Ham Cheese and Apple Pinwheels
This website uses affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you click on the link and make a purchase.
This easy recipe for Ham Cheese and Apple Pinwheels is a delicious and fun party appetizer! I use up leftover ham in this appetizer recipe, which makes them a great recipe to make during the holidays when you have friends and family in town.
If you’re looking for more recipes that use up leftover ham, try my Bone Broth Ham & Cheese Quiche, Healthy Loaded Mac & Cheese, or my Ham & Cheese Rolls with Honey Butter.
Table of Contents
If you're looking for a leftover ham recipe, these organic pinwheels are one of my favorites! I love making my Savory Mustard Herb Ham over the holidays, but with just our small family of two, we always have leftovers! So, it's always fun to make a leftover ham recipe as I can use up ham and get another meal.
If you made ham for Christmas, then these Ham Cheese and Apple Pinwheels are a perfect appetizer recipe to make for a New Year's Eve party. These organic pinwheels combine a soft and sweet dough that's filled with Swiss cheese, ham, and topped with a honey butter and herb topping that bakes up to golden perfection in the oven!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Uses Leftover Ham: If you have leftover ham from Christmas, then you’ll love this leftover ham recipe! I created this recipe with my friends at Organic Prairie to inspire more leftover meals and less food waste.
Perfect for a Party: This recipe for Ham Cheese and Apple Pinwheels is a great appetizer recipe for a party! They are small handheld pinwheels that your guests will gobble up!
Easily Make Ahead: You can easily make this appetizer recipe ahead of time if you are prepping for a party. Follow the recipe the day before, all the way down to placing the rolls on the baking sheets. Instead of baking them, cover with plastic wrap (to avoid them drying out) and place the baking sheet in the fridge. Right before your party, preheat the oven and remove the tray. Bake off and you’ll have fresh Ham Cheese and Apple Pinwheels!
Ingredients
- Butter: I use Organic Valley Salted Butter in both the dough and also for the topping.
- Yeast: I use organic instant yeast to ensure these rise quickly.
- Milk: Use whole milk for the best flavor.
- Honey: I use organic raw honey both inside the dough and in the topping. Combining honey with butter for the topping is what makes these organic pinwheels bake up to golden brown perfection in the oven!
- Cane Sugar: I use organic cane sugar, which is less processed than granulated white sugar.
- All Purpose Flour: My favorite is Cairnspring Mills.
- Salt: Use fine sea salt.
- Spices: I use organic garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, and dried thyme. This combination provides flavor and the perfect amount of subtle spice that compliments the ham and cheese.
- Ham: I use leftover ham, but if you want to make these and you don't have leftover ham you can use ham deli slices too.
- Swiss Cheese: I use Organic Valley Swiss Cheese as I love ham and Swiss together. Cheddar or Pepper Jack would also be great options too!
- Apple: I used dark red apples as I have a whole bunch from my friends tree. This dark red apple pairs very well with the ham and Swiss. You could also use Granny Smith apples or even a sweet variety like Gala or Fuji.
Tools Needed
- Scale: Always use a digital food scale for the best results.
- Stand Mixer: I use my stand mixer for ease to make the dough, but you can also just use your hands and a mixing bowl if you prefer.
- Small Pot: You'll need a small pot to melt the butter, milk, and honey.
- Mixing Bowl: You'll need a large mixing bowl to let the dough rise.
- Rolling Pin: You'll need a rolling pin to roll out these organic pinwheels.
- Pastry Brush: I use a silicone pastry brush to brush on the butter, honey, and spice mixture before baking these organic pinwheels.
- Baking Sheet: I use two half sheet pans to bake these organic pinwheels.
- Parchment Paper: I use nontoxic parchment paper to bake these to ensure they do not stick to the pan.
Subscribe to Mimi's Organic Eats Channel
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for all the latest videos. Bake and cook along with John John and me on YouTube!
Subscribing is easy and just by subscribing, you are directly supporting my site!
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1
To make the dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, add the yeast, 1/2 teaspoon cane sugar, and warm water. Stir together and let it sit until it becomes, about 5 minutes.
In a small saucepan, add the butter, milk and honey. Put over medium heat, and melt. Remove when completely melted.
Add the flour, 57 grams cane sugar, and sea salt to the mixing bowl in that order. Add in the milk mixture and knead on low for 5 minutes, until smooth.
Transfer the dough to a bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise for 1 to 3 hours, until doubled in size.
