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Snack & Appetizers

Speck Pinwheels with Sandwich Bread

Speck Pinwheels with Sandwich Bread: a quick, no-cook appetizer with herbed cream cheese and smoky speck, perfect for buffets.
Recipe Speck Pinwheels with Sandwich Bread
  • Difficulty Medium
  • Preparation 10 minutes
  • Servings for 4 people

Looking for quick aperitivo ideas that surprise your guests with just a few ingredients and an inviting presentation? Try this speck pinwheels recipe, a cold appetizer that brings cheer and flavor to your table in no time. Imagine soft slices of white sandwich bread rolled up with creamy chive-flavored cheese and a generous layer of speck, the smoked cured ham from northern Italy: the result is tasty sandwich bread bites, perfect for finger food, buffets and brunch with friends.

Anyone who loves practical, tasty snacks won’t be able to resist these sandwich bread and speck pinwheels, designed for those who want easy savory pinwheels without turning on the oven or spending hours in the kitchen. Just gently flatten the sandwich bread, spread it with the cream cheese and finish with slices of smoky speck: a few simple moves for savory party snacks with great visual impact that will disappear from the tray in minutes.

These speck and cheese bites are so versatile that you can turn them into baked sandwich bread rolls for a warm, gooey alternative, or serve them cold for snacks or dinners with friends. Also perfect as an appetizer to make ahead, they leave you free to enjoy your guests’ company without last-minute stress. We also invite you to try other tasty recipes such as Pasta with Cream and Speck, Mezze Maniche with Cream, Speck and Zucchini and the original Baked Belgian Endive with Speck, ideal for making the most of this cured meat. Find out how to make savory pinwheels everyone loves and treat your guests to a colorful, flavorful and cheerful aperitivo.

Ingredients for 4 people

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Method

  1. To make these super easy, quick speck pinwheels, start by laying the slices of sandwich bread on a clean cutting board. Using a rolling pin, flatten them gently with light pressure: this makes the bread thinner, firmer and more flexible, so it’s easier to roll up without breaking.
  2. Take a bowl and add the cream cheese. Add a grind of black pepper to taste and the chives, finely chopped beforehand (or snipped with scissors). Stir vigorously with a spoon until you have a smooth, well-flavored cream.
  3. Spread an even layer of the cheese cream over each flattened slice of bread, almost to the edges. Then lay the slices of speck on top, taking care to leave a couple of millimeters free around the edges so the filling doesn’t spill out too much.
    Flattened bread spread with chive cream cheese and topped with speck
  4. If you want to add a fresh, slightly peppery note, scatter a few arugula leaves or baby salad leaves over the speck now. Then roll up the slices of bread, starting from the short side, rolling tightly to make compact cylinders.
  5. Wrap each roll individually in plastic wrap, twisting the ends like a candy wrapper to seal it well and hold its shape. Put the rolls in the fridge and let them rest for about an hour; this step is essential so the bread takes on the flavors and the rolls firm up for perfect slicing.
  6. After the resting time, take the rolls out of the fridge and remove the plastic wrap. With a very sharp knife, cut the cylinders into slices as thick as you like (about 2 cm, 3/4 inch) to make your pinwheels.
    Slicing the chilled rolls into pinwheels
  7. Arrange the speck pinwheels on a serving tray, neatly or creatively. To make them even more inviting, sprinkle them with another handful of fresh chives. If you’re serving them at a standing buffet, you can spear each pinwheel with a decorative toothpick to make them easier to pick up. Finally, remember to download our App with exclusive content and fewer ads!

Variations and Alternatives

This recipe lends itself to endless variations. Instead of speck you can use ham, salami, or smoked salmon for a fish version. The cheese can vary too: try fresh goat cheese or robiola for different shades of flavor.

Tips

If you’re in a real hurry and have guests on the way, you can skip the rest in the fridge and slice the pinwheels right away; just handle them gently because they’ll be less firm. For clean cuts, wipe the knife blade with paper towels between slices.

Storage

You can keep the speck pinwheels in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 24 hours. Freezing isn’t recommended, because the cheese and bread would lose their ideal texture.

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