If you’ve stuck around this here blog for long, you may remember the Sugar Rush of last year and the year before.
It just happens to be the time of year to be talking sweetsy treats, right? And I’ve loved doing just that over the last few years.
Well, this year, I’m changing things up a bit. I figure that since there will be a plethora of mighty delicious sugary sweetness rolling around the blogosphere, I’ll spend the next two weeks sharing my favorite appetizer recipes that might fit in with holiday entertaining (or just personal indulging). So consider this year to be the year Sugar Rush has been reinvented to fit into the more savory side of things.
Never fear, though! On each tasty, savory post, I’ll be highlighting one of my past Sugar Rush recipes (see the green box below for more evidence). You know, so you can get salty and sweet all in one place. Perfect! So let’s start.
This appetizer may just be one of my favorite of the season. Seriously. A throwback…a little old school…these sizzling bacon pinwheels are a combination of everything delightful in my book: bread, cheese and bacon. Amen.
Slices of thick bread are rolled thin, spread with a fabulous, lightly spicy creamy cheese mixture and wrapped in bacon. The morsels are broiled to toasty perfection, leaving the flavorful cheesy filling melted and piping hot and the bread and bacon crisp and golden.
I dare you to eat just one!
P.S. I had the pleasure of a virtual visit from the Fairy Hobmother after I left an unassuming comment on this post (hey there Grace!). The Fairy’s purpose? Spread love and joy…doing so with random $100 amazon.com gift cards. Um yes, I feel joyous. You never know who the fairy will visit next, but chances are it will be some innocent soul who leaves a comment on this post. Thanks, Fairy Hobmother!
Sizzling Bacon and Cheese Pinwheels
Printable Version with Picture
Printable Version
*Makes 2 dozen pinwheels
INGREDIENTS:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
6 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (1 1/2 cups)
2 ounces thinly sliced deli salami or ham, chopped fine
3 green onions, finely minced
1 tablespoon hot sauce (like Tapatio)
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
12 slices hearty white or wheat sandwich bread, crusts removed
12 ounces bacon, halved crosswise
DIRECTIONS:
Adjust an oven rack about 6 inches from the broiler heating element and heat the broiler. Set an oven-proof wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet. In a food processor (or with a hand mixer if you don’t have a food processor), mix the cream cheese and cheddar cheese until smooth and well combined. Transfer to a bowl and stir in salami or ham, green onions, hot sauce and mustard. Mix well.
Working with one slice of bread at a time, roll the bread as thin as possible with a rolling pin (don’t forget to remove the crusts!). Evenly cover the bread with about 2 heaping tablespoons of the cheese mixture. Starting at the short edge, roll the bread into a tight cylinder. Cut each rolled bread log in half crosswise to form 2 smaller rolls and wrap each half in 1 piece of the bacon (that has also been cut in half crosswise), covering the bread completely. The bacon should stick to itself as it is rolled around and stay secure, but if not, feel free to secure with a toothpick. Repeat with the remaining bread, filling and bacon.
Place the rolls to the wire rack on the baking sheet. Broil until the bacon is crisp, 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through broiling. Let the pinwheels cool for 10 minutes. Serve warm.
Recipe Source: adapted slightly from Cook’s Country Oct/Nov 2011
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OMG, these might be the best things I have read about in a long time. Have never had them, but this is getting pinned right away. These would be perfect for New Year’s eve!
I like that you are doing some savory treats. I love seeing all of the sweet stuff, but I love to find stuff like this equally over the holidays:-)
You read my mind! I was actually wishing for a bunch of appetizer recipes. I’m hosting book club at my house and didn’t realize that almost none of my recipes are savory! These look good.
Oh my gosh, Mel- you had me at bacon! I’ve never heard of this! Where has this been all of my life? I can’t wait to try this recipe!
I have to take appetizers to our first party of the season this weekend, so I’m glad to know you’ll be posting multiple recipes. I confess that I have never been an appetizer gal, but these look pretty darn good.
OOOOH! Those look delicious! Can’t wait to try them!
Oh, those sound good.
It can be so hard to find time (and enough room in my pants!) to make my old favorite desserts, my family’s newer favorites from your site and to continue trying new things you imagine up – so it is with a bittersweet heart I look forward to incorporating more savory dishes into our holiday fare. Thank you Mel for all of your work!
These look awesome…nothing like crispy bacon and gooey cheese!
Those look so good! Yum!
OMGOSH! definitely gonna have to try these!
I love you for doing this!!! While I’m all about the sweet stuff (oh, my sweet tooth aches already this year
) I absolutely LOVE appetizers and look forward to your “countdown!” YAY!
Yay! I think this is a great idea. I love it because you’re right, there are so many sweets recipes but I always feel like I’m missing out on appetizer desserts!
