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.
Recipe
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.
- 6 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
- 35 slices pepperoni
- ½ cup pizza sauce
- 2 tubes Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations Seamless Dough Sheets or use about 20 ounces of puff pastry or pizza dough
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
-
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.
-
Roll the dough into a 13" long log.
-
Freeze your dough for 30 minutes.
-
Then, cut into thirteen 1" slices.
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Arrange 12 the pinwheels cut-side-up on the baking tray forming a big X and a big O.
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Bake the pizza pinwheels for 12-15 minutes until golden brown, rotating the pan halfway through.
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If desired, transfer the pinwheels to a large serving platter or cutting board using a cake spatula.
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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.
- Irresistible Sweets with Dixie Crystals® - July 13, 2024
- How to make peanut butter? - February 15, 2024
- OREO Penguins - December 20, 2023
Pamela says
Hi Beth, Is it possible to prepare these a day prior and then pull them from the freezer when ready to bake?
Beth says
Hi Pamela,
I have not tried that, but I think it would work fine. Enjoy this fun Valentine's Day dinner.
Beth
Pamela says
Hi Beth,
These were easy to make and turned out great. I couldn’t find the dough sheets, so I bought the regular crescent rolls and pinched the seams together as you suggested to another commenter. It worked just fine. Thanks!
Beth says
I am so glad to hear they turned out so well using traditional crescent rolls. That is great to know. I hope you had a nice Valentine's Day!
Abby says
DO you need to freeze the dough?
Beth says
It's not mandatory, but it does make the dough cold and it will puff up better if it is cold.
Anonymous says
Could you use this to make letter?? I want to make this for my sons birthday and use Ty????
beth says
Yes, you can create any letters you'd like with these pinwheels.
Joanna says
Made this last V-day for my fiance. It was so yummy and fun to eat he wants me to make it again today.
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
I hope he enjoys it yet again this year. Have a Happy Valentine's Day.
Anonymous says
Will Pillsbury pizza dough thin crust work?? Couldn't find seamless dough.
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Yes, I would think it would work great.
Anonymous says
Why does that picture with the XO on the baking sheet look Photoshopped...
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
This was one of my very first posts when I began this blog and my pictures didn't look great. I was just learning to use Photoshop and my original picture of the pinwheel on the tin foil looked terrible, so I thought I could fix it. What a disaster. You are right it looks so bad. I've learned a lot since then, and believe my pictures have gotten a lot better.
Anonymous says
i just made these, waiting for the oven to be ready. i couldnt find any seamless dough, so i got the ones with seams. and when i tried rolling it, it all broke apart. so i unrolled it, and teard it at the seams then just rolled up the little pieces, it worked out well. i didnt do them in any shapes like you, i just put them all together in a small pan and topped with some shredded cheese. im looking forward ot eating them:)
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Hi Anonymous,
I hope your pinwheels taste great. If you can find the seamless dough sheets, you can pinch together the seams in regular crescent roll or use Puff Pastry instead.
anandhi says
Hey, nice site you have here! Keep up the excellent work!Pizza Equipment
Michelle says
Those are great! I like the idea of just pureeing everything together to get a smooth consistency. So fun for V-day!