This might be one of the simplest recipes I've ever posted. If you love a crisp, light puff pastry with a hint of sweet orange flavor, you're going to adores these pinwheels!
What are Pinwheel Pastries?
Pinwheel pastries are a type of flaky, buttery pastry shaped into a spiral or "pinwheel" pattern. (Round and round we go!)
These light, delicious pastries are typically made by rolling a sheet of puff pastry, spreading it with a filling, then cutting and rolling the pastry into individual pinwheel shapes. The filling can vary widely, from sweet options like cinnamon, jam, cream cheese, or chocolate, to savory choices like cheese, herbs, or ham. For the sake of this recipe I went with an orange zest and sugar filling.
When baked, the pastry puffs up beautifully, creating a light, crispy texture with a delicious spiral of flavor in each bite. And sometimes--as was the case here--they're topped with a glaze. Can we say delicious?
Orange Pinwheel Ingredients
For the Pastry
- Zest of one orange
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- 1 package puff pastry
For the glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- Juice of one orange
How to Make Orange Pinwheels
Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
Zest the orange over the granulated sugar. Mix well with a fork.
Unroll the puff pastry and spread the dough out.
Sprinkle the orange/sugar mixture over the dough.
Gently press down to help the sugar mixture adhere to the dough.
Gently roll up into a tube, lengthwise.
Using a sharp knife, cut into pieces about ½ - ⅔ inch in depth.
Gently lift and place on parchment lined cookie sheet.
Make sure they are spaced out because they will grow as they bake.
Place in preheated oven and bake for 13 - 15 minutes or until golden in color.
Make your glaze
While the pinwheels are baking, make your glaze.
Place a cup of powdered sugar into a small bowl
Add the juice of the orange and mix well.
(You might need to adjust the amounts of juice and powdered sugar to get the consistency you want. You’re going for a honey-like consistency.)
Bring it together
Once the pinwheels come out of the oven place the tray on a wire rack to cool.
After about 10 minute spoon a tiny bit of glaze over each pinwheel.
Allow glaze to firm up.
Serve and enjoy!
Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature.
What to Expect from these Pinwheels
These are sheer perfection! They’re light, they’re crisp, and that orange flavor shines through! I’m particularly fond of the glaze. It adds just the right amount of sweetness. And I love that crisp bottom!
These are dainty enough to be served at a high tea but hearty enough to be served as a mid-afternoon snack or even a dessert. I might actually enjoy one in the morning, for breakfast with a cup of hot tea or coffee. No matter what time of day you enjoy these, these delicious treats will hit the spot. And folks will think you worked all day. They’ll never know you started with a simple roll of puff pastry!
Variations on this Recipe
Chocolate ganache instead of orange glaze. Melt some chocolate chips with a tiny bit of coconut or vegetable oil and dunk the edges of the pinwheels into the chocolate. Allow them to set up before serving.
Lemon: If you like, you can use this recipe exactly as-is but substitute lemon for the orange. Delicious!
Cinnamon Sugar: This is the obvious choice. You can add a cinnamon glaze. Yum!
Almond: Use slivered almonds in the sugar mixture and add almond extract to the glaze.
That’s it for this post, friends! I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe.
If you make this recipe and love it, don’t forget to leave a review and a comment below. And while you're at it, go ahead and pin some photos to your Pinterest boards!
About the Author
Janice Thompson is an author, baker, and all-around mischief maker! She has overcome a host of baking catastrophes, including a toppled wedding cake, to learn more about the baking process. Janice has published over 165 books for the Christian market but particularly enjoys writing recipes and baking devotions. To learn more about Janice or to drop her a note, visit her About the Author page.
