These baked ham and cheese pinwheels are a popular party appetizer made with pizza dough, ham and Swiss cheese topped with a Dijon poppy seed butter and baked until hot.
Other crowd-pleasing party favorites include these pizza pinwheels, spinach puffs or pigs in a blanket with cheese!
Table of Contents
Hot Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
These baked ham and cheese pinwheels never last long at any party! Similar to ham and cheese sliders, even right down to the Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce, but rolled up in pizza dough instead of sandwiched between Hawaiian rolls.
Made with just 3 simple ingredients, just like my favorite pretzel bites, these mini appetizers couldn’t be easier. It’s my go-to recipe when entertaining and it’s always a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
See full printable recipe below.
- Pizza dough: If you have some extra time, I recommend making homemade pizza dough, it’s always nice to go that extra mile.
- Ham: Thinly shaved deli ham slices are used, however, keep reading to find out ways you can switch up the filling if desired.
- Swiss cheese: Thin slices, and again, Swiss isn’t written in stone.
- Glaze (optional but recommended): Melted butter, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and the option of minced onions and poppy seeds for garnish.
Ham and Cheese Pinwheel Recipe Variations
As mentioned above, baked ham and cheese pinwheels using Swiss cheese are just one combination. Get creative and find the duo that you like best.
- Dough: Try crescent dough or, for a flakier finish, puff pastry works great.
- Meat: Bacon, turkey, salami, pepperoni, roast beef, chicken or black forest ham or honey ham.
- Cheese: Cheddar cheese, cream cheese, Monterey Jack, mozzarella, provolone or gouda.
How to Make Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
On a cutting board, unroll the pizza dough to an even rectangle. Place the ham evenly on top of the dough. Top the ham evenly with slices of cheese. Start with the short edge and roll up the dough tightly into a log.
It’s easiest to cut the log in half first, rather than trying to slice through the log as a whole. It helps to keep its shape this way. Once you have cut the log in half, cut each half in half (you should now have 4 pieces). Then, slice each smaller log into 3 slices, ending up with a total of 12 rounds.
Place all of the ham and cheese pinwheels into a baking dish and bake for 15 minutes. In a small bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients for the sauce. Remove the rolls from the oven and gently brush the sauce evenly over the top.
Continue baking for 10 more minutes until golden brown and then let them sit for 5 minutes in the pan before serving. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
As easy as these baked ham and cheese pinwheels are to make, keep these tips in mind:
- Thin sliced meat and cheese. For this recipe, thinner is better so that you get the perfect amount of bread, cheese and meat in each bite.
- Nonstick. Make sure to butter the baking dish first. You can also use a cooking spray or line it with parchment paper.
- For slicing. Use a serrated knife for easy slicing. Make sure it’s sharp that way you won’t need much pressure to slice, keeping the rounds, well, round!
- Make ahead. To make these the night before, assemble them into the baking dish just before you’d bake them. Cover with plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge overnight. Bake when ready and then carry on with instructions for the sauce.
- Storage. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. I’ve had friends who say they enjoy eating them cold straight out of the fridge too.
Need more ham recipes? Try this copycat honey baked ham, crockpot ham or baked ham!
More Easy Appetizer Recipes
Browse all
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all the newest recipes!
Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
Video
Ingredients
- 1 (14-ounce) can pizza dough , regular
- 12 slices deli ham , thinly shaved
- 9-12 slices swiss cheese , thinly sliced
Sauce
- 6 Tablespoons butter , melted
- ½ Tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon minced onions , optional
- 1 teaspoon poppy seeds , optional
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 9×13-inch baking dish or line with parchment paper.
- Roll out dough. Unroll the pizza dough onto a cutting board. Press out edges so that it is even rectangle.
- Add ham and cheese. Place 12 slices ham evenly on top of the pizza dough. Top evenly with 9-12 slices cheese.
- Cut into pinwheels. Start with the short edge and roll up the dough tightly. Cut the log in half, and then each log in half again. Cut each log into 3 slices, so you have a total of 12 slices. Place rolls into the baking dish.
- Bake. Bake 15 minutes.
Sauce
- Combine sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together 6 Tablespoons melted butter, 12 Tablespoon Dijon mustard, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon minced onions, and 1 teaspoon poppy seeds, if using. Remove rolls from the oven and gently brush the sauce evenly over the top. Bake 10 more minutes, or until golden.
- Serve. Remove from the oven and let sit in the pan 5 minutes before serving. Serve while warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Recipe FAQs
What you might be thinking of are the ham roll-ups, sometimes known as tortilla roll-ups that are not baked, served cold, and made with flour tortillas. They too are filled and rolled and are a great appetizer. Just slightly different!
If you plan on serving them the day off, bake them and allow them to sit at room temperature. When you’re ready to party, reheat in the oven just before serving.
If you don’t plan to serve them right away, I recommend freezing them. Allow them to cool completely, flash freeze them until solid, then transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag. Store them for up to 1 month.
Not necessary for this recipe when using pizza dough or puff pastry. If you’re using tortillas then yes, you would.
As an appetizer or snack, they don’t need much. They are loaded with flavor as is, but you can provide a dipping sauce on the side if you’d like. A honey mustard sauce or some ranch dressing.
If you’re eating them as a light lunch, then a chopped salad or some veggies on the side would be great!
Categorized as: American, Appetizers, Kid-Friendly, Mini appetizers, Nut-Free, Snacks, Super Bowl
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Not sure we melt so much butter etc. For the spread. I always have lots remaining. I have made this twice 2nd time with crescent dough. Pizza dough looks better and is easier to roll.
I thought it was a little rich. Butter in the crescent sheet, and then brushed with more butter. I think they would be ok as an appetizer if they could be made smaller somehow.
These sound delicious! I would like to make with pepperoni and mozzarella. What kind of topping would you use for those? I’m not sure the one for the hand and cheese would go.
You can use any veggies that you like. Bell peppers, mushrooms, and any meat. For seasoning you can Italian seasoning. Let me know how it turns out! HEre is an easy pizza pinwheel recipe to try too! https://www.iheartnaptime.net/easy-pizza-pinwheels/
Amy, made the pinwheels for the 4th of July and they were a big hit. I also made a batch and added sliced pepperoni to recipe Thank you
Would everything bagel seasoning work on top?
Yum! That sounds delicious and will give these ham and cheese pinwheels more flavor!
OK, so I didn’t have a few of the ingredients but what I made came out beautiful and delicious. I didn’t have pizza dough so I used crescent roll dough. Instead of swish cheese, I used shredded mozzarella cheese with sandwich ham. And for the sauce I mixed up a little mayo and yellow mustard, worcestershire, and a bit of sugar. Turned out great.
these pinwheels are amazing and such a great appetizer for get togethers! especially this fall. thank you for sharing this recipe
You are so welcome! Thanks for your comment and review, Jess :)
My kids loved these ham and cheese pinwheels! I will be making these all the time.
My kids absolutely loved these ham and cheese pinwheels. They were perfect to make with our leftover ham.
Glad to hear they were a hit with your little ones :)