Pinwheel Sandwiches (How to Make the Best Pinwheels)
Pinwheel sandwiches are perfect for packed lunches, picnics and parties, and they’re so easy to make! Why buy them, when they’re better tasting,and less expensive to make at home?
Everyone loves pinwheel sandwiches!
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One of my most popular recipes (first published in 2012) are these cucumber and cream cheese pinwheels.
My children would take them to school in their packed lunches and they were the envy of their friends.
And whenever my daughter would have to bring food to share with her classmates, they didn’t request chocolate chip cookies, but these sandwich rolls!
What are Pinwheel Sandwiches?
Pinwheel sandwiches are made using a flatbread, like lavash or even large flour tortillas with layered fillings that are then rolled and cut into individual servings.
These pinwheel sandwich recipes can have a few as two ingredients or many more, as long as it can be rolled. They are truly very easy to make and anyone can learn how to make them. The possibilities for combinations are endless; you could even make sweet pinwheels (idea: banana and chocolate hazelnut spread.)
They are also much more inexpensive than buying them from your local grocery store.
I took a photo of some Costco pinwheel sandwiches last week and honestly, they didn’t look nearly as appetizing as homemade. Here are a few reasons to make them yourself:
- You decide the quality and quantity of the ingredients (I prefer less meat than the Costco pinwheels.)
- No ingredients included that you do not like. Use gluten free lavash if you desire.
- No allergy issues (these may have nuts, shellfish and many more allergens.)
- Eat the sandwiches fresh (not one or two days old.)
- Much less expensive to make (this small tray was over $15, as you can see.)
Ever heard of a British bacon butty? Now you have!
Can you Make Pinwheels the Night Before?
Yes, pinwheel sandwiches can be made a day in advance, depending on what fillings are used. However, I would advise not using tomatoes, or wet ingredients if you want to make them in advance.
This will also stop your rolled sandwiches from getting soggy. For example, butter, ham and lettuce pinwheels are a good option for making the day before.
How do you Assemble a Pinwheel Sandwich?
Assembling a pinwheel sandwich is a simple 3 step process:
- Choose your ingredients.
- Lay the bread in front of you and layer the fillings on top.
- Roll tightly, and cut into individual sandwiches (sandwich picks are optional.)
The Best Pinwheel Sandwich Bread is not Tortillas
Contrary to most advice, I advise using lavash (Armenian flatbread) or any unleavened flatbread that is square or rectangular in shape, since tortillas are round and you will have oddly shaped sandwich ends, or a lot of “waste”. However, if you can only find flour tortillas, you can use them.
Pinwheel Sandwiches
(How to Make Pinwheels)
Recipes by Christina Conte Each lavash roll makes 4 sandwiches
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW
Ingredients
- flatbread, lavash (preferably) or flour tortillas (gluten free lavash, if desired)
- spread, if using, like butter or mayo
- choice of meats, vegetables and/or cheeses
Optional: sandwich picks (I used ones like these picks)
How to Assemble Pinwheel Sandwiches
~ Butter, Ham and Lettuce (butter lettuce works well)
Butter the lavash bread generously. I love Lewis Road Creamery butter from New Zealand.
Top with slices of ham.
Then layer with leaves of butter lettuce (stem removed.)
Start rolling from the short end.
Place the roll seam side down.
Using a serrated bread knife, cut the sandwich roll in half.
And then into quarters.
Secure each piece using a sandwich pick, or place into a tray tightly so that they don’t unroll (I recommend the picks.)
~ Caprese Pinwheel Rolls (Tomato, Basil & Mozzarella)
Lay the lavash bread on the board and place thinly sliced tomato on top.
Next, cover the tomatoes with basil leaves (leave one end with about one inch of empty bread-see notes.)
Finally, top with thin slices of fresh mozzarella.
Roll tightly, starting from the opposite end of the bread with the 1″ space.
Skewer with a sandwich pick.
These sandwiches require a pick to hold together.
And these are also best enjoyed as soon as possible, as the tomato will eventually make the bread soggy.
~Club Pinwheel Sandwiches (turkey, tomato, cheese, bacon and lettuce)
Spread some mayo (if desired) over the lavash bread.
