These delicious Cinnamon Apple Pinwheels are the perfect sweet treat to make. Enjoy them with tea or coffee, a scoop of ice cream for dessert or add them to a lunchbox. Flaky puff pastry is filled with cinnamon and apples and baked until crisp and golden. Try a batch of these four ingredient treats today!
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Why we love this recipe:
A reader favourite recipe is our Cinnamon Puff Pastry Pinwheels. Since sharing this easy recipe, we have been asked for other variations. Our Cinnamon Apple Pinwheels are a must try!
You'll love this recipe because:
- it contains just 4 ingredients - puff pastry, sugar, cinnamon and apples. You may find you already have these on hand!
- they are perfect to prepare in advance or last minute - and they take very little time.
- the pinwheels are delicious served warm or can be packed in a lunchbox or for a picnic.
- this sweet treat can be adapted to make gluten-free or vegan. Just use the appropriate puff pastry, which you will be able to find at major supermarkets.
Ingredients in this recipe:
Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.
Frozen puff pastry – for the best flavour, I use an all-butter puff pastry. However, you can use vegan or gluten-free pastry to suit dietary requirements.
Cinnamon sugar mixture - powdered cinnamon combines with sugar to make a sweet, gently spiced filling for the pinwheels.
Cooking apple - I use Granny Smith. Use a variety ideal for cooking, so that the apple retains its shape.
Step by step instructions:
To begin, remove the puff pastry from the freezer to defrost and then line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper. Preheat your oven.
- Mix the cinnamon and sugar together.
- Finely chop the apple.
- Sprinkle the sugar mixture evenly across your sheet of puff pastry.
- Add the chopped apple, and start to the roll the puff pastry. Start with the edge nearest to you, and roll foward to form a log, keeping it as tight as possible to enclose the filling.
- Wrap the roll in cling wrap and refrigerate for at least a half-hour to enable the pastry to chill and firm up.
- Using a sharp serrated knife, trim the ends of the pastry, and then cut the pastry into approximately 1 cm (½ inch) slices.
- Arrange the pinwheels on the prepared baking tray leaving some room between each one, as they will spread when they bake. Place the tray into the oven and bake for about 12 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown.
- Remove the tray and place the pinwheels onto a cooling rack. Enjoy!
Tips for success and FAQs:
It is essential that you use fresh cinnamon as spices lose their fragrance and flavour over time.
Always keep your puff pastry cool. If it defrosts before you are ready to use it, just cover it and return it to the fridge. It will be too difficult to work with if it does not remain chilled. On the other hand, if it is not sufficiently defrosted, it will crack as you attempt to roll it.
Do not attempt to eat the cinnamon pinwheels when fresh out of the oven; the sugar will be very hot. However, you don’t need to let them fully cool down either. They are delicious enjoyed whilst still warm!
They are best on the day that they are made, but you can always reheat them if needed. They will keep for 3 days in a sealed container.
Yes, you can freeze the pinwheels for up to 3 months. Just ensure they are separated by a layer of baking paper so they do not stick together.
More delicious recipes for you to try :
We love recipes that use puff pastry – it is such a fantastic ingredient to have on hand. Here are some more of our favourite sweet recipes for you to try:
- Raspberry Tartlets
- Apricot and Cream Cheese Pastries
- Blueberry Tarlets
- Mini Plum Tarts
- Strawberry Tartlets
I always ensure that I have some puff pastry in the freezer. This way an appetiser, pie or sweet treat is but minutes away.
These Cinnamon Apple Pinwheels have many uses. They are ideal with a cup of tea or coffee, at any time of the day. Serve a platter at a brunch party; pastries are always popular. Or my favourite way to enjoy them? With a scoop of our No Churn Vanilla Ice Cream or Easy Lemon Ice Cream.
I would love to hear if you try these simple sweet pastries! Let me know in the comments below.
Alex xx
Cinnamon Apple Pinwheels
Please note:
For accuracy, when weights are provided, we recommend weighing your ingredients. This will produce the best results. All oven temperatures listed are for fan forced.
