of party pinwheel recipes out there, some are better suited for Christmas than others. Tortilla pinwheels with cream cheese and cranberries are perfect! Be sure to check out additional suggestions and tips below.
- Tortilla Wraps – I used 10-inch wraps for this recipe.
- Cream Cheese – softened to room temperature.
- Roasted Pistachios – no shells.
- Dried Cranberries – fresh cranberries will not work in this recipe.
- Orange Extract – always a great combination with cranberries.
Easy To Make Cranberry Cream Cheese Pinwheels
Super easy, no-fuss recipe for your holiday entertaining. Full instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Mix the extract into the softened cream cheese.
- Chop the nuts and cranberries.
- Spread the flavoured cheese onto the tortillas.
- Sprinkle on the nuts and cranberries.
- Roll and wrap tightly in plastic wrap.
- Chill for at least an hour.
- Cut and serve.
Suggestions/Recipe Tips
- Cream Cheese – I like to use full-fat but the light variety is a good option. You can also use a berry flavoured if you prefer.
- Orange Extract – Feel free to adjust the amount. You can also use fresh orange zest.
- Tortillas – I like the 10-inch size. For this recipe, I used regular and spinach flavoured wraps. Whole wheat tortillas would be another great option.
- Nuts – I chose honey-roasted pistachios, but any flavour will work. You can also use other varieties of nuts if you prefer. Pistachios always remind me of Christmas since they are green. If you need it nut free, try using pumpkin seeds.
These holiday roll ups can be made ahead of time, just what you need for easy party prep during this super busy time of year. Just keep them wrapped and stored in the fridge until ready to use.
You might also like to try these other delicious tortilla wrap recipes:
- Simple Egg Salad Wrap – the classic sandwich filling all wrapped up.
- Turkey Wraps – the perfect place for leftover holiday turkey.
- Vegetarian Burrito – meatless and delicious.
- Egg Tacos – a great addition to brunch.
Holiday Cream Cheese Pinwheels
Ingredients
- 2 tortillas 10 inch
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 ½ ounces roasted pistachios chopped
- 1 ounce dried cranberries chopped
- ¼ teaspoon orange extract
Instructions
- Mix the extract into the softened cream cheese. Set aside.4 ounces cream cheese, ¼ teaspoon orange extract
- Chop the nuts and cranberries. Set aside.1 ½ ounces roasted pistachios, 1 ounce dried cranberries
- Spread the cream cheese onto the tortillas.2 tortillas
- Sprinkle on the nuts and cranberries.
- Roll tortillas into a log.
- Wrap tightly, and place in fridge to chill for an hour or so.
- Unwrap chilled rollups, slice and serve.
Mindy
Made it for our holiday party this weekend and it was a big hit! Thank you so much! I love how simple it is to make
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
We think these are party perfect for the holidays too.
Cara
Love this festive flavor combo! I’ll be making these to pack with us in the cooler when we drive to visit family. Sounds like a yummy road trip snack
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I promise they will be a hit. Happy Holidays.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan
I love making pinwheels and these cream cheese pinwheels with cranberry is such a great idea for holidays. Looks so festive and they are so easy to make as well.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
We love these festive pinwheels too. Holiday party perfect.
Jersey Girl Cooks
So festive and a great holiday appetizer! I love apps with cream cheese.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Me too, and these lentil cream cheese balls fly off the party tray.
Rob
These looks so easy and delicious! They will make a perfect appetizer for our holiday gatherings.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
These cream cheese pinwheels are party perfect and easy to make too. Happy Holidays.
Mary
These taste as good as they look. Always the first to run out of. The cranberries are the star!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Festive and fun. We love these during the holidays.
Jere Cassidy
What a great idea for the orange extract, it added the perfect extra flavor to these pinwheels. Making again for Christmas brunch.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I love the combination of orange and cranberries in these holiday pinwheels.
Elizabeth
Love a good pinwheel – perfect for the holiday. Thanks for the recipe!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
You are welcome. Enjoy and happy holidays.
Dee Broughton
What a fun appetizer. I’m looking forward to making these for New Year’s eve.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
These cream cheese pinwheels are festive and perfect for holiday parties.
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome
Absolutely delicious version of a classic party appetizer!! These are easy to make and taste wonderful. My guests raved!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
These holiday cream cheese pinwheels are party perfect for sure.
Charles
Your Cranberry Cream Cheese Pinwheels are gonna be great on Super Bowl Sunday! Thanks for sharing!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Oh I totally agree….these are game day perfect.
Kathryn
These are so fun, festive, and we all loved them! Love how easily customizable they are too. Thanks for the recipe idea!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
So glad you love these party pinwheels as much as we do.
Toni
I love how fun and festive this appetizer is!! Seriously amazing!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Festive party food is a must during the holidays.
Ned
This is perfect for my next family holiday party!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Hope your guests enjoy these cream cheese holiday pinwheels.
Tayler
I made these pinwheels yesterday and I will definitely be making them again for Christmas! I love the blend of flavors!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
These cranberry cream cheese pinwheels are a holiday favourite in our house.