Blue Cheese Cherry and Pistachio Crescent Pinwheels with Honey are the perfect bite for any “tis the season” situation – you know, when you need a holiday appetizer that is quick, easy and sure to disappear off the platter faster than Santa up the chimney.  

True, these warm and gooey, savory and sweet hors d’oeuvres fall more on my splurge list due to the pre-made crescent dough used in the making.  However, I see no reason not to treat myself to few carb-wonderful days during these weeks of celebrating. Also, good news, if you follow a gluten-free diet, I have seen a gluten free version of this refrigerated dough on the market shelves. Read on to get the recipe:

I first made this 15 minute appetizer recipe for Litehouse Foods using their Blue Cheese Crumbles (a fabulous, award winning product I have used a zillion different ways). I always have a tub of blue cheese in my fridge as a quick way to add a blast of bold flavor to salads, pastas, pizza, steak, and more – like this recipe for Blue Cheese Cherry and Pistachio Crescent Pinwheels with Honey.

With each easy-to-make baked pinwheel you’ll enjoy the taste and texture of warm, flakey pastry wrapped around a combo of blue cheese and cream cheese that has been speckled with sweet-tart dried cherries and salty, nutty pistachios. A drizzle of local honey just before ensures that this easy blue cheese appetizer is all the buzz at your Christmas party or New Year’s Eve celebration – or really, any holiday entertaining.

All there is to making this easy holiday appetizer is to spread out my blue cheese, cherry and pistachio spread (can stand alone as a party dip) on a large rectangle of refrigerated crescent dough. The dough is then rolled up into a log and then sliced crosswise into pinwheels that puff up into the most delicious sweet-savory bites in the oven. To ensure that I don’t run out of fresh-baked Blue Cheese Cherry and Pistachio Crescent Pinwheels at my Christmas party, I make two batches – one I cook right before the guests arrive and the second, I leave sliced but uncooked on the baking sheet. I keep the ready-to-go baking sheet in the fridge, and when the serving platter runs low, I just pop the new batch in the oven for 12 minutes.

Note: If you are not a blue cheese fan, feta cheese crumbles would make a great substitution.

Do you prefer blue cheese or feta cheese? What is your favorite holiday appetizer? Please share in the comments – XOXO, Jennifer