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Turkey Pinwheels with herbed cream cheese, whole cranberry sauce, and deli turkey are the no bake appetizer that disappears first at every party, and they only take 15 minutes to roll up. I started bringing them to Thanksgiving and game day spreads years ago, and now they share the platter with our jalapeno popper cream cheese pinwheels every single time.
Soft tortillas get layered with a scallion and parsley cream cheese spread, sweet tart cranberry sauce, and thin sliced turkey, then rolled and sliced into perfect party swirls.
Turkey Pinwheels Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 15 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 0 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 15 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 24 rolls
- ⚡ Calories: 93kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Creamy and savory with sweet tart cranberry (herbed cream cheese and deli turkey)
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, on par with our stuffed celery sticks
Quick Answer
Mix softened cream cheese with mayo, sliced scallion, parsley, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth. Spread the mixture evenly over large tortillas, top with a layer of whole cranberry sauce, and lay thin sliced deli turkey on top. Roll each tortilla up tightly, trim the ends, and slice each roll into 8 even pieces. That is it, a no bake party appetizer ready in about 15 minutes.
Jump to:
- Turkey Pinwheels Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to Make Turkey Pinwheels
- Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Serving Ideas and Suggestions
- Turkey Pinwheels FAQs
- Other Recommended Party Appetizers
- Easy Turkey Pinwheels Recipe (Cranberry Cream Cheese)
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- The cream cheese is the glue. A smooth, well mixed spread coats the tortilla edge to edge, which is what keeps the pinwheels rolled tight instead of unraveling on the platter.
- Mayo loosens the spread. A quarter cup of mayo makes the cream cheese spreadable without tearing the tortilla, so you get an even layer in seconds.
- Whole cranberry sauce beats jellied. The whole berries bring texture and bright, sweet tart pops that cut through the rich cream cheese in every bite.
- Thin sliced turkey rolls clean. Thin deli slices bend with the tortilla instead of fighting it, so the spiral stays snug and slices neatly.
- A tight roll makes pretty spirals. Rolling firmly and trimming the loose ends gives every piece that bakery case swirl, and the trimmed ends are the cook treat.
- No bake means no stress. Everything is assembled cold, so the platter can be made ahead and pulled from the fridge right when guests arrive.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fifteen minutes, zero oven time. These turkey pinwheels are the fastest appetizer on the party table, no cooking required.
- Sweet, savory, and creamy in one bite. Cranberry sauce, herbed cream cheese, and deli turkey taste like a holiday sandwich in party form, right at home next to our Italian sliders.
- Make them ahead. The rolls actually slice better after a rest in the fridge, so party day prep is just slicing and plating.
Key Ingredients
A handful of deli aisle staples makes these crowd pleasing turkey pinwheels. Quantities are in the recipe card below; here is why each one matters.
- Cream cheese. The creamy base of the spread. Let it soften on the counter first so it mixes smooth and spreads without tearing the tortillas.
- Whole cranberry sauce. The sweet tart star. Whole berry sauce brings real fruit texture that jellied sauce just cannot match.
- Deli turkey. Thin sliced is the move. We love a cajun or peppered turkey for extra flavor, but any thin sliced deli turkey works beautifully.
- Scallions and parsley. The fresh, herby lift that keeps the rich filling tasting bright, the same combo we lean on in our cream cheese fruit dip family of spreads.
- Large tortillas. The bigger the tortilla, the more swirls per roll. Look for soft, fresh burrito size tortillas that roll without cracking.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
These pinwheels are endlessly adaptable to whatever your party needs.
- Swap the protein. Ham with the cranberry is a holiday classic, and leftover Thanksgiving turkey works perfectly in place of deli slices.
- Change the spread. Stir ranch seasoning or everything bagel seasoning into the cream cheese for a totally different flavor profile.
- Add crunch. A sprinkle of chopped pecans or crispy bacon over the cranberry layer adds texture in every bite.
- Go southwest. Trade the cranberry for salsa and pepper jack, the same crowd pleasing energy as our southwest egg rolls.
- Use flavored tortillas. Spinach or sun dried tomato wraps add color that makes the party platter pop.
How to Make Turkey Pinwheels
- In a medium bowl, mix the cream cheese, mayo, scallion, parsley, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth, then spread it evenly over the tortillas edge to edge.
- Spread the whole cranberry sauce evenly over the cream cheese layer, then lay the sliced deli turkey on top.
- Roll each tortilla up tightly, trim the uneven ends, and slice each roll into 8 even pieces.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Soften the cream cheese fully. Cold cream cheese tears tortillas. Give it 30 to 60 minutes on the counter before mixing.
