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Close-up of golden pinwheels with fig jam and goat cheese on parchment, styled for a seasonal spread; ideal for Fall Veggie Appetizers, creative Savory Chocolate Appetizers pairings, elegant New Year's Eve Food Ideas, and hearty Vegetarian Party Food Ideas, Christmas Appetizers With Puff Pastry.

Festive Fig & Goat Cheese Pinwheels — Best Christmas Appetizers With Puff Pastry

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  • Author: Jennifer
  • Yield: 12-14 pinwheels 1x
  • Category: Appetizer

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed but still cold
  • ½ cup fig jam or preserves
  • 4 oz (about 115 g) goat cheese, broken into small pieces
  • 2 tbsp light brown sugar
  • 45 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves removed and chopped
  • 1 large egg, beaten (for brushing)
  • Optional: a handful of chopped walnuts or pecans for crunch


Instructions

  1. Unfold the pastry on a piece of parchment on your countertop. Keep the dough chilled until you’re ready to work so it stays flaky.
  2. Spread the fig jam in a thin, even layer over the dough, leaving a ½-inch clean border all the way around.
  3. Scatter the crumbled goat cheese across the jam, then sprinkle the brown sugar and thyme leaves over the top. If you want extra texture, add the chopped nuts now.
  4. Starting at one long edge, roll the pastry up tightly into a log. Wrap the log in the parchment and chill it in the freezer or fridge for about 20 minutes — this firms it up and makes neat slicing easier.
  5. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment.
  6. Using a very sharp knife, cut the chilled log into rounds roughly ½-inch thick. Arrange the rounds cut-side up on the prepared sheet, leaving space between each.
  7. Brush each pinwheel with the beaten egg to encourage a golden finish.
  8. Bake 15–20 minutes, until the pastry is puffed and deep golden. Transfer to a rack to cool slightly before serving.

Notes

Quick handling tip: If the filling starts to squeeze out while rolling, press the seam gently to seal and chill a bit longer before slicing.