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Pinwheel Christmas Tree Appetizer

This Christmas tree pinwheel appetizer turns spinach, cheddar, and cream cheese filling into chilled tortilla pinwheels arranged in festive rows. Make them ahead, then add diced red pepper ornaments just before serving.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Chilling 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Calories: 255
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the pinwheels
  • 1 block (8 oz) cream cheese softened
  • 0.25 cup sour cream
  • 1 package (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach thawed and squeezed very dry
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
  • 2 green onions thinly sliced
  • 0.25 tsp garlic powder
  • 0.25 tsp kosher salt
  • 0.125 tsp black pepper
  • 4 flour tortillas 10-inch, at room temperature
For the ornaments
  • 0.5 red bell pepper medium, finely diced

Equipment

  • 1 large platter

Method
 

Make the pinwheels
  1. In a medium bowl, stir together the cream cheese and sour cream until smooth.
  2. Mix in the spinach, cheddar, green onions, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper.
  3. Spread the filling evenly over each tortilla, leaving a 1/2-inch border along one edge.
  4. Roll each tortilla tightly toward the uncovered edge.
  5. Wrap the rolls snugly.
  6. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
  7. Unwrap the rolls.
  8. Slice them crosswise into 3/4-inch pinwheels.
Assemble the tree
  1. Arrange the pinwheels cut-side up on a large platter in progressively wider rows to form a tree, placing any extra pinwheels along the bottom and using two to make a trunk.
  2. Press a few pieces of diced red bell pepper onto the top of each pinwheel as ornaments.
  3. Serve chilled.

Notes

Squeeze the spinach very dry so the filling stays firm. Refrigerate covered for up to 3 days; freezing is not recommended because the filling and tortillas can become watery or soft. Use gluten-free tortillas for a gluten-free swap.