Festive pomegranate feta and chive pinwheels are a delicious addition to any holiday spread, pretty much any time of the day. They make an easy appetizer, snack, or light lunch or brunch.
My Mom used to say that at least half of her enjoyment in a dish wasn’t just taste but a colorful presentation.
She loves a vibrant presentation, and I can honestly say that I’ve come to appreciate one as well.
And these pretty pinwheels dotted with jewel red pomegranate arils and bright green chives stud a bed of snowy white feta studded in whipped cream cheese.
Talk about the total package!
Visually engaging with a mouth-watering flavor combination, these just beg to be included in your Christmas buffet or at any holiday party.
They make a perfect appetizer, or even a post main meal snack.
We love serving them at holiday brunches too.
And though they are absolutely stunning, they aren’t complicated to make, with only a few ingredients and a short prep.
Ingredients
To make this you’ll need:
- Cream cheese– Take one 8 ounce block of cream cheese and whip it with an electric mixer until it is fluffy or buy the whipped style cream cheese.
- Feta cheese– Crumbled
- Chives– Fresh chives chopped. Can’t find them? Use scallions.
- Pomegranate arils– Rinsed and gently patted dry
- Tortillas– The fajita sized ones.
How to Make
To make this delicious festive pinwheels, stir together the whipped cream cheese, feta, chives and pomegranate arils in a medium bowl.
Then, spread the cream cheese out evenly over all four tortillas.
Roll each tortilla tightly like you would a Swiss roll.
This is really important, especially at the beginning when you start rolling.
Keeping the roll tight will prevent your pinwheels from having holes in the middle when cut.
Once rolled wrap the filled tortillas tightly in plastic wrap.
Refrigerate the filled tortillas for at least one hour so they set.
Use a serrated knife to slice each tortilla into 12 pinwheels before serving.
I find it’s easiest to do this by slicing off the very ends, just the uneven bits.
Then cut your pinwheels in half, right down the middle, then in half again so that you have 4 equal rolls.
Slice each of these pieces into roughly even 1/3’s- leaving you with 12 almost uniform pinwheels.
Enjoy!
How Many Does This Holiday Appetizer Serve?
This recipe makes 48 pinwheels when sliced.
At 3 servings per person it would serve 16 people, and at 4 per serving 12.
Keep that in mind when planning, you may end up wanting to double (or even triple) this pinwheel recipe if feeding a crowd.
Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes! You can make them up to a day in advance.
Just wrap them in plastic as instructed and refrigerate them until just before serving.
Then slice as directed.
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover pinwheels tightly covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Tips and Tricks
- Use the freshest tortillas possible. They will be the most pliable and easiest to roll up without cracking or breaking.
- If you don’t have chives, you can sub very thinly sliced green onions (the green stems only) but I still prefer fresh chives when available.
- To prevent the pomegranate seeds from dyeing the cream cheese pink when mixed together, thoroughly wash the seeds, spread them in a single layer on paper towels, and pat them completely dry before adding to the recipe.
- You can use the pomegranate seeds you can find precleaned in a plastic container in the produce section to save time.
- Chill the filled and rolled tortillas well before slicing them. The colder the cream cheese mixture, the firmer the pinwheels will be. This extra step and time ensures even cuts and will keep the pinwheels holding their shape during and after slicing.
Other Easy Pinwheels Recipes
These pomengranate, feta, and chive pinwheels are an easy way to celebrate with a beautiful dish. Make them and enjoy!
Looking for other easy pinwheel ideas to serve for the holidays?
Try these:
- Pesto Pinwheels
- Copycat Costco Turkey Swiss Pinwheels
- Chipotle Cheddar Avocado Pinwheels
- Pizza Pinwheels
- Chicken Cordon Bleu Pinwheels
- Roast Beef & Cheddar Horseradish Pinwheels
If you’ve tried these POMEGRANATE FETA AND CHIVE PINWHEELS, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!
Pomegranate, Feta, and Chive Pinwheels
Ingredients
- 8 oz whipped cream cheese
- 5 oz crumbled feta cheese
- ¼ cup chives chopped
- ⅓ cup pomegranate arils rinsed and gently patted dry
- 4 fajita size tortillas
Instructions
- In a medium size bowl, stir together the cream cheese, feta, chives and pomegrante arils.
- Spread the cream cheese out evenly over all four tortillas.
- Roll each tortilla tightly (like you would a Swiss or jell roll) and wrap the roll in plastic wrap. Refrigerate the filled tortillas for at least one hour, or overnight if making ahead of time.
- Use a serrated knife to slice each tortilla into 12 pinwheels before serving.
Notes
- Use the freshest tortillas possible. They will be the most pliable and easiest to roll up without cracking or breaking.
- If you don’t have chives, you can sub very thinly sliced green onions (the green stems only) but I still prefer fresh chives when available.
- To prevent the pomegranate seeds from dyeing the cream cheese pink when mixed together, thoroughly wash the seeds, spread them in a single layer on paper towels, and pat them completely dry before adding to the recipe.
- You can use the pomegranate seeds you can find precleaned in a plastic container in the produce section to save time.
- Chill the filled and rolled tortillas well before slicing them. The colder the cream cheese mixture, the firmer the pinwheels will be. This extra step and time ensures even cuts and will keep the pinwheels holding their shape during and after slicing.
Nutrition
recipe originally published December 8, 2015
Lorraine @ Cooking for Prince Charming says
What! I need this in my life! This sounds amazing! Pinning and found you on Freedom Fridays! 🙂
4 Sons 'R' Us says
Oh, girl… these are great! You’ll be glad you got your hands on them. I love Freedom Fridays and am so glad you found your way here 🙂
FrugalHausfrau says
Oh, wow, here is a pinwheel I can get behind! I love these flavors, and of course will be pinning to our Throwback Thursday board!!
The Kiwi Fruit says
Such a perfect little snack, I wish I could have some right now! They sound delicious!
Sonal Kalra says
Sounds delicious!
Patricia says
Do you think cranberries or crasins and blue cheese would work as well???
Not a fan of poms…
4sonsrus says
Absolutely!