From a mid-day snack to a crowd-pleasing appetizer, these fun fillo pinwheels are easy to make and you will love all of its flavorful layers.
Food is much like clothing - you can wear your leggings with sneakers for casual days or you can dress them up with high heels and accessories and look like a million bucks.
Take a ham and cheese sandwich for example - it's simple and pure comfort food, but if you replace the bread with fillo dough and cut it into pinwheels, you get yourself a dish that is worth serving to your guests, bringing it to parties, or celebrating holidays, like the Mother's Day.
You can make these twice-baked fillo pinwheels two ways: with ham and cheese and with turkey and cheese, or with whatever your heart desires. They are perfect for breakfast, brunch, and as a grab-and-go snack.
Not sure what to do with leftover fillo sheets? Try this all-time favorite spinach and cheese pie, cheese pie, or a simple egg pie.
If you're new to fillo pastry, I highly recommend using this fillo for your first project, as it's not as fragile.
Check out their other products too. You'll fall in love with them just as I did. They turned me from someone who was intimidated by fillo for decades into a "fillo queen", as my friends lovingly dubbed me.
Fillo is so versatile and you can easily venture beyond baklava. Top your pot pies with fillo rosettes (another example of taking a simple comfort dish to a fancy level), use them for cups to hold baklava ice cream, replace your traditional pie crust with fillo for a super cute ruffled pie, or a giant ricotta bundt pie to feed a crowd.
Wrap fish into fillo for a wow-factor and make firecracker appetizers for the 4th of July or New Year celebration.
You will quickly get comfortable with using fillo and soon you'll be making more complex dishes like baklava cheesecake and cherry blossoms.
Have I convinced you yet? ๐ Start with these twice-baked pinwheels and you'll see how easy it is.
๐ Ingredients and Notes
Ham & Cheese Pinwheels
- fillo dough, thawed
- unsalted butter
- black forest deli ham
- shredded mozzarella cheese
- pesto rosso (with sun-dried tomatoes)
- black sesame seeds (optional)
Turkey & Cheese Pinwheels
- Fillo Factory country-style fillo dough
- unsalted butter
- deli turkey breast
- shredded cheddar cheese
- 3 tablespoons pesto (with basil)
- black sesame seeds (optional)
๐ช Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Place one sheet of fillo on a clean surface, and brush lightly with butter. Repeat with two more sheets of fillo. Spread the third layer of buttered fillo evenly with pesto rosso, leaving a 1-inch border. Place ham slices over pesto, overlapping if necessary, and sprinkle evenly with mozzarella cheese.
- Starting with the short side of the fillo, carefully begin rolling the pastry tightly so it is compact. Butter the border of fillo to seal the seam.
- Brush the outside of the roll with butter, and sprinkle with sesame seeds if using. Transfer the roll to a parchment-lined baking pan.
- Repeat steps 1-4 with ingredients for turkey pinwheels.
- Bake until deep golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven, and transfer to a wire rack until cool enough to handle.
- Using a serrated knife, carefully slice the roll into 1-inch-thick slices, discarding the edges. Return to the baking pan, cut-side down. Bake until golden throughout, about 10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, and serve warm or at room temperature.
- Bosnian Cheese Pie
- Layered Burek - Meat Pie
- Zucchini Ricotta Spiral Pie
- BBQ Buffalo Chicken Fillo Stromboli
Liked this recipe? Leave a โญโญโญโญโญ rating and/or a review in the comments section. Your feedback is always appreciated! Stay in touch through Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook! Don't forget to sign up for my email list below too!
Twice-Baked Two Ways Fillo Pinwheels Recipe
Ingredients
Ham & Cheese Pinwheels
- 3 sheets fillo dough, thawed
- ยฝ stick unsalted butter, ยผ cup, melted
- 15 slices of black forest deli ham
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3 tablespoons pesto rosso, with sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds, optional
Turkey & Cheese Pinwheels
- 3 fillo dough, thawed
- ยฝ stick unsalted butter, ยผ cup, melted
- 15 slices of deli turkey breast
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 3 tablespoons pesto, with basil
- 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds, optional
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Place one sheet of fillo on a clean surface, and brush lightly with butter. Repeat with two more sheets of fillo. Spread the third layer of buttered fillo evenly with pesto rosso, leaving a 1-inch border. Place ham slices over pesto, overlapping if necessary, and sprinkle evenly with mozzarella cheese.
