Hugs and Kisses Pizza Pinwheels

Signing a card or letter with XOXOXOXO is a special way of telling the recipient that you are sending hugs and kisses their way.  This Valentine’s Day send your loved ones hugs and kisses in the form of pizza pinwheels.

This Valentine’s Day dinner is easy using Pillsbury Crescents Recipe Creations Seamless Dough Sheets, pizza sauce, cheese, and pepperoni.

You could also use pizza crust or puff pastry if you aren’t able to find the seamless crescent rolls.

This recipe will make one X and one O.

You’ll need to double the recipe if you want two of each letter, or simply make your pinwheels smaller by cutting each crescent sheet in half lengthwise before rolling them into logs. You will have four logs instead of 2 to cut into 1″ slices, they will just be smaller in diameter.

Let’s make crescent roll pizza pinwheels for Valentine’s Day dinner!

Ingredients

mozzarella cheese – I prefer to buy blocks of cheese and shred it using a cheese grater or food processor because the cheese melts more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese (which contains Cellulose which is a plant fiber that is added to keep shredded cheeses from clumping together).

pepperoni – If you don’t own a food processor, you’ll want to finely chop your pepperoni so it’s easier to roll up into the pinwheel.

pizza sauce – Use your favorite marinara or pizza sauce. If you don’t have a food processor, it will be best to use a smooth sauce instead of one that has chunks of tomatoes or other ingredients.

Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations Seamless Dough Sheets – These are seamless sheets of crescent dough that come in a tube and are easy to roll out.

alternative dough – You can also use puff pastry or pizza dough. If you are really in a pinch (pun intended), you can use regular crescent rolls but you will have to pinch all the seams together.

Equipment

food processor – This is optional but it will make creating these pizza pinwheels much easier.

baking sheet lined with non-stick aluminum foil

         or a non-stick baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray

Instructions:

step 1 – make the filling and spread on the dough

• Combine the mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, and pizza sauce in the bowl of a food processor and puree until fairly smooth.
• Alternatively, you can finely chop or grate your cheese and pepperoni then mix them into the sauce.
• Unroll a crescent dough sheet.
• Spread half of the mixture on each dough sheet.

step 2 – roll and cut the pinwheels

• Roll the dough into a 13″ long log.
• Freeze your dough for 30 minutes.
• Then, cut into thirteen 1″ slices.

step 3 – arrange and bake

• Arrange 12 pinwheels in an “X” on the prepared baking sheet.
• Arrange 13 pinwheels in an “O” on the baking sheet.
• You will have one extra pinwheel.
• Go ahead and bake it, because you know you will want to snack on one!
• Bake the pizza pinwheels in a 400-degree oven for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.
  • I recommend you rotate the pan after 6 minutes to evenly brown all the pinwheels.
• Serve while hot.

NOTES:

My “X” and “O” look very neat in the picture above because I didn’t think to take a picture of them right out of the oven.  I cleaned off the pizza mixture that had oozed out from under each pinwheel before snapping my shot.  The cheesy mixture will ooze, I guarantee it!

If you want to transfer the “X” and “O” to a serving platter, use an oven spatula. to lift the pinwheels off the pan. Spray the spatula with cooking spray before sliding it under the pinwheels. The oven spatula is one of my top five favorite kitchen gadgets.

5 from 1 vote

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Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels (X's and O's)

Prep Time

45 mins

Cook Time

12 mins

Freeze

30 mins

 

Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels are baked in the shape of X's and O's. These hugs and kisses pinwheels will make a fun Valentine's Day dinner.

Course: Appetizer, Dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: pepperoni, pizza

Servings: 8

Author: Beth

Ingredients

• 6 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
• 35 slices pepperoni
• 1/2 cup pizza sauce
• 2 tubes Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations Seamless Dough Sheets or use about 20 ounces of puff pastry or pizza dough

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Combine the mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, and pizza sauce in the bowl of a food processor and puree until fairly smooth.
3. Alternatively, you can finely chop or grate your cheese and pepperoni then mix them into the sauce.
4. Unroll a crescent dough sheet.
5. Spread half of the mixture on each dough sheet.
6. Roll the dough into a 13" long log.
7. Freeze your dough for 30 minutes.
8. Then, cut into thirteen 1" slices.
9. Arrange 12 the pinwheels cut-side-up on the baking tray forming a big X and a big O.

10. Bake the pizza pinwheels for 12-15 minutes until golden brown, rotating the pan halfway through.

11. If desired, transfer the pinwheels to a large serving platter or cutting board using a cake spatula.

12. Serve while hot.

More Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas

This heart-shaped Chicken Parmesan will please kids and adults alike. It’s easy to make look festive for Valentine’s Day.

If your loved ones prefer something a little spicier, make these Chicken Enchilada Hearts topped with enchilada sauce and lots of gooey cheese.

For something a little healthier, you might like to serve Chicken with Balsamic Tomatoes. When it’s served in a heart shape it’s perfect for Valentine’s Day dinner.

 If you are looking for other treats or gifts to make for Valentine’s Day, you might like these other recipes too.