Tulo

Everything Bagel Cream Cheese Pinwheels

Sliced pinwheels on a wooden board showing spiraled cream cheese, smoked salmon, and specks of everything bagel seasoning, with whole pinwheels stacked behind them.
Photo by Stephen Leonardi on Pexels

Whipped cream cheese spreads thin and even all the way to the tortilla's edge, so every slice gets a full ring of filling instead of a bare rim, and pressing the everything bagel seasoning into the cream cheese before rolling keeps it from scattering off when the log is sliced.

Prep
20 min
Cook
0 min
Total
110 min
Servings
8

Ingredients

Servings8
  • 4 tortillas large flour tortillas (10-inch)
  • 16 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 4 tbsp everything bagel seasoning
  • 8 oz smoked salmon, thinly sliced
  • 3 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup red onion, very thinly sliced

Nutrition per serving

Calories
317
Protein
11g
Carbs
17g
Fat
23g

Based on the recipe as written, one serving. Recalculates if you swap an ingredient above. An estimate only, exact values depend on the specific ingredients used.

Need different units or a different yield? Try our Conversion Calculator →

Instructions

  1. 1Let the cream cheese sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes so it spreads without tearing the tortillas.
  2. 2Lay a tortilla flat and spread a quarter of the cream cheese in an even layer all the way to the edges, thin enough to see the tortilla through it at the very rim.
  3. 3Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of everything bagel seasoning evenly over the cream cheese and press it in gently with the back of the spoon so it sticks.
  4. 4Lay a quarter of the smoked salmon over the bottom half of the tortilla in a single, mostly even layer, then scatter with a sprinkle of chopped chives and a few red onion slices.
  5. 5Starting from the salmon-covered edge, roll the tortilla into a tight log, tucking slightly as you go so there's no air pocket in the center.
  6. 6Wrap each rolled log tightly in plastic wrap, twisting the ends like a candy wrapper, and repeat with the remaining tortillas.
  7. 7Refrigerate the wrapped logs for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight, so the cream cheese firms up enough to hold the spiral together.
  8. 8Unwrap and trim off the ragged ends of each log with a sharp knife, then slice into 3/4-inch pinwheels, wiping the blade clean between cuts.
  9. 9Arrange the pinwheels cut-side up on a platter and sprinkle with any remaining everything bagel seasoning before serving.

Tips & variations

  • Use full-fat block cream cheese, not the whipped tub kind; whipped cream cheese is too loose to hold a spiral once sliced and chilled.
  • If the tortillas crack while rolling, microwave them for 10 seconds first to make them more pliable.
  • Swap the smoked salmon for thin cucumber ribbons for a vegetarian version, still with the everything bagel crunch.
  • A serrated knife with a gentle sawing motion cuts cleaner spirals than a straight-edged blade, which tends to squash the roll.

Storage & reheating

Store sliced or unsliced pinwheels tightly wrapped in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. These are served cold and are not meant to be reheated; if made ahead, slice just before serving for the neatest spirals, since pre-sliced pinwheels can dry out slightly at the cut edges.

Tips from the Tulo kitchen

  • Pressing the seasoning into the cream cheese with a spoon instead of just sprinkling it on keeps far more of it in the roll after slicing.
  • Standing the logs on their ends in a tall glass in the fridge, rather than laying them flat, helps them hold a rounder shape.

FAQ

Can these be made the night before a party?

Yes. Roll and wrap the logs up to a day ahead and refrigerate them whole; slice them just before serving so the cut edges stay fresh and the filling doesn't dry out.

Why did my pinwheels squish flat when I sliced them?

The cream cheese likely hadn't chilled long enough to firm up. Give the rolled logs a full hour in the fridge, or slice with a very sharp knife using light, even pressure instead of pressing down hard.

Can I make these without smoked salmon?

Yes, they still work well with just cream cheese, everything bagel seasoning, chives, and thinly sliced cucumber or radish for a vegetarian take on the same lox-inspired flavor.

What's the best way to cut clean, even slices?

Trim the ragged ends off first, then use a serrated knife in a gentle sawing motion rather than pressing straight down, and wipe the blade clean between cuts.

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