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!
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.
I’m excited for some savory ideas too! You’re right, it’s pretty easy to find sweet stuff, but I like that you are sharing both. Thanks for your ideas!
There are few things that don’t taste good when there is bacon and cheese involved. I am so excited to try these!
Awesome can’t wait to see the upcoming recipes. We are doing all apps for Christmas this year as we watch the Packers kick Bear booty!! Thank you!!
I’m so happy that you are sharing savory appetizers this year! The sweets, while delicious and essential this time of year, tend to get a little bit old after eating them day after day. (This) woman cannot live on sugar alone!
Those look divine. Now I just need an excuse to make them!
Those look great. I love the idea of doing appetizers instead of sweets. We need to “eat” before we jump into the junk food.
I’m excited that you’re doing savory appetizers this year instead of the sweeties!! YAY! I’ve been trying to come up with some delicious ideas for Teacher Appreciation this year. These Bacon & Cheese Pinwheels look perfectly yummy!
I am almost sugared out already. Thanks for the new twist on treats. This one looks oh so yummy!
I think this is a fantastic idea! I can’t wait to see all of your appetizer recipes.
Yum-a-lum!
I have cream cheese monsters and bacon celebrators that will be doing cartwheels (at least in their heads) over these. They are so pretty too. Thank you for this recipe. Wondering if regular breakfast bacon will work with this?
Yum!!! Love the appetizer theme for the holidays. Cant wait to see all the recipes and try out a few. Just made your white chicken chili last night (it has been a favorite in my hiu for the past few years). Love your blog!
Oh that looks so good. I can’t wait to try these.
I enjoyed the Sugar Rush last year, but I love appetizers! I’m looking forward to trying these. They look so good!
Yes, love the idea of appetizers for your sugar rush! You already have given me so many yummy dessert recipes I don’t think I’ll ever get a chance to make them all!
Mel,
I made the double chocolate muffins this weekend. DELICIOUS. My 5 year old said, Mom, it’s like a brownie in a muffin. I was all, It’s a muffin, Liv, not a brownie. And to that the little genius replied, Well then can I have 2 for breakfast. Bahahaha. Thanks for the fabulous recipe!
These look great! Love trying out your recipes.
Bacon. Yum. We have already starting collecting treats from various friends and family. We are sure to be sick and gaining weight by the end of the month! Thank you for changing things up a bit. Excited to see all that is to come.
I love the savory idea . . . I am always looking for great appetizers.
Love your site and your recipes. My family will really go for these savory bits.
These look so good! I love your blog and whenever I am talking about recipes to anyone I mention your blog!!!
Geneil – they may not get as browned and golden if you just bake them but it’s worth a try (plus, I’d still nag your hubby to fix the broiler). I’d bake them at a high heat – probably 425 or 450.
I LOVE the idea of sharing appetizers rather than sweets! And these bacon pinwheels are right up my alley… yum!
Finally someone who hi-lights the savory world! Don’t get me wrong, I love sweets, but I really love the saltier treats (or better yet sweet & salty). Thanks for all of your fabulous recipes! Yours is my favorite food blog!
Perfect addition to my collection of 101 ways to use bacon…Now if I could just successfully combine bacon and chocolate…*sigh*
Summer – I’m not sure about the breakfast bacon since I’ve never tried it and am not familiar with the product – is it similar to regular bacon? If so, it will probably work fine!
can’t wait to try this for our pot luck lunch at work this Friday!
Mel – your timing is impeccable as always! We’re having two Christmas parties this weekend (I’m definitely in that “what were we thinking???!!!” place right now), but this will go on the menu for one of them. And, funny enough, I just bought those Christmas-y Chinese takeout containers like the one you have pictured, for the very purpose of giving Butter Toffee Popcorn as party favors! Are we on the same page or what? I really appreciate your dedication to this blog and I so enjoy the taste of everything you post but also the sincerity with which you write. Thank you for everything!
I’m going to try this with TURKEY ham & bacon! I’m allergic to pork products so this sounds great! Thanks -
Perfect! I have been trying to figure out what to take to a party on Friday. This is it!