Ingredients
- 1 sheet butter puff pastry See Note 1
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon See Note 2
- 2 tablespoon sugar See Note 3
- 1 cooking apple - I use Granny Smith
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees C (390 F).
- Remove the pastry from the freezer and defrost.Line a baking tray with baking paper.
- Mix your sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
- Peel and core the apple. Cut into small dice, about ½ cm (⅕ inch).
- Place your pastry on the baking tray, and top with the cinnamon sugar and finely diced apple.
- Slowly start to roll the pastry from the end nearest you. Keep rolling forward, reasonably firmly, until you have come to the end of the roll.
- Cover in cling film and chill the pastry roll for about 30 minutes to make it easier to cut.
- Remove the cling film. Trim the ends with a serrated knife and discard. Slice each pinwheel approximately 1 cm (½ inch) thick.
- Place your pinwheels on the prepared baking tray. To prevent them from unravelling, with your fingertips, gently pinch the outside pastry end to the roll.Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Serve warm, or allow to chill completely before storing in a sealed container.
Notes
- My puff pastry sheet measured 24 cm X 24 cm (9 ½″) square. If the puff pastry defrosts before you have prepared the filling, place the puff pastry in the refrigerator until ready to use. It must remain chilled. My preference is for butter puff pastry.
- Ground cinnamon can lose its flavour and aroma over time – ensure that it is fresh for the best taste.
- The Australian tablespoon is 20ml or 4 teaspoons. In most other countries the tablespoon is 15ml or 3 teaspoons. Please adjust the measurement if necessary.
- Please note, the nutritional information is based on one pinwheel. The nutritional information is an estimate only.
Nutrition Estimate:
Nutritional Disclaimer:
The nutritional information is an estimate only, and is derived from online calculators. For accurate results, we recommend calculating the nutritional information based on the ingredients and brands you use.
ELR says
I didn't love these. They came out kind of dry and with not that much flavor. I even mixed a little rhubarb in with the apple but even though I stuffed the pastry full of fruit it just seemed to be a lot more dough than filling in the end and the fruit wasn't that juicy. I think it might have been better to cook the fruit down first before spreading it onto the pastry. I even added a little lemon juice to give the fruit some more zing but they're just kind of crispy and dry. Uninteresting/unexciting. Too bad cuz I love pastries like fruit Danishes and pies and tarts so I was hoping this would give me an easy fix! Won't be making it again.
Alexandra Cook says
Hi ELR,
I am sorry to hear this recipe wasn't to your taste.
Alex xo
lauren says
anyone know how many this recipe makes or tell me where to find it on the website, thank you!
Alexandra Cook says
Hi Lauren,
This recipe makes 14 pinwheels.
We note this in the recipe card - towards the top, just under the "print/pin/review buttons", you'll see information for prep time, cook time, servings etc.
Let me know if you give the recipe a try 🙂 Alex xo
Gloria Webber says
Could you use brown sugar instead of white for these cinnamon apple pinwheels? Thanks
Alexandra Cook says
Hi Gloria,
That should be fine! Let me know if you give them a try 🙂 Alex xo
Brenda says
I was doing a the apple roses but since I didn't slice all the apples thin enough I couldn't do half of them. this saved me and let me chop up the remaining apples and use the 2nd puff pastry.
I think these turned out better then the roses
Alexandra Cook says
Hello Brenda,
I am glad you enjoyed this recipe 🙂 Thanks for sharing! Alex xo
Joyce K. says
This was a nice blend of sweet cinnamon and fresh apples. It was very fun to make and I enjoyed every bite.
Alexandra says
Thank you, Joyce - I appreciate you taking the time to let me know!
Andrea says
Such a fun and sweet treat to make! So good!
Alexandra says
Hi Andrea, I'm so pleased that you enjoyed the Cinnamon Apple Pinwheels, thank you for letting me know. 🙂
Belinda says
Great.
Alexandra says
Hi Belinda, I am so pleased that you enjoyed the Cinnamon Apple Pinwheels. Thank you. 🙂
Jules says
Oh gosh and golly! This recipe is to die for!
Alexandra says
Hello Jules, I am so pleased that you enjoyed our Cinnamon Apple Pinwheels. Thank you for letting me know. 🙂