Strawberry Cream Cheese Pinwheel Appetizers
Soft white bread rolled with a tangy lime-infused cream cheese and goat cheese filling studded with pecans, layered with fresh strawberry slices, then chilled and sliced into pinwheels. The combination of creamy cheese, bright citrus, and fresh berries makes an elegant make-ahead appetizer.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 ounces goat cheese with fig, softenedstandard goat cheese1:1dairy
different flavor profile, loses fig notes
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 tablespoon honey, liquid
- ½ tablespoon key lime zest, gratedregular lime zest1:1citrus
more assertive flavor
- ¼ cup pecans, coarsely chopped
- ¾ cup strawberries, fresh, small, thinly sliced
- 8 slices white bread, soft, crusts removed
- 8 pieces plastic wrap
Instructions
- 1
Mix cream cheese and goat cheese in a large bowl until well blended.
- 2
Add milk, honey, and key lime zest to the cheese mixture.
- 3
Fold in coarsely chopped pecans, then refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- 4
Thinly slice the strawberries and set aside.
- 5
Remove crusts from bread slices.
- 6
Use a rolling pin to flatten each bread slice horizontally and vertically.
- 7
Spread 1 tablespoon of the chilled cream cheese mixture on each bread slice.
- 8
Place plastic wrap on a work surface and set the bread on top.
- 9
Arrange two rows of sliced strawberries down the middle of each bread slice.
- 10
Gently roll the bread into a log and wrap tightly with the plastic wrap.
- 11
Refrigerate the wrapped logs for 3 hours or overnight.
- 12
Remove from refrigerator, unwrap, and slice each log with a bread knife into four pieces.
Tips
Rolling pin flattening prevents tearing when rolling. Use smooth, even pressure.
Overnight chilling improves flavor integration and makes slicing cleaner.
A serrated bread knife prevents squishing the logs when slicing.
Good to Know
Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 days, or freeze wrapped logs for up to 2 weeks before slicing.
Prepare through the chilling step up to 1 day ahead. Slice just before serving for best texture.
Serve chilled as a cold appetizer, optionally on a platter with a small dollop of whipped cream or Greek yogurt on the side.
Common Mistakes
Do not skip the 30-minute chill before spreading to avoid the mixture becoming runny and unworkable.
Do not roll too tightly to avoid splitting the bread or pushing filling out the sides.
Do not use a dull knife to slice to avoid compressing the pinwheels and obscuring the spiral pattern.
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
different flavor profile, loses fig notes
General Alternatives
more assertive flavor