Step 2
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 3
To make the filling: In a small bowl, add the 1/4 cup butter and garlic powder and stir together.
Step 4
On a floured surface, roll out the dough to a rectangle that is about 12 x 16 inches. Using a spatula spread the butter all over the rolled out dough. Add the ham, cheese, and apple slices on top of the butter.
Starting at the larger side, fold the dough over and start to roll the dough until it is completely rolled into a log. Trim off each of the ends, then cut the dough log into 24 rolls they should only be about 1-inch thick. Place them on the prepared baking sheets spacing them at least 1-inch apart.
Step 5
To make the topping: In a small bowl, add the butter and honey and microwave for 30 seconds until the butter and honey are melted. Add the onion powder, parsley, and thyme and mix together. Using a pastry brush, brush the tops of the rolls with the butter mixture.
Step 6
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until golden brown. (Check the Notes at the bottom of the recipe for high altitude instructions).
Baker's Tips
- Make sure to check that your yeast is good. Because, yeast that is expired or old will not rise. So, look at the best by date on the package, and if it’s not bubbly, then don’t use it as your dough won’t rise. It’s important to have fresh yeast whenever working with yeast.
- Make sure that the dough has doubled in size and risen. Always look for physical signs that the dough is ready and never rely on a time. While I do provide a time estimate, it is just that, an estimate. It can depend on your climate or weather how short or long it takes. A little trick to make dough rise quicker is to put it in a warm place. I leave mine on top of the mantle if I have a fire going or on top of the stove if the oven is on to speed up the process!
- I like to leave the skins on the apples, but if you prefer them peeled you can do that as well. Either way is fine!
- I’m using leftover ham in this recipe, but if you don’t have leftover ham, you can use ham deli slices too!
- You could also use turkey if you don’t have ham or if you want to change it up! The turkey would also be delicious with this recipe!
- Make sure you bake until the pinwheels are golden brown, that may mean a few extra minutes in your oven that’s why I put a range.
FAQ's
Yes, if you don't want to use ham you could also use turkey! You can use deli ham or deli turkey as well as leftover ham or turkey from the holidays.
Other types of cheese that would be delicious would be cheddar, mozzarella, or even Jack cheese. You can switch up the cheese depending on what type of meat you use as well to compliment it.
These Ham Cheese and Apple Pinwheels are a great snack or appetizer on their own. But, they also make a delicious brunch item if you are hosting a holiday brunch. You can serve them with eggs, breakfast meat like bacon or sausage, and of course fresh fruit or pastries!
Craving More?
Ham Cheese and Apple Pinwheels
Equipment
Ingredients
Dough
- 9 grams instant yeast (1 packet)
- ½ teaspoon cane sugar
- ¼ cup warm water
- 57 grams salted butter
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon raw honey
- 446 grams all purpose flour
- 57 grams cane sugar
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
Filling
- 57 grams salted butter (softened)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 340 grams ham (leftover or deli slices)
- 226 grams Swiss cheese (thinly sliced)
- 1 apple (thinly sliced)
Topping
- 57 grams salted butter
- 1 tablespoon raw honey
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions
- To make the dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, add the yeast, ½ teaspoon cane sugar, and warm water. Stir together and let it sit until it becomes, about 5 minutes.
- In a small saucepan, add the butter, milk and honey. Put over medium heat, and melt. Remove when completely melted.
- Add the flour, 57 grams cane sugar, and sea salt to the mixing bowl in that order. Add in the milk mixture and knead on low for 5 minutes, until smooth.
- Transfer the dough to a bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise for 1 to 3 hours, until doubled in size.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- To make the filling: In a small bowl, add the ¼ cup butter and garlic powder and stir together.
- On a floured surface, roll out the dough to a rectangle that is about 12 x 16 inches. Using a spatula spread the butter all over the rolled out dough. Add the ham, cheese, and apple slices on top of the butter.
- Starting at the larger side, fold the dough over and start to roll the dough until it is completely rolled into a log. Trim off each of the ends, then cut the dough log into 24 rolls they should only be about 1-inch thick. Place them on the prepared baking sheets spacing them at least 1-inch apart.
- To make the topping: In a small bowl, add the butter and honey and microwave for 30 seconds until the butter and honey are melted. Add the onion powder, parsley, and thyme and mix together. Using a pastry brush, brush the tops of the rolls with the butter mixture.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Notes
Nutrition
Join Our Organic Community
Leave a Comment