Jalapeno Popper Pinwheels are the perfect party snack with a kick! All the flavors we love from the traditional bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers in an easy-to-eat snack! 

Jalapeno Poppers Deconstructed!

I love a good Jalapeno Popper! There is just something so delicious about that spicy pepper stuffed with cream cheese and then wrapped in bacon that makes me drool just thinking about it. 

I make those stuffed peppers every time I grill and even bake them in the oven when I have a craving for them but don’t want to drag out the charcoal and grill.

But recently I had the pleasure of eating a pizza at a local pizza place called the “What’s Popping?”. This local pizzeria offers low carb cheese crusts and even cauliflower crusts so it is one of our favorites to visit now and then!

They basically take the concept of a Jalapeno Popper and deconstruct it on top of a pizza and man is it delicious and oh so spicy.

I had it as my lunch a few weeks back and it satisfied my crazy for poppers plus inspired this pinwheel recipe that I’m sharing today!

I loved how you could have all the yummy flavors of the poppers without having to go through all the steps of cleaning, stuffing, and wrapping the peppers. 

As my family sat and ate our lunch outside at the restaurant’s picnic table (another thing I love about Arkansas River Pizza Company) I had the wonderful thought of adding a spicy jalapeno popper filling to some of my cheese dough.

I was so intrigued that I actually stopped on the way home from that lunch to pick up what I needed at the store to make my vision come to life.

I got started on the recipe that very afternoon and they turned out delicious, but then again why wouldn’t they with all that bacon, cheese, and spice?

Are you a fan of Jalapeno Poppers? If so you can also take a look at these delicious recipes with the same flavor profile from some of my blogging buddies! 

• Jalapeno Popper Dip, by Joyfilled Eats
• Jalapeno Chicken Bacon Chowder, by Darcie’s Dish
• Jalapeno Popper Pizza, by My Montana Kitchen

Who Wants to Make Jalapeno Popper Pinwheels?

Jalapeno Pinwheels are filled with a few very simple ingredients but the flavor is outstanding. Basically, you are taking all the ingredients for stuffed jalapeno peppers and wrapping them up in a yummy pastry.

I understand that not everyone will like the spiciness of these pinwheels just like some readers that try them will say they weren’t spicy enough for them.

So thankfully the level of spice is something that is totally adjustable by adding more or fewer jalapenos. 

Another tip I can offer for those looking for the flavor but not as much heat is to use those mild pickled jalapeno slices that you can find in the pickle aisle.

To me these have amazing flavor but the spice is there but much milder than fresh peppers. But if you like things extra spicy then fresh jalapenos may be the way to go, or just up the number of pickled peppers, you add to the recipe. 

The best thing I can suggest is you make this recipe is to taste the filling as you go and adjust the ingredients accordingly. You can always add more spice as needed but remember you can’t take the heat once you have it mixed in so go easy and add more as needed. 

What Do You Use For the Pinwheel Dough?

Once you have the jalapeno cream cheese filling ready to go, it’s time to prepare the dough that will hold this yumminess!

The dough for the pastry on the pinwheels is a gluten-free and low carb cheese dough often referred to as the “fathead dough”. It is a great dough that is easy to work with and has many uses. 

Many of you know I’m a huge fan of this dough and all the recipes that can be made with it. If not just check out my wide range of recipes I’ve made with it by visiting my Recipe Index after looking at this recipe. 

If you haven’t made the cheese dough before or if you would like to see how I make the perfect batch every time you can check out my blog post and video on how I make the dough.

Next, I want to share some of my best tips and practices that will ensure that you have success each time you make this recipe for your family and friends. 

Tips for Making this Recipe:

1. Before making these pinwheels check out my blog post on making the perfect cheese dough HERE. In this post, I share tips and a video demo on how I make the wonderful dough that is so each to fill and roll. 
2. For best results make sure the filling ingredients are room temperature. It is important to do this to make the filling mix and spread more easily.
3. Make sure you drain some of the juice of the jalapeno slices if you use jarred. If you choose to use a fresh pepper there is no need to worry about this step.
4. When rolling out the dough for the pinwheels, use a good cooking spray on the surface that you choose to roll the dough out on. Spray your rolling pin well too. This step will prevent the dough from sticking and tearing as you work with it. You can use wax paper to roll the dough between also but still use cooking spray to prevent sticking.
5. Try to spread your Jalapeno Popper filling as evenly across the cheese dough as you can so each bite will get some of all the ingredients.
6. When you roll these pinwheels it is basically the same way you would see someone roll cinnamon rolls. So just like in those types of recipes the tighter you can roll your pinwheels the prettier they will be when sliced. 
7. Chilling these or any of my pinwheel recipes is crucial. The filled pinwheel roll will be very soft and will need to chill in the freezer for at least an hour before you attempt to slice them. If this step is skipped you will have a hard time slicing the pinwheels. 
8. Always use a very sharp knife to slice the chilled pinwheels. This will make neat slices that bake up beautifully.