I love the idea of savory treats instead of sweet (although I bought the ingredients for two of your past sugar rush recipes)! These look tasty!
Wow…this is definitely different than what I was thinking…I was thinking more along the lines of the bacon wrapped jalapenos…but I can’t WAIT to try these!!! YUM!!!!
What a clever idea! You’re right about the sugar overload this season, but I am just drooling in front of my computer looking at these pinwheels! Thanks for sharing such an easy and amazing recipe!
I don’t usually like bacon-wrapped things, but you make this sound fantastic!
These look amazing!
Thanks so much for your website. I check it daily!
my husband would love these!!
I can’t wait to make these for our girl’s holiday party!!
oh my goodness I don’t usually comment on post but I have to make these.
I’m assuming the bacon is raw and not… like… partially cooked or something?
Also, I saw a recipe of yours on an email from Ziplist, so after casually wandering over here, I think I found my new favorite food blog! Just thought you ought to know.
YUMMYNESS!!!!!!!
Yum! I like your spin on the Sugar Rush. Everyone needs appetizer ideas.
Oh YUM! Anything is better with bacon!
ummm…..YUM! Can’t wait to try these
I love your blog! Thanks for doing something savory to balance out all the sweets around. I’m excited to try these!
These look SO good!… of course anything with bacon is good!
Hi Mel!
I so love your site! We have prepared numerous recipes from your site and love every one. There hasn’t been one that didn’t turn out exactly as you state.
I’m looking forward to your reinvented sugar rush series! Can’t wait to see what’s next!
Thanks! Lisa
Appetizers and party snacks are EXACTLY what I’m looking for right now for all of the upcoming holiday parties…I’ll be referring to you blog! Thanks!!
Oh.my.God. What is not to like about these?! PS Love the blog and so excited you’re doing savory instead of sweet this year!
Ooh, I love me some sugar, but I’m so glad you’re going the savory route this year. I need a little more of that this season.
I think I’ve said this before, but it’s worth repeating: I have never found a recipe on your blog that I didn’t LOVE. Every recipe I’ve tried (and I try a lot of them) has been fabulous. I can’t wait to try this cheesy bacon pinwheel thing.
I just found your site, I love it! Also, I really like the appetizer idea as opposed to just sweet recipes this time or year.
This is just what I needed! My family does a huge array of appetizers for Christmas Eve, and this year since we are on the other side of the country I will be hosting our own little Appetizer Christmas Eve, and I need recipes just like this to get that job done!!
Thank you!
I love all of your recipes!! I’ve made soooo many of them! Thank you!
I love the idea of two weeks worth of appetizers! I love your site, because I know that whatever I make from it will be delicious!
DH will be excited for the new appetizer recipes. He’s a total appetizer person and I’m a dessert person. Now you’re taking care of both of us. Thanks for the great recipes!
Yum!! Excited for appetizer recipes. Always looking for good party food ideas and now we’ll have some great options from you!! Thanks for your awesome blog. Love it- this week alone making all 6 planned meals from your site along w 2 yummy baked goods!
Oh my gosh!!!!!!!! This was not the thing to read when deciding to skip lunch and only have a piece of toast for breakfast. These look amazing and would be perfect for New Years Eve. I love sweets as much as the next person but give me bacon and that cookie can surely wait till later. LOL YUM! Thank you very much.
yum, yum, yum!
I’m in LOVE with salty! I’ll choose salty over sweet anyway!! Thanks for sharing! Sugar Rush Reinvented, here we come!!
I love your food and it’s time I told you! I’ve made so many things from your site I think I could make my own cookbook of recipes I’ve printed out. I feel some sense of closeness to you because I have 4 wonderful boys, too. Thanks for all you share!
These sound just devine!! Love anything that has bacon in them! The last thing I made with bacon was candied chocolate covered bacon that was put into PB. cookies! I will have to add this to my appetizer list for christmas! Thank you!!
Bacon and cheese? Umm…yes please! These look GOOD!
