By Melissa Clark
- Total Time
- 45 minutes, plus 30 minutes’ chilling
- Rating
- 4(281)
- Notes
- Read community notes
These crunchy, savory snacks have the irresistible can’t-stop-eating nature of cheese straws, but with the added allure of a sprinkle of herby, sesame-flecked za’atar, a Middle Eastern seasoning mix available in large supermarkets and spice shops. Rolled into logs and sliced into pinwheels before baking, they puff into domes in the oven’s heat, turning golden, crisp and wonderfully flaky. If you can find all-butter puff pastry, it really makes a difference here, adding a rich, deep flavor and an especially bronzed color.
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Ingredients
Yield:About 3½ dozen
- ⅔cup grated Parmesan
- 1½tablespoons za’atar, plus more for garnish
- ⅛teaspoon fine salt
- Pinch of ground cayenne
- 1(14- to 16-ounce) package puff pastry, thawed if frozen but still cold
- All-purpose flour, for rolling (optional)
- 1large egg, lightly beaten
- Flaky sea salt, for finishing
- Sesame seeds, for finishing (optional)
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (42 servings)
68 calories; 5 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 2 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 5 grams carbohydrates; 0 grams dietary fiber; 0 grams sugars; 2 grams protein; 60 milligrams sodium
Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Preparation
Step
1
In a medium bowl, combine Parmesan, za’atar, salt and cayenne.
Step
2
On a piece of parchment paper, roll out the cold puff pastry into a 12-by-16-inch rectangle, about ⅛ inch thick. (If the rolling pin sticks, you can flour it very lightly.)
Step
3
Position puff pastry so the longer side is facing you. Lightly brush the egg wash across the pastry and sprinkle the za’atar-Parmesan mixture all over the egg-washed surface in an even layer, leaving a ¼-inch border on the longer side farthest from you. Using a rolling pin, gently roll over the top of the za’atar-Parmesan mixture. Save the remaining egg wash to use on the puff pastry before baking.
Step
4
Using a sharp knife or bench scraper, cut the puff pastry in half crosswise. Starting with the half closest to you, roll the dough into a tight log; finish with the ¼-inch border seam underneath, pinching it to seal. Repeat with remaining dough.
Step
5
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (you can reuse the one you rolled the dough on).
Step
6
Transfer logs onto the prepared baking sheet. Cover with another piece of parchment and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 6 hours.
Step
7
Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Uncover dough logs, and line another baking sheet with parchment. (You can use the one covering the logs.)
Step
8
Transfer the logs to a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, slice each log into ¼-inch-thick rounds. Using an offset spatula or metal spatula, place the pinwheels on parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart. (You might need a third baking sheet; if they don’t all fit in your oven at the same time, refrigerate one baking sheet until ready to bake.)
Step
9
Using reserved egg wash, lightly brush egg onto pinwheels and sprinkle with more za’atar, and flaky salt and sesame seeds, if you like.
Step
10
Bake pinwheels until golden brown and puffed (some will puff into domes), 20 to 30 minutes, rotating sheet pans halfway through. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. These are best served warm, but will keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
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4
out of 5
281
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Cooking Notes
Pedantic in Portland
Za'atar is both an herb and a spice mixture. The herb is in the oregano family, so yes, oregano would work well as a substitute. Oregano along with white sesame seeds, sumac and salt would work for the spice blend here, which presumably is what the author is referring to. Other herbs, specifically thyme are often used, but in terms of flavor oregano is the closest substitute.
Sherry
If you're near a Trader Joe's, they have a Za'atar blend in the spice section.
suzan fawcett
Za'atar is a combination of herbs. Different regions use different combinations in the middle east.
debbykc
Want to try however need clarification of the recipe. The 12” x 16” pastry is cut ‘crosswise’. If 16” side is east/west and 12” side is north/south is the cut north/south OR East/west? I would appreciate your help—-
Amy H.
Crosswise means to cut it parallel to the shorter side, from the side away from you to the side closest to you, so you end up with two 12 x 8 squares, with the 1/4" plain strip along the side furthest away from you on both (used to seal the pinwheel after rolling). I'm assuming you cut it to make it easier to roll the somewhat floppy dough into the pinwheel; rolling a 16" long pinwheel would be more difficult to manage.(Cutting lengthwise would be from right to left, parallel to the 16" side)
Lorraine
I would say across the short side since you leave 1/4 inch edge along the top long side.
Denver Doctor
We cut them lengthwise in half so that we had 2 (two) 6 inch tall by 16 inch long logs. This gives the number of turns in the pinwheel shown in the photo (approximately). We left 1/4inch on both long sides, but it won't matter is there is no border as you can just pinch the seam together, spices and all.
Gene B
I think the confusion over which way to cut (Step 4) is caused by the word "half," because in fact neither half is closer to you when the dough is cut perpendicular to the long side (like the spine of a book in front of you). Thus I would suggest replacing "half" with "edge," which I think more clearly conveys that you roll each half starting from the edge closest to you, ending with the quarter-inch border on the farther side.
Mary Beth
I found it confusing that the recipe says to use 1 package of puff pastry. The most common brand, Pepperidge Farm, has 2 sheets of pastry. But nowhere in the recipe does it mention a second sheet. Did I just waste my za’atar-Parmesan mix on one sheet when I should be dividing it for the second sheet?
Neil
This is the first Melissa Clark recipe that we didn't love. They came out dry & bland.
sonal
Used extra zaatar. Should have used the full amount of parm and a little extra. Topped with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and maldon salt.
judith
can the logs be frozen, thawed, and then baked later?
SUSAN NAKAGAWA
Simply underwhelming. There are better uses for puff pastry.
judith
can the logs be frozen and later thawed, sliced and baked?
J Nem
It needed something. Others mentioned using labneh or muhammara as a dip - hummus or tzatziki would work, too. I think labneh or whole yogurt with more za'atar mixed in and a squeeze of lemon would be good, too. I thought, without some kind of dip, it was a little dry and didn't deliver the herbiness of za'atar that I was hoping for.
judith
can the prepared pinwheels be refrigerated and baked the following day?
Dip in Labne
Little bland on its own - but dipped in labneh - this is amazing. The Cava everything but the bagel labneh is perfect.
Hermine
I made these for my first screened porch co*cktail party yesterday and I solved the cutting question for the puff pastry. I purchased a package with two 7 oz sheets. Easy peasy...rolled each one separately and topped as the recipe described. I made my own Za'atar spice mix. I did add some grated lemon zest, a pinch of cayenne and Maldon sea salt for the topping. They were such fun to make, looked beautiful and my guests raved.
cindy
I baked these for 25 minutes, checking them earlier, but they were burned to a crisp. At 20 minutes they were just turning a little golden. I'd suggest slicing the rolls thicker than 1/4” and taking them out of the oven when they just begin to turn gold.
jpm
This is a Serious no. Love all ingredients., but not this way
Rebekah de Moratinos
I love just about anything with za'atar in it, but these were just "meh." If I try again, I will grate some lemon zest into the filling.
Catharine
Great idea about the lemon zest!
ellen
Not bad! Not extraordinary though. I do predict using an all butter pastry dough would have made a huge difference.The flavor is pretty mild; using a high quality parm is going to make a difference (mine was from Whole Foods). Somehow mine ended up tiny… like an 1/1.5 diameter, a cute little nibble. Would be excellent served with Muhammara, a middle eastern red bell pepper dip.
Mare
Great flavor combo! We noshed on these alongside cheese & crackers, dried fruits, roasted chestnuts, & chocolates on new year's eve.
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