These pillows of flaky dough are spiraled with spiced-just-right creamy filling. Fresh minced jalapeno gives flavor and a hint of heat, while cream cheese cools the palate.

Shredded cheddar brings a splash of color and sharpness to these little appetizers that are as easy to make as they are delicious. Perfect for Super Bowl Sunday or any day, these snacks are always a fan favorite!

This delicious hot appetizer is a easy to make!

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What are Cheesy Jalapeno Pinwheels?

These tasty little bundles of cheesy goodness were heavily influenced by Pampered Chef’s Cheesy Bacon Bites. Those little finger foods were popular back in the late 90s, mostly because they were so easy and inexpensive to make. But like so many fad foods, they faded away as new recipe ideas and flavor profiles came to the forefront of people’s attention.

Cheesy Jalapeno Pinwheels have the same structure as the original recipe, but the meat has been replaced with jalapeno peppers. For a tasty variation, you can stir 1/4 cup of crumbled bacon into the mixture for added depth of flavor and additional texture.

This finger food is a crowd pleaser at parties and potlucks alike!

Do I Have to Use a Fresh Jalapeno Pepper?

Using fresh pepper is your best option for these little bits of yum. It adds texture and bright specks of color to your appetizer, and to me it has a better flavor.

But if you can’t find fresh peppers or don’t have any on hand, you can use the pickled version. Drain and press the pickled peppers on a paper towel before you use them. This will avoid watering down the cream cheese mixture.

You can also substitute different peppers to create milder or more pungent treats. If you’re afraid of experimenting with different types of peppers because of spice level, check out my blog post about pepper head and the Scoville scale. It’s called “How Hot Is My Pepper?” and will guide you to choosing the best pepper for your palate.

Cream cheese and jalapeno peppers are the stars of this snack

How Else Can I Vary the Recipe?

Even though this recipe is written using a traditional roll of prepared crescent roll dough, I recently discovered a product that makes prep even easier! Pillsbury now has crescent roll sheets–no pesky little triangle seams to iron out!

The sheets still come in a roll, and you’ll find them in the refrigerated cases at the grocery store, just like the original, perforated dough. I am excited to try the sheets, but if you beat me to it, comment below about your experience with them!

These easy appetizers use just a few ingredients but have layers of flavor.

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine cream cheese, minced jalapeno pepper, cheese, garlic salt, onion powder, and pepper until well mixed. I like using my Kitchen Aid stand mixer any time I’m working with cream cheese since it’s so thick.
Unroll the crescent roll dough on wax paper or another nonstick surface so it forms a rectangle. Use a hand held pastry roller or rolling pin to press out the seams.
Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the dough.
Roll the dough, beginning with the long side, so you end with a long roll of pastry.
Pinch the seam to seal the roll.
Slice the roll into 1/2u0022 medallions. Lay them on an ungreased baking sheet.
Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

Looking for Food to Feed a Crowd?

Our easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork uses just three ingredients, so it’s a cinch to make
Hit the grill with our super big, super messy BBQ Bacon Stuffed Burgers
Nobody can resist a classic like The Best Old-Fashioned Potato Salad