Yum! Bacon! Cheese! What’s not to love?!
Mel– you are awesome! How did you know I am focusing on the savory this year, and planning several evenings of yummy appetizers for our fam this year?
Again, awesome! Beginning with bacon was wise!
Never seen anything like this! Rolled bread sure beats trying to make appetizers based on phyllo…
Oh wow, these sound amazing! I love that your doing savory this year! I’m always hunting for more recipes, my sweets recipe collection is a bit embarrassing!
Oh, wonderful! I’m pregnant and all sugar is making me sick. Bring on the salt!
Those look delicious and easy too! Can’t wait to try them!
Oh wow, these look so good! I knew it was going to be a good recipe when the first two ingredients were cream cheese and cheddar cheese!
I love that you are sharing appetizer ideas this time around. I need some new appetizer recipes. These look delicious. Thanks!
Love that you are posting appetizers!
After the holidays, it will be fun to serve these at game night in the winter months.
Mmmmm….bacon.
Thanks Mel!
Ok, I can deal with no sweets if it all looks as good as this!
These look scrumptious! Logged on this am to find some new appetizer inspiration, and as usual, you came through!
Yum! Sounds so yummy!
How exciting to look forward to some NEW and fresh ideas for appetizers for the holiday get-togethers! These pinwheels look absolutely wonderful and I already know that they will be one of the treats I make-and-take this year. Thanks for coming up with the fantastic idea of gifting your readers with appetizer ideas instead of more sweet treats (not that they aren’t good, mind you)!
Love your idea to post appetizers! I’m always on the lookout for a new one of those
Can’t wait to try these, they look awesome!
What a great idea! I love that you are doing appetizers this year since the rest of my family doesn’t eat a ton of sweets. Thanks for the change-up!
Mel, I think you should have to do Sugar Rush AND Appetizer Rush! Looking forward to recipes.
These look tasty, but my broiler’s broken. Would these work if you just baked them? or do I need to nag my husband more to fix the broiler?
These look delicious! Now to make some gluten free bread to make these with!
This plus a salad equals dinner
Yum! This looks decadently delicious. My hubby would LOVE these! Thanks so much for sharing!
Drool! These sound amazing!
These sound delicious, I hope I have a good excuse to try them out soon!
Seriously? How can you go wrong with bacon and cheese anything? Looks amazing!
Bacon…bacon,bacon, bacon and cheese. These sound great.
Yahoo!! I can make pinwheels for my husband (and me) AND toffee popcorn for me. Your recipes are amazing. Thank you.
I am so excited about these pinwheels. I can’t wait to make them for a little pre-dinner treat THIS week! I don’t think I can wait until Christmas!
These look amazing, love bacon!
i had just recently thought the same thing about sugary treats and was trying to come up with some ideas for something non-sweet to take to the neighbors, etc. my original thought was a cheeseball w/ crackers, but now i think an appetizer sampler platter would be totally cool.
These pinwheels look delicious. I know if my husband saw them he would insist on me making them. Thank you for posting.
I’m definitely going to try this! Reminds me of the bacon wrapped water chestnuts I used to eat at a country club I worked at in college. I’ve got a few opportunities where this might be the thing to fix. Thanks!
I’ve been wondering if you would do Sugar Rush this year, but I love this savory version!
You know I was just considering emailing you asking where Sugar Rush was this year! Is that too stalkerish?
this sounds like a great idea and one that will be infinitely useful this time of year. Great job as usual 
These look sooooo yummy. I’ll have to try them. I’m making your soft chocolate caramels again this year. I tried them for the first time last year and they were delicious. Everyone loved them! Thanks!
This is a new recipe for me and I think I’ll be making it soon. My son and his new bride will be here for Christmas and I’ve been wondering what sort of snacks I can make besides the usual cookies. This recipe looks perfect.
Oh my! These sound delicious!!
Totally had appetizers on the brain this morning, looking for something delicious to take to a get-together in a little over a week. Now I’m SUPER excited to know you’ll be offering me plenty of choices to choose from over the next few days .. . although bacon and cheese and cream cheese may be hard to beat!
I love this idea! I love my sweets, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes I get a little too much this time of year!
Looks delish! I have been looking forward to your sugar rush! (Or should I say savory rush?)
Thanks for the awesome recipes!
I *love* your spin on sugar rush! This looks fantastic and I’m excited to see what else is to come!
Despite it being 8:30 am I can’t help but thinking that THAT is what I should have had for breakfast.
My husband loves anything with bacon, so making an appetizer that is wrapped in bacon should make him very happy.
Looks tasty! Thank you Mel! Because of you I enjoy cooking and look forward to your posts!
I want one of those right now! Looks sooooo good!
Your site is my favorite! These look to die for!
My husband and I both enjoy your site. These look scrumptious!
