December 20, 2024
Pepperoni Pinwheels

Pepperoni Pinwheels – The Ultimate Appetizer

Pepperoni Pinwheels are the ultimate appetizer.  They contain all of the ingredients from everyone’s favorite meal, Pizza!  They are easily shared and can be dipped in your favorite pizza/marinara sauce.  Pepperoni Pinwheels are like mini pepperoni pizza sans pizza sauce.  Therefore you can eat them in your favorite white shirt without too much worry.  This is quite possibly one of the best appetizers that I have ever made.

Pepperoni Pinwheels

Pepperoni Pinwheels – The Ultimate Appetizer

This all starts with a great pizza dough.  Any dough will work, even the canned variety.  You can purchase it or make your own.  If you make your own, I would totally recommend one of the following recipes… Ultimate Pizza Dough or Basic Pizza Dough.

Allow your dough to rise to about double in size.  This will take different amounts of time based on the dough.  If you use a can pizza dough, well there is no rising needed.  Therefore, you can skip this step.

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

Roll out the dough

Once you have a dough that is risen, you need to roll it out into a rectangle.  Make it as big and uniform in thickness as you can.  I would recommend doing this on a piece of parchment or wax paper, this will help you form it later.

Layer the pepperoni

Once you have the dough rolled out, uniformly place the pepperoni all over it.  I did it evenly spaced, however you can add as much or as little as you want.

Season and sprinkle with cheese

Season the roll with a little garlic powder and a sprinkle of dried basil.  Then cover evenly with the mozzarella cheese.  Make sure not to add too much cheese.  If you add too much, you will have a crazy cheese lava flow all over your oven.

Roll the dough

Starting on the long edge, start to roll up the dough like you would if you were making a jelly roll.  Slowly roll the edge over and continue to roll as tightly as you can.

The perfect pepperoni roll

When you reach the end, you have successfully made a nice looking pizza roll.

Nicely browned

Place the pepperoni roll into a preheated 400 degree oven and cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the roll is evenly browned and a hint of cheese is oozing out the end.

Cheese is starting to ooze

Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes.

Then slice the pizza roll into 1/2 inch thick pinwheels.

Slice into rounds

I used a sharp chefs knife and then switched to a nice bread knife.  Both worked good, but I think that the bread knife worked better!

Slice

Arrange onto a platter and serve with cups of warm pizza sauce or warm marinara sauce.

Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels

Pepperoni Pinwheels - The Ultimate Appetizer
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 
The ultimate appetizer! It takes pizza and makes it the perfect handheld treat for any party.
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Pizza
Servings: 4
Author: Rex
Ingredients
  • 1 pizza dough store bought or homemade
  • 3 oz Pepperoni
  • 1 cup mozzarella
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 cup favorite pizza sauce
Instructions
  1. This all starts with a great pizza dough. Any dough will work, even the canned variety. You can purchase it or make your own. If you make your own I would totally recommend one of the following recipes... Ultimate Pizza Dough or Basic Pizza Dough.
  2. Allow your dough to rise to about double in size. This will take different amounts of time based on the dough. If you use a can pizza dough, well there is no rising needed. Therefore, you can skip this step.
  3. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
  4. Once you have a dough that is risen, you need to roll it out into a rectangle. Make it as big and uniform in thickness as you can. I would recommend doing this on a piece of parchment or wax paper, this will help you form it later.
  5. Once you have the dough rolled out, uniformly place the pepperoni all over it. I did it evenly spaced, however you can add as much or as little as you want.
  6. Season the roll with a little garlic powder and a sprinkle of dried basil. Then cover evenly with the mozzarella cheese. Make sure not to add too much cheese. If you add too much, you will have a crazy cheese lava flow all over your oven.
  7. Starting on the long edge, start to roll up the dough like you would if you were making a jelly roll. Slowly roll the edge over and continue to roll as tightly as you can.
  8. When you reach the end, you have successfully made a nice looking pizza roll.
  9. Place the pepperoni roll into a preheated 400 degree oven and cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the roll is evenly browned and a hint of cheese is oozing out the end.
  10. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes.
  11. Then slice the pizza roll into 1/2 inch thick pinwheels. I used a sharp chefs knife and then switched to a nice bread knife. Both worked good, but I think that the bread knife worked better!
  12. Arrange onto a platter and serve with cups of warm pizza sauce or warm marinara sauce.
Recipe Notes

This would be enough for 4-6 people to have it as an appetizer. However, if you are a having a party I would totally recommend making 3-4 of these.

This would be enough for 4-6 people to have it as an appetizer.  However, if you are a having a party I would totally recommend making 3-4 of these.

Rex

Rex is an avid griller, barbecuer and bacon enthusiast. He is the Pitmaster for the Rex BBQ competition team. Rex was also featured on the TV show American Grilled. If you have any questions or wish to have Rex decode your favorite dish, click on the ASK REX link in the menu above.

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