There you have my eight tips for making the best batch of Jalapeno Popper Pinwheels. Simple steps that are very effective!

By following these tips you and watching my “How to Make a Cheese Dough” video you should end up with a perfect batch of pinwheels for your next snack or party!

Prep Ahead for Busy Times with these Freezer Instructions

Another fantastic thing about these pinwheels (like all my other varieties) is that they are easy to prep ahead and freeze until you need them. 

When you get ready to freeze your pinwheels your first step will be to decide if you want to freeze them in their raw state or cook them before freezing them.

I prefer to freeze mine in the raw form so that I simply follow all the steps for making the pinwheels up to the point in the recipe where they are ready to be sliced.

After I have them all sliced, next I lay them out on a tray that I have lined with parchment or wax paper. Once I have them all on the baking trays I place them in the freezer and let them freeze solid before adding them to an airtight container or Ziplock bag.

They will be good in the freezer for up to a month.  When you are ready to cook them, simply take them out of the freezer and place them on a greased baking sheet about 1 inch or so apart.

There is no need to thaw, just place the frozen pinwheels in a pre-heated 375-degree oven and bake for 18-20 minutes. Watch them after 16 to make sure they are not getting dark.

They turn out wonderful each time and they are so convenient to have on hand for all the parties coming up in a few months for the holidays!

If you would like to cook your pinwheels before you freeze them, you follow the recipe completely until the pinwheels have baked and cooled completely. Once cooled place the Jalapeno Pinwheels in a freezer bag or container and freeze.

When you are ready eat them, let them thaw slightly before placing them on a baking sheet and heating them for about 6-8 minutes at 375 degrees. You can use a microwave, just know they might have a soggier texture if you do. 

They come out just as delicious as if you have just made them no matter how or when you choose to bake them!

Continue to Content

Yield: 27 Pinweels

Jalapeno Popper Pinwheels || Low Carb, Keto, THM

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Additional Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes

A great appetizer or snack idea that features a creamy cheese filling with a spicy kick rolled into a low carb pastry and baked. All the delicious flavors of traditional Jalapeno Poppers in easy to eat pinwheel. Great for any party tray.

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Ingredients

Jalapeno Popper Filling

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup of chopped bacon
• 1/2 cup of pickled jalapeno pepper slices, chopped fine

Pinwheel Dough

• 1 Batch of My Low Carb Cheese Dough

Instructions

1. Prepare the filling by adding all of the ingredients into a mixing bowls and mix until all is well combined. Set the filling aside and prepare the cheese dough.
2. Prepare one batch of the cheese dough. For steps and video instruction please click on the list in the ingredient list under the Pinwheel Dough in the recipe card
3. After you have prepared your pinwheel dough roll it out into a large rectangle. This doesn't have to be perfect just try to get the dough the same thickness (about 1/3 inch) all over.
4. Spread the Jalapeno Popper filling evenly all over the top of the cheese dough.
5. Next begin rolling the pinwheels up by starting with the end nearest to you and rolling away from you. This is similar to if you were rolling cinnamon rolls so the tighter the better as you roll.
6. Once you have the pinwheels rolled up wrap the pinwheel log in parchment paper and chill in the freezer for one hour.
7. Remove after one hour and slice the Jalapeno Popper Pinwheels into 25-27 slices and place them on a greased baking sheet. Note: The number of pinwheels will vary depending on how thick you slice them.
8. Bake them for 20 to 22 minutes or until they are lightly golden brown.
9. Remove from the baking sheet and enjoy.

Nutrition Information

Yield

27

Serving Size

1
Amount Per ServingCalories 96Total Fat 7gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 3gCholesterol 15mgSodium 157mgCarbohydrates 5gNet Carbohydrates 2.5gFiber 2.5gSugar 0gProtein 2g

I am not a nutritionist. If you have strict dietary needs I always recommend using an online nutrition calculator to calculate your totals using your exact brands you're using in this recipe as values may vary per brand.

Keri Bucci

I am a southern girl through and through that loves to laugh, cook, read and spend time with family. My passions outside of home schooling my son are ministering to those in need and creating art in the kitchen! Every day is an adventure in our little house and I wouldn’t trade it or the chance to share here with you for anything!