Thanksgiving week continues and today I’m sharing an appetizer everyone will love! Inspired by a popular sandwich, these baked Monte Cristo Pinwheels, with sweet ham, tender turkey, tangy Swiss cheese and Triple Berry Fruit Spread, are sweet and savory and will be a hit at all season long!
I love that Thanksgiving traditions are so similar and yet can be so unique and different in every home across the nation. Yes, we all gather with friends and family on the same day, and usually all have turkey, but the best way to make said turkey (fried, smoked, oven roasted) and the sides that go with it, can vary from region to region.
And dare I say it, there are even those families that don’t fuss over a big meal at home, but take advantage of the handful of restaurants open on Thanksgiving and go out to eat before heading out to shop.
Even the best time to serve dinner various from family to family. Growing up, my aunt or grandmother usually hosted Thanksgiving and would always serve Thanksgiving dinner promptly at 1pm. Sure this time was great for the guys who wanted to sit and relax after the feast while cheering on their favorite football team, but such an early dinner was not only stressful for the families driving in from out of town, but made for an early day for those helping to prepare the food.
Eric’s family is the opposite. Getting together early to watch the parade on TV and then the entire family gathering in an almost ceremonial way to watch as the turkey is lowered into the turkey fryer. Then the family working together, while football is on in the background, to cook and snack on appetizers, and then sitting down to dinner later in the afternoon around 3 or 4.
Eric’s family is the opposite. Getting together early to watch the parade on TV and then the entire family gathering in an almost ceremonial way to watch as the turkey is lowered into the turkey fryer. Then the family working together, while football is on in the background, to cook and snack on appetizers, and then sitting down to dinner later in the afternoon around 3 or 4.
Now as the next generation is taking over the Thanksgiving duties, I have now hosted or helped host Thanksgiving dinner a time or two and always host our annual Friendsgiving. Even though it can be a lot of work, I loving fussing over the menu, the decor and preparing the food. And after having to host a few Thanksgiving/Friendsgiving dinners in my day, I have learned a lot over the years and have a lot of tips and tricks to make it a little bit easier.
Taken from my in-law’s way of doing things, I am all for making the dinner sit down time late afternoon. Thus allowing for more time to prepare the meal (and clean house!!) before guests arrive and not fill so rushed. Because of this later eat time, I make sure and have plenty of snacks/appetizers on hand for myself and when guests arrive early to help or hang out.
Taken from my in-law’s way of doing things, I am all for making the dinner sit down time late afternoon. Thus allowing for more time to prepare the meal (and clean house!!) before guests arrive and not fill so rushed. Because of this later eat time, I make sure and have plenty of snacks/appetizers on hand for myself and when guests arrive early to help or hang out.
One of the appetizers I always make is some variation of pinwheels. They are a great party app because they are so easy, made with store bought dough and deli meats and cheeses, and EVERYONE loves them! Taking short cuts, like using store bought dough, sauces and spreads in the kitchen during the holidays or when preparing such a big meal, especially if you are hosting and making most if not all the food, is essential for making Thanksgiving dinner a hit and less stressful as the host!
My latest version of my “famous” pinwheel appetizer is inspired by a popular sandwich. I picked up everything I needed for these Monte Cristo Pinwheels, including the important dipping sauce, Smucker’s Fruit & Honey Triple Berry Fruit Spread, while stocking up on Friendsgiving staples at Walmart. I have used Smucker’s Fruit & Honey Fruit Spreads before in baking and cooking and love not only the simple ingredients, like being naturally sweetened with honey, but also appreciate the variety of flavors these spreads come in; like Smucker’s Fruit & Honey Strawberry Fruit Spread and Smucker’s Fruit & Honey Blueberry Lemon Fruit Spread. In fact, in addition to dishing up these delightful and easy Monte Cristo Pinwheels at our recent Friendsgiving dinner, I poured the sweet and spicy Smucker’s Fruit & Honey Strawberry Jalapeno Fruit Spread over a block of cream cheese and served it with some crackers for an even easier three ingredient, five second appetizer!
My Monte Cristo Pinwheels and that super easy cream cheese dip was such a hit at Friendsgiving that I know I will be making these two appetizers all holiday season long!
Monte Cristo Pinwheels
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Inspired by a popular sandwich, these baked Monte Cristo Pinwheels, are sweet and savory will definitely be your go to appetizer recipe all season long!
Course: Appetizer
Servings: 15 pinwheels
Ingredients
- 1 (12-ounce) can refrigerated crescent rolls
- 2 tablespoons Smucker's Fruit & Honey Triple Berry Fruit Spread, plus more for serving
- 4 thin slices deli ham
- 4 thin slices deli turkey
- 8 thin slices deli swiss cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2-3 tablespoons powdered sugar, optional for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper and set aside.
- Unroll dough into four rectangles pressing together the perforations. Spread a thin layer of the fruit spread over each dough rectangle. Top fruit spread with two slices of cheese, one slice of turkey and one slice of ham.
- Starting at the short side of the dough, roll up dough sheet into a long log shape. Using a serrated knife, cut each roll into approximately 5 slices. Arrange slices on a baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, whisk egg. Brush egg over raw pinwheels.
- Bake pinwheels in a 375 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately remove from baking sheet and transfer to a serving plate. Pour powdered sugar into a small mesh colander and dust the pinwheels with powdered sugar. Serve warm with additional Smucker's Fruit & Honey Triple Berry Fruit Spread for dipping.
Stock up on all the flavors of the Smucker’s Fruit & Honey Fruit Spreads, including the two new flavors- Smucker’s Fruit & Honey Strawberry Jalapeno Fruit Spread and Smucker’s Fruit & Honey Concord Grape Fruit Spread- while shopping at Walmart. For more yummy recipes and time saving entertaining ideas, click here. And be sure to take advantage of the current ibotta offer and earn $1.00 off Smucker’s Fruit & Honey Fruit Spread!