Dessert Pinwheels

Craving a delightful and festive treat to surprise your loved ones during a holiday? Look no further than these easy-to-make dessert pinwheels! They’re the perfect blend of sweet and savory, offering a fun and unexpected twist for any holiday morning breakfast. Imagine waking up to the aromas of cinnamon and warm dough filling the air, a delightful prelude to these delicious pinwheels. They’re incredibly simple to prepare, making them ideal for busy mornings when you want to create something special without spending hours in the kitchen.

These dessert pinwheels are not only flavorful and festive, but they also offer a satisfying combination of sweet and savory. The creamy richness of the cream cheese pairs beautifully with the warmth of the cinnamon sugar, making them a truly unique and irresistible treat. Whether you elegantly display them on your dessert table alongside other holiday favorites or simply bake them up and enjoy them on your own, these pinwheels are sure to be a hit. And with only 3 Weight Watchers points each, you can indulge without guilt. Plus, the recipe yields 16 pinwheels, ensuring there’s enough to share with family and friends (or enjoy them all yourself, we won’t judge!). 

Three reasons why you need to make this recipe!

They’re a fun (healthy) twist on classic pinwheels. 

Who says all pinwheels are supposed to be savory? These dessert pinwheels will show you the fun side of making them sweet rather than savory. 

Dessert pinwheels make a great pot luck dessert. 

They are bite size and easy to have as a handheld dessert. That means it’s perfect for entertaining a large crowd. Make a few batches because these will go fast! 

They’re great for kids’ lunches! 

If you want to delve into healthier eating for your kids, make these for your kid’s lunches or snacks. They still get to have a fun dessert, but in a healthy way that’s not filling them with unnecessary sugar. 

Ingredients you need to make Dessert Pinwheels: 

• 1 package reduced fat Pillsbury crescent rolls
• 4 oz light cream cheese softened
• ¼ cup icing sugar confectionary sugar (about 35g)
• 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon sugar
• 3 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon butter melted

How to make Dessert Pinwheels (step by step): 

1. Roll out the crescent dough and divide it into 2 pieces. Each piece is 4 crescent rolls. Pinch together any open seems.
2. In a bowl, mix together the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar until well blended. Divide it over the 2 pieces of dough and spread it out evenly.
3. In a small bowl, mix 1 teaspoon of sugar with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon then sprinkle it over the cream cheese.
4. Roll up the dough, then using a pastry brush, cover each roll with the melted butter.
5. Mix together 2 tablespoons of sugar with 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, then spread out on a flat surface or plate. Roll the dough in the cinnamon sugar, making sure you cover each roll completely. 
6. Place the rolled dough in the freezer to harden. This will help you cut them evenly. I left mine for 20 minutes.
7. Preheat oven to 350F. 
8. Cut each roll into 8 pieces.
9. Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper (and lightly sprayed with nonstick cooking spray) and bake for 14 minutes.
10. Serve warm and enjoy! 

Makes16 pinwheels. Nutrition info for 1 pinwheel: Calories 75,  Fat 3 g, Saturated fat 1.36 g,  Carbs 10 g,  Fiber 0 g, Sugars 5.46 g, Sodium 147.39 mg, Protein 1 g. 

WW Points For Dessert Pinwheels

• Reduced fat Pillsbury crescent rolls 27 points
• Light cream cheese softened 11 points
• Icing sugar or confectionary sugar 5 points
• Sugar 8 points
• Cinnamon 0 points
• Butter melted 2 points

3 points per pinwheel based on the WW app recipe creator.  

If you’re using an older version of WW, check out these points below. 

Freestyle SP- (blue, green & purple) 3 using WW recipe builder

Points Plus- 2 using PP calculator

Different ways to change up this recipe: 

• Use Nutella instead of cream cheese for a fun chocolaty twist if you have the points for it. 
• A peanut butter spread would be delicious as well. 
• Add mini chocolate chips if you have the WW points! 

Tips and Tricks for Making Dessert Pinwheels: 

• The best way to have equal pinwheels is to cut the roll in half, then those two halves in half then repeat again.
• If you want to lower the Weight Watchers points per pinwheel, you could use fat free cream cheese, or Swerve powdered sugar (zero calories). 

Similar recipes you’ll enjoy: 

• Chicken Bacon Soup
• Peanut Butter Donuts
• Chocolate Zucchini Muffins