How did you know that I needed an appetizer for a neighborhood party this weekend? These look sooooo good! Thanks for another great post (and scrumptious looking photos- I am always impressed)
Okay, so really, I’d just want to eat all the bacon! Actually, I love the idea of an appetizer sugar rush because I don’t have any good, different ones. You know, you can get sick of meatballs, little smokies, and deviled eggs. Then again, I’m a sucker for sweets and I’ll be making that popcorn soon.
Wow…these look amazing!
Augh! I must eat these right now! Love the “Appetizer Rush” idea. I certainly have an “Appetizer Addiction.”
“…these sizzling bacon pinwheels are a combination of everything delightful in my book: bread, cheese and bacon. Amen.”
Priceless.
I can’t wait to try these!
Mmmmm, mmmmmm, mmmmmm…. I needed some new savory snacks to take to all the random get togethers we end up at over the holiday season. Keep ‘em coming!
Mel, when I was a kid our Christmas Eve dinner was always a variety of appetizers and crudites. And I have tried to carry on the tradition with my own family because I LOVE appetizers in both forn and fun! I am so excited you’re doing this one! And these pinwheels look delish!
forM not forn. Darn.
Oh. Wow. These are drool-worthy! And perfect for a Christmas get together I will be attending this weekend! Thanks Mel!
Looks yummy!!! Thanks for sharing!!
Oh boy do I love sweets, but these are making my heart go pitty pat, pitty pat. Can’t wait to try them. You go, girl, with you savory Sugar Rush, and appreciate the link back to the sweets of the past. Thanks so much for sharing. I truly love your blog.
I just realized the other day, since I have started following your blog last spring I think I have only used my cookbooks a handful of times.
holy cow, what a recipe! my mom would love this!
Don’t you just love bacon……………..Thanks Mel, they would be great for a Packers game !!!
Yum! This looks like a perfect appetizer for the holidays!
While I love all the sugary treats this time of year, it’s nice to see something different for a change! I can’t wait to see the rest….
New to your blog-had me at bacon and cheese-HELLO!!
Those look so yummy and will be perfect for our New Year’s Eve party! I LOVE that you are doing a savory Sugar Rush this year!!
Yum. I need to make these.
Anything with cream cheese melts my heart!! These look delish!
I’m so looking forward to this year’s savory rush!
These look amazing!
Can’t wait to try these! Love your blog. Thanks for all the great recipes!!
Looks great! Bacon is always delicious!
I have to admit that as much as I love to try to be healthy, your sugar rushes have always caught me. I guess that’s what the holidays are for. And this just another great idea! I’ve never been good at coming up with appetizers so this is awesome. It makes me want to host a holiday party! (except for the part where I have no time or energy… I guess that’s where sugar rush comes in, ha ha!)
Hooray for appetizers! Got a party this weekend where the appetizers are WAY bigger than the dinner! This is PERFECT!! and… in my husband’s world, everything would be wrapped in bacon.
Exactly what I need! We are having an appetizer supper on Christmas Eve…
Wow, this is right up my alley…
Yum! I think that I might just have to throw a party so we can serve these
I love, love, LOVE your blog and I LOVE bacon!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
is it bad that these are maybe (but actually yes really) going to be tonight’s main course? DELISH.
I love you blog. For New Years last year we just had appetizers…it was good but now I need to change it and am glad for some new ideas! I’m sure I will have to try some of your appetizers. These sound really good.
I’ve made these for years! Everyone loves them….
Yummy!!!! I can’t tell you how many recipes I have used off of your fabulous website! My favorites are truly endless (just ask the ladies in my bunko group)! This one looks so good…nice to have ideas for appetizers too since our family get togethers always produce the same six!
I read your blog faithfully. I even read it this morning at 3:00 am (couldn’t sleep). Thank you so much for this delicious appetizer. It is delicious.
Yummy!! I am a huge fan of anything bacon and these sound scrumptious. They will most definitely be appearing on my holiday table!
These look amazing! Can’t wait to try them. Your website is my favorite for recipes! Thanks for sharing your talent!!!
This definitely looks like something my husband would LOVE! Also, doesn’t seem to hard. Nice to have something not too stressful to make when things get crazy!
I love savory so much more that sweet. This “sugar rush” is right up my alley! : )