Recipe: Flaky Garlic Bread Pinwheels
Serves6 to 8
Makes20 pinwheels
I am warning you now that you may inhale these innocent-looking roll-ups before your friends even ring the doorbell. I had to pull myself away from the baking sheet and leave the kitchen entirely to escape the buttery, garlicky aroma. These roll-ups wouldn’t make it to their serving platter if I lingered too long.
This is the kind of homemade appetizer that is going to win you accolades. Make them once and friends will begin to ask you for those “flaky, garlicky things” each time they drop by; it’s already happening to me! That’s not necessarily a bad thing because they’re something you can keep stocked in the freezer to bake off at a moment’s notice. They’ll bake in just the amount of time it takes to pop open a bottle of wine and pour everyone a glass, ensuring your happy hour is effortless.
A Make-Ahead Appetizer That Will Have the Crowd Cheering
These roll-ups are really just garlic bread in pinwheel form, and that’s exactly what makes them perfect. Combine softened butter with garlic, fresh parsley, and Parmesan; spread the mixture over a thawed sheet of puff pastry; roll it up; slice it; and bake. The result is a trifecta of butter, garlic, and flaky pastry perfection.
The best part is that once the roll-ups are sliced, they can be frozen before baking. Then they can be baked off straight from the freezer, allowing you to reach for a handful for a party, or just a few if cocktail hour happens to be a party of one tonight.
Make It a Party! What Wine to Drink
Cocktail snacks are only as good as the drink you’re sipping them with. For these garlic bread roll-ups, I love a cool, crisp glass of Sauvignon Blanc.
3 Great Bottles of Sauvignon Blanc Under $15
Why Sauvignon Blanc Pairs Well
The reason this white wine works so well with the roll-ups is that the acidity in it actually cuts through the richness of all that butter and puff pastry. A sip of Sauv is light and refreshing — it will clean out your mouth after you take a buttery bite, and then make you want to go in for another.
How to Throw a $20 Cocktail Party
There’s nothing better than a fun and festive cocktail party with your friends — but hosting one definitely doesn’t need to put a big dent in your wallet. This week, we’re showing off six appetizer recipes and the budget-friendly wines that pair best with them to inspire you to throw an “Appy Hour” any night of the week.
Flaky Garlic Bread Pinwheels
Makes 20 pinwheels
Serves 6 to 8
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons
(1/2 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 4 cloves
garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon
finely chopped fresh parsley leaves
- 1 tablespoon
grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon
kosher salt
- 1
large egg
- 1 tablespoon
water
- 1 sheet
frozen puff pastry (from a 1.25-pound box that contains 2 sheets), thawed but still cold
All-purpose flour, for the work surface
Instructions
Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 400°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Place the butter, garlic, parsley, cheese, and salt in a small bowl and mix to combine; set aside. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the egg and water; set aside.
Unfold the puff pastry onto a lightly floured work surface. Spread the butter mixture evenly over the dough. Starting at a short side, roll up tightly like a jelly roll. Place the log in the freezer to chill for 10 minutes so that it's easier to slice.
Using a sharp knife, cut the log crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices (about 20 slices). Place cut-side up on the baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Brush the tops with the egg wash.
Bake until golden-brown, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer the pinwheels to cooling racks to cool for 5 minutes before serving. Serve warm.
Recipe Notes
Make ahead: Pinwheels can be frozen, unbaked, for up to 3 months and baked off as need. After slicing the log, place the pinwheels on baking sheets, brush the tops with the egg wash, and freeze until solid, about 2 hours. Transfer the frozen pinwheels to an airtight container. To bake, place the frozen pinwheels on parchment paper-lined baking sheets and bake at 400°F until golden-brown, about 17 minutes.
Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.