- Spread edge to edge. The cream cheese is the glue, so coverage all the way to the edges keeps the rolls sealed.
- Drain extra liquid off the cranberry sauce. A thinner, even layer keeps the tortillas from getting soggy.
- Chill before slicing. Thirty minutes in the fridge firms the rolls so they slice into clean, picture pretty spirals.
- Use a sharp serrated knife. A gentle sawing motion cuts through without squishing the swirl, wiping the blade between cuts.
- Make them a day ahead. Wrap the uncut rolls tightly in plastic and slice just before serving, like we do with our cream cheese wonton cups prep.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
These turkey pinwheels were made for the party spread. Set them next to our loaded potato skins and a batch of air fryer buffalo chicken tenders for a game day table nobody leaves hungry.
For holiday gatherings, they are the no oven hero while the main event cooks. Add our crispy onion petals and a bowl of creamy macaroni salad and the appetizer hour takes care of itself.
They also pack beautifully for potlucks and lunchboxes. The rolls travel whole and slice on site, so the spirals arrive picture perfect every time.
Turkey Pinwheels FAQs
Yes, and they are actually better for it. Roll the tortillas, wrap each roll tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate up to 24 hours. The chill firms the filling so the pinwheels slice cleaner. Cut them just before serving for the freshest look.
Spread the cream cheese all the way to the edges first, it acts as a moisture barrier between the tortilla and the cranberry sauce. Drain any loose liquid off the cranberry sauce, use a thin even layer, and keep the rolls wrapped and chilled until serving time.
They are the same idea: tortillas layered with spread and fillings, rolled, and sliced. Pinwheels are usually cut into 1 inch party slices to show off the spiral, while roll ups are sometimes served whole or halved as a lunch. This recipe works either way.
Sliced pinwheels keep in an airtight container for 2 to 3 days. Uncut rolls wrapped tightly in plastic last about 3 days and slice best on day one or two. The tortillas soften over time, so they are at their prettiest within the first 24 hours.
Freezing is not recommended. Cream cheese and tortillas both change texture when thawed, turning watery and gummy. The good news is they take 15 minutes to make fresh, and the uncut rolls hold in the fridge for days.
Softened cream cheese, a little mayo for spreadability, thin sliced scallion, fresh parsley, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. It is a simple herbed spread that complements the sweet cranberry and savory turkey without stealing the show.
Want one more cheesy party bite? Our copycat Pizza Hut cheese sticks are always gone in minutes.
Keep the no bake appetizers coming with our everything bagel cheese ball.
Easy Turkey Pinwheels Recipe (Cranberry Cream Cheese)
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/4 cup mayo
- 1 scallion green part only, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped fine
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 5 cracks fresh black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 large tortillas
- 7 ounces Ocean Spray® Whole Cranberry Sauce
- 1/2 pound thin sliced cajun turkey breast deli meat
Instructions
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the cream cheese, mayo, scallion, parsley, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth. Set aside.
- Lay out tortillas. Evenly spread cream cheese mixture all over the tortillas. Evenly spread the cranberry sauce on top. Lay the sliced deli meat on top of the cranberry.
- Tightly roll up. Cut the very outside pieces off so the rolls will all be the same size (and eat yourself!). Cut into 8 even pieces per roll.
Notes
- You can use any flavor of tortilla that you like with this pinwheel recipe.
- You can substitute whole berry cranberry sauce for regular jellied.
- These can be frozen, see my tips above.
- These can be made ahead of time, also see my tips above on how to do that.
- Since these use cream cheese they need to be refrigerated.
Nutrition
Love This Recipe?
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Well the flavor is great but rolling them up is messy! The cranberry sauce pushes right out when trying to roll them up. I used les and less but still happens!
Good Afternoon;
I will be making these for Thanksgiving this year, thought I would try something different, I usually make my own pinwheels, (which are always a big hit), but want to try something different for a change.
My question is can I make these ahead of time and then freeze them? I would then take out of freezer day before Thanksgiving
Mmmmm, yes that sounds amazing! You could bake them as-is as well, no extra cream cheese 🙂
Could you put cheese on top and bake them to make it a warm appetizer?
As long as it’s very thinly sliced it should work!
Can I use leftover turkey in place of the sliced kind?
I would only make these one day before in the roll and then slice right before serving.
How far in advance could these be made?
This is the perfect holiday appetizer! I love how easy and festive these are. Will be making these for SURE.
I adore cranberries- they look perfect in these pinwheels!