- Brush the outside of the roll with butter, and sprinkle with sesame seeds if using. Transfer the roll to a parchment- lined baking pan.
- Repeat steps 1-4 with ingredients for turkey pinwheels.
- Bake until deep golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven, and transfer to a wire rack until cool enough to handle.
- Using a serrated knife, carefully slice the roll into 1-inch-thick slices, discarding the edges. Return to baking pan, cut-side down. Bake until golden throughout, about 10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, and serve warm or at room temperature
Two Chicks and a Mom/Donna says
I have never baked with fillo dough--as old as I am you would think that would have happened before now lol. Tasty recipe--Thanks for sharing at Party in Your PJs!
Jas says
I understand. I didn't try it until well into my 40s, and fillo is a traditional ingredient in my homeland. Now I'm hooked, lol.
Miz Helen says
I just pinned your Pinwheels, they look great! Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday and hope to see you again real soon!
Miz Helen
Jas says
Many thanks, Miz Helen!
Sandra L Garth says
I dub thee the "Fillo Queen"! These are perfect for a Mother's Day Brunch or just because a treat is deserved. I'm working up my nerve to give it a go. Thank you for sharing with us at Celebrate Your Story and have a great weekend.
Jas says
Lol, Sandra! That's an honor ๐ I love fillo and finding new ways to use it. It's so versatile. Hope your weekend is going great. XO
Jenny says
These look delicious and I love how you can make them with a variety of ingredients. I can't wait to try them.
Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty
Jas says
Hi, Jenny! Yes, they are so versatile. Glad you like them. x
Julie says
Ooo, these look nice. They look simple enough too, nice for a party when you want soemthing fancy but don't want to spend hours in the kitchen making it.
Jas says
So true, Julie! Super simple yet fancy ๐ Thanks for stopping by!
Mother of 3 says
Those look scrumptious! Pinned.
Jas says
Thanks, Joanne! Happy weekend ๐
Leslie says
How fun! And I love party recipes that make preparing a bunch at once so easy. Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!
Jas says
Thanks, darling! Have a great weekend. x
Christina Makri says
Fillo is one of the most popular ingredients for Greek kitchen. Even the name "Fillo" in Greek means something thin and delicate. I love to make something with fillo and I love your recipes ! Pinned and thank you for sharing with us ๐
Jas says
Fillo is a staple in my home country too, but we stick to more traditional recipes. I love exploring new ways of using it. Thank you for stopping in, Christina! ๐
Anna nuttall says
Yum this look amazing! I must make these. I have a feeling my husband would love these. xx
Jas says
Thank you, Anna! I hope he likes them as much as my husband. Something about guys and their love for munchies, lol.
Leanna says
Filo dough is amazing to work with. These look different yet the flavours are recognizable to the men in my life. I hope that makes sense. Pinning.
Jas says
That makes perfect sense, Leanna! ๐ Thanks for stopping by!
laura says
ohhh I never thought you could double bake fillo! SO beautiful Jas <3! pinned and shared.
Jas says
We learn something every day. Such a cliche, but so true ๐ Thanks, Laura!
Mrs Shoes says
I feel so hungry right now that my mouth is watering...
Jas says
Then get cooking, Mrs. Shoes! ๐
Sinea says
Wow they look great! Yum!
Jas says
Thank you, Sinea! ๐
Ushmana Palmo Rai says
Whoah!
I had never seen anything quite like this, this is a new innovation for me!
so excited to try this for the weekend brunch,I know everyone would be amazed
thanks for this, Jas!
Jas says
Hi, Ushmana! I'm so happy you like it! Thanks for stopping in and have a great week!
Jhuls | The Not So Creative Cook says
It is so genius to use filo in these pinwheels, Jas! It gives a nice crunch - yum! Thanks for sharing at this weekโs Fiesta Friday party!
Jas says
That it does, Jhuls. A nice contrast to the gooey cheese inside. ๐
Lauren says
Jas I am so impressed with the recipe for the fillo pinwheels. So unique I'm definitely going to try it at home, in a vegetarian version for me. ( I wonder how it would work with mozzarella and eggplant for a vegetarian?) Thanks for the genius work!
Jas says
Hi, Lauren! I love the eggplant idea for a vegetarian version. Zucchini ribbons would work too ๐ Thanks for stopping in and for the five-star rating. Much appreciated!