Apple pinwheels
Easy apple pinwheels. A simple recipe with apples, cinnamon and puff pastry, that makes the perfect autumn snack.
This recipe for apple pinwheels combines apple cinnamon and puff pastry to make the perfect autumnal snack. I love the smell of apple and cinnamon baking in the oven, so it’s almost enough to make me feel better about the longer autumn nights and cooler temperatures!
This is a great puff pastry apple recipe for kids because it’s really simple and quick but makes a tasty, pretty snack.
Unlike a lot of baking recipes you don’t need to be too accurate when measuring out the ingredients which makes it great for even little kids to do. It means you can keep your kids busy preparing the puff pastry with the butter and cinnamon sugar while you prepare the apples.
Ingredients
1 sheet, ready-rolled puff pastry
15g (1tbsp) butter
1 tsp cinnamon
50g (4 tbsp) golden caster sugar
1 or 2 apples
For the drizzle (optional)
2 tbsp icing sugar
A splash of milk
How to make apple pinwheels
Preheat your oven to 200C / 180C Fan / 390F and line two baking trays with baking paper.
Prepare the pastry
Get your children to measure out the butter then pop it in the microwave to melt. Lay the pastry flat on a large chopping board, or work surface, then use a pastry brush to brush the butter over the top of the puff pastry.
In a small bowl mix the sugar and cinnamon together, then sprinkle on top. We used a spoon to do this to make sure it covered the pastry