Easy Cheesy Pizza Party Pinwheels

Ingredients

• 1 tube Refrigerated pizza crust dough (Unrolled; approximately 13–14 oz (use one grocery-store tube).)
• 0.5 cup Pizza sauce, for filling (About half a cup, for brushing over the dough.)
• 1 cup Pizza-blend mozzarella cheese (Shredded.)
• Pepperoni (Optional; use small-cut pepperoni and add sparingly to avoid overstuffing.)
• Dried basil (Optional garnish, sprinkled over the baked pinwheels.)
• Pizza sauce, for dipping (Extra sauce, for serving.)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. 2

   Unroll the refrigerated pizza crust onto a cutting board, keeping it in a broad rectangle and repairing any tears or thin spots as needed.

3. 3

   Spread approximately 1/2 cup of pizza sauce evenly over the surface of the dough, leaving a small border around the edges so the filling is less likely to escape while rolling.

4. 4

   Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella pizza blend evenly over the sauce.

5. 5

   If using pepperoni, scatter a modest amount over the cheese. Avoid adding too much, since an overstuffed roll is harder to seal and cut.

6. 6

   Starting from one long side of the rectangle, roll the dough into a tight log. Pinch or press the ends closed to help keep the cheese and sauce inside.

7. 7

   Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut the log into 10 or 11 evenly sized pinwheels.

8. 8

   Arrange the pinwheels cut-side up on the parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving a little space between them for expansion.

9. 9

   Bake for approximately 15–20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the exposed pizza dough is golden brown on top. Begin checking at 15 minutes, as ovens and dough brands vary.

10. 10

    Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the pinwheels cool until comfortable to handle, since they are intended as finger food.

11. 11

    Sprinkle the warm pinwheels with dried basil, if desired. Serve with extra pizza sauce for dipping.

Notes

Optional pizza toppings can be added before rolling, but use them sparingly to prevent the pinwheels from becoming overstuffed, spilling, or becoming difficult to roll. The creator notes that small-cut pepperoni works well as an optional topping.

Nutrition per serving

• appetizer
• snack
• vegetarian-optional
• baked
• finger food
• party food
• kid-friendly
• pizza