I was looking for a recipe to take to Christmas party this coming Saturday, found it! Thanks Mel!
As if I needed another reason to love your site. You are inspired- the next few weeks are going to be great!
Yea! Bacon, bacon, Bacon and you and the Fairy Hobmother! What a day!
The pinwheels look delightful! I must make them soon! I’m so excited for the new reinvented Sugar Rush this year! I cant wait!
Absolutely on board with the idea of savory finger foods around the holidays. Thanks for posting such a perfect recipe.
You had me at… Bacon-wrapped. Swoon!
wow, these look PERFECT for a holiday party i have coming up! did i mention i wish you were my next-door neighbor?
Can I make this for breakfast? Please??
These look totally fantastic!
Good golly those look delicious! I reallllly want to make some, but they don’t have pre-sliced bacon in Switzerland (that I can find), so I’d have to be up for the challenge of trying to slice it myself thin enough. It could work though. I think I might have to try it. Mmmm, mmm.
I just made something very similar to your pinwheels for the first time about a month ago. Super yum! We also made a dipping sauce for them from some thinned down jalapeno/peach jam, and it was a great combo. Best of all, there was recently a sale on bacon here – $2 a pound! – and I got some just to make appetizers for the holiday season!
Mmm… sounds delicious! I like the appetizer reinvention for this year– I always need new appetizer ideas for Christmas parties!
I don’t have a party to take these to soon enough. Would it be bad to make them for dinner? I would make sure to have lots of vegies to make up for the calories.
These look amazing!! Can’t wait to give them a try
Perfect timing. I have a Christmas party on Friday. Oh and thanks for making my Thanksgiving dinner a success. I made everything from scratch and used almost every recipe from you! Everyone raved about how delicious everything tasted. My first Thanksgiving dinner was definitely a success. Thanks!
I think I need to have an appetizer party! Excited for the reinvented Sugar Rush!
Hmm… Bacon? Cheese? Bread? I’m sold!
I love appetizers! My family and I make tons of appetizers on New Years. I am going to make these this year. My little niece Addison Grace loves bacon. She may enjoy these! Thanks for the idea!!
I love the idea of doing savory things for the holidays, I already have plenty of sugary things to make! These look like something that would go over really well at Christmas!
LOVE appetizers! I am always on the search for new ideas…this sounds absolutely delish! I might just need to throw a last minute party after all these yummy ideas come my way
thank you for sharing and for linking to your past sugar rush posts…it’s fun to read those as well!
Anything with bacon and I am so there….looks delicious!
I love new appetizer recipes! This looks delicious and simple, my favorite.
I love that you’re doing appetizers! And amen to bacon, bread, and cheese!
These sound so yummy! I can’t wait to try them.
OHHHH! I can’t wait to try this. I’ve been looking forward to this year’s Sugar Rush!
Great idea. I get a little overwhelmed with all of the sweet this time of year. I’m a salty girl all the way!
I wish I had one (or 5) RIGHT NOW!!
Melanie, thank you for a great idea for this year’s Sugar Rush! I adore appetizers and am so excited to try all! Brilliant, just brilliant!
Wow, these look so good! Thanks for all the yummy recipes you have posted. I have tried so many and loved them all!
Oh my! These look SO good! I will for sure be making these babies in the near future!
These look sooooooooooooo delicious!
These sound so good. I might just have to make them tonight.
These look divine!! You had me at sizzling bacon! Thank you for sharing some more savory treats…. I always feel a little overloaded with sweets this time of year!
You are the best!!
Hi Mel
This is the kind of recipe you read and want to stop what you are doing and make them immediately ……how could anyone not like these.
Keep up the delicious work!!!
Gail
I’m pretty sure I would like these!
I love appetizers! Thanks for giving them the spotlight!
Bacon and Cheese? My most 2 favorite ingredients! I think I found a new addition to my Christmas Eve menu – thanks!
My husband is the world’s biggest bacon fan, seriously. I know lot’s of people like bacon, but he takes it to another level. He’s going to love this one (and I will too, of course)! Thanks for all of the awesome recipes that have seriously changed my life! You are my go-to online recipe resource!
I was just trying to figure out what appetizer to make for Christmas, so glad you are doing a series on this!
Will make these for New Years Eve for sure!
I have some HUGE bacon lovers at my house. So these will definitely be on the menu soon!
These look great. I’ve never heard of this brand of hot sauce, but I’m sure I can find a substitution. My dad made homemade bacon last week (so simple by the way and more meatier than store bought) and I can’t wait to try some with this recipe! We had the choc. muffins this morning. . .yum!!!
I’ve been a lurker for quite some time but definitely LOVE the site and all of the fabulous recipes you share. I’m in the process of starting my own food blog and definitely appreciate the time and effort that go into each recipe you post! These sound amazing.
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