These no-bake cranberry jalapeno tortilla pinwheels are perfect for make-ahead party trays, potlucks, midnight fridge raids, or impressing the neighbors who still think you can’t cook.
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🗝️ Why you'll want to double the recipe
- Sweet heat in every bite – The combo of tangy cranberries and zesty jalapeños wrapped in cream cheese is basically the appetizer version of mistletoe mischief.
- Zero cooking required – No oven, no stovetop, no sweat. Just mix, spread, roll, and chill like the retro hostess you are.
- They’re make-ahead magic – These tortilla roll ups actually taste better after a nap in the fridge, giving you more time to swan around with a martini and pretend your tinsel isn’t from 2003.
- Adorable centerpiece for your holiday buffet - Stack 'em up like a Christmas tree and watch the guests swoon and your creativity.
I’ve been making some version of these since the late '90s when I needed something that looked impressive but took zero effort—because eight kids, y’all.
They've always disappeared first at holiday parties and potlucks. Seriously, double the dang recipe.
🧾 Ingredients for cranberry jalapeno tortilla roll ups
Just six ingredients and a sprinkle of party magic—you probably have half of them already lurking in your pantry.
- Flour tortillas – The soft, swirly base of every good pinwheel—like edible wrapping paper, but sassier. Use green tortillas for the holidays!
- Dried cranberries – Tart, chewy, and just sweet enough to keep things interesting—like your shy co-worker at the office party after 3 rounds of punch.
- Cream cheese – The smooth talker that holds it all together. Bonus points for being just as irresistible as it is spreadable.
- Bleu cheese – Bold, funky, and a little bit dramatic—because every holiday needs at least one diva.
- Jalapeños – These little green troublemakers bring the heat and keep things interesting. Dice 'em fine for a flirty kick, or leave the seeds in if you're feeling spicy and a little unhinged. For an extra kick of flavor use these candied jalapenos!
- Pecans – Toasty little crunch bombs that whisper, “Yes, I am the Southern favorite.”
- Hot honey (optional) - Drizzle of honey or hot honey for that sticky-sweet kick at the end.
Be sure to download the free Cranberry Pinwheel Appetizer Kitchen Cheat Sheet for storage, tips, FAQs, and more.
📖 Recipe
Cranberry Jalapeno Tortilla Roll Ups
Print Pin Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temp
- 1 cup dried cranberries, chopped
- ⅔ cup chopped pecans, toasted
- 2 small jalapeños, finely diced (seeds removed if you're sweet, leave 'em in if you're spicy)
- ¼ cup crumbled bleu cheese, more to taste
- 4 large flour tortillas, burrito-size, green or red for Christmas
- Optional: a drizzle of honey or hot honey for serving
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese on medium speed until smooth.
- Fold in cranberries, pecans, jalapeño, and bleu cheese. Taste and adjust heat level or cheese if needed.
- Heat tortillas just until they roll easily without cracking or breaking.
- Spread a generous layer of the mixture evenly across each tortilla.
- Roll them up tightly and cover with plastic wrap.
- Chill for 4 hours to firm up, then slice into 1-inch pinwheels.
- Optional: Drizzle with a tiny bit of honey before serving for a sticky-sweet finish.
How to Toast Pecans
- Toast pecans is in the oven at 350°F for 5-10 minutes, or until golden brown and fragrant. Stir them every couple of minutes and watch carefully.
- Let cool before using in this recipe.
Notes
- Chop ingredients fine.
- Use a serrated knife to cut the pinwheels
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
🔪 How to make cranberry cream cheese pinwheels
- Mix the filling ingredients.
- Spread on warmed tortilla. Warm it just enough to roll without cracking.
- Roll up the tortilla and filling.
- Slice into pinwheels and chill.
📖 How to make a holiday appetizer Christmas tree
I made these into a “tree” once on a whim, thinking it would be silly and fun. Ten minutes later, everyone at the party was gathered around it like it was the Rockefeller Center. Now it’s a full-blown tradition—complete with edible glitter and unsolicited decorating advice from my grown children.
- Cut a small star out of a thick slice of cheese. Any light colored cheese works well.
- Make a base by laying 6 cranberry jalapeno rollups in a circle on a plate.
- Now stack 4 on top of that.
- Use 3 rollups to make the next layer. Then 3, then 1.
- Balance the star on top or attach with a toothpick.
- Or make it flat like the one below - easier for transporting!
Crisis Averted: Why Are My Pinwheels Falling Apart?
- The flour tortillas roll best when they are warm but not so warm that the cream cheese melts!
- Be sure that you aren't over-filling the tortillas and roll them up tightly.
- Use a little extra cream cheese on the edges to "glue" them together.
- Chill thoroughly! 30 minutes is a minimum but 4 hours or even overnight is better.
📚 Related recipes you'll love
🍒 Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce - Sweet, spicy, and just chaotic enough to keep dinner interesting—this isn’t your mama’s cranberry sauce. It’s the condiment version of a mic drop at the holiday table.
🌶️ Cranberry Jalapeno Dip - Creamy, tangy, and loaded with sass, this dip disappears faster than your cousin’s third engagement. Serve with crackers, chips, or just a spoon—we’re not judging.
🍽️ Cranberry Sauce Meatballs -These little party meatballs are the overachievers of the appetizer table—sweet, spicy, and way too addictive for their own good. Serve 'em with toothpicks and zero shame.
Whether you're decking the halls or just dodging relatives with a plate of carbs in hand, these Cranberry Jalapeno Tortilla Roll Ups bring the perfect bite of sweet, heat, and creamy holiday cheer. I make them every year, and somehow they’re always gone before the pie is even sliced.
❄️ Planning your holiday menu? These should be right next to the eggnog.
📌 Pin it, print it, and don’t forget to leave a comment below if you tried them—or if Aunt Darlene demanded the recipe again. You know she will.
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