Place butter lettuce leaves on the mayo (remove the hard stem first.)
Add slices of thin turkey meat.
Then top with the thinly sliced tomatoes.
And then the cheese (I used white Cheddar, but use larger slices than these for easier rolling.)
Top with cooked bacon rashers.
Roll tightly, cut into 4 servings and secure with sandwich skewers.
You may get lucky and end up with a heart-shaped tomato in the center of your pinwheel sandwich!
~BLT Pinwheel Sandwiches (bacon, lettuce and tomato)
By now, you know the drill: butter or mayo on your lavash bread. Follow with sliced tomatoes, bacon and end with butter lettuce leaves. Roll, cut, and secure with a sandwich pick.
~Pinwheel Sandwiches Using Flour Tortillas
Making pinwheels in tortillas is exactly the same except you’re working with a round base. I made a ham, tomato and lettuce combination here.
You’ll see that once you roll it, the ends won’t be even, and you’ll have to cut them to a square to make them look even. If you don’t mind them looking wonky, just leave them and enjoy as is. Leftover tortillas? Make tortilla soup!
However you make them, I hope you have fun with this pinwheel sandwich recipe! Choose your own fillings and let me know which is your favorite in the comments below, especially if you come up with something unique! The filling in this ham sandwich would be delicious, too!
While not the same type of pinwheels, these mincemeat pinwheels are a sweet treat with a pinwheel design from my friend across the sea, Jill at Mad About Macarons! You could even switch out the mincemeat for your favorite jam.
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Pinwheel Sandwiches
Special Equipment
- 4 sandwich picks recommended
Ingredients
- 1 sheet lavash bread
- ½ oz butter or mayo (if desired)
- 10 slices ham (nitrate free, preferred)
- 10 leaves butter lettuce
OTHER OPTIONS: Your choice of meat, vegetables and/or cheese
Instructions
- Place the lavash bread on a board, and spread with butter or mayo (if desired.)
- Layer ingredients.
- Roll tightly, and seam side down, cut into four equal pieces.
- Secure with sandwich picks, and serve or refrigerate.
- (If using tortilla, follow the same directions, but cut the ends off for equal sized pieces.) Also, you will only get two or 3 pieces from each tortilla, depending on the size.
Notes
- Leave a short edge with about 1" of empty space and start rolling from the opposite end as the ingredients tend to migrate to the edge.
- Roll as tightly as possible without breaking the bread.
- Tomatoes and wet ingredients are recommended in making pinwheels ahead of time.
- DO NOT FREEZE.
- Nutrition info is for 1 lavash pinwheel with butter, ham and lettuce.
- For ham, turkey club, Caprese and more, see full post.
Nutrition
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Love your new look. Fresh and clean.
Your lavash pin wheels were a big hit at a Carnival event.
Thank you for the great and simple to make recipes.
Lucy
These look like they would be so tasty for a early lunch with coffee! I am going to make these soon! Thanks!
Well these brought back memories, as I used to make versions of these for my kids. They’re now 40 and 38! But I do make smoked salmon with cream cheese pinwheels for my grand kids. They eat a lot of different foods than mine ever did at their ages!
Christina, you are absolutely right pinwheels are fun, great for lunches, pot luck and picnics! Thanks for the inspiration.
Happy New Year!
Velva
Missed this, that’s true! Thank YOU! Hope you’re having a good start to the year!
No wonder your daughter’s classmates would ask for these! They look fabulous and particularly love the BLT and caprese ones – so colourful and so much healthier than you’d buy at a price too.
Thanks, Jill! They are rather more-ish!
Well, I can’t say I ever serve pinwheels to guests, but mark and I use the same method (including TJ’s lavash) to make sandwiches for travel. Each lavash makes 2 perfectly portioned sandwiches for us. In addition to Mayo, I often spread some Calabrian chiles before adding meat, cheese, and — on occasion — a very thin omelet. Perhaps I should serve them to guests — they rea;ly are wonderful!
Guests at a Superbowl party, potluck or picnic, YES!!! I love the chile addition, David! I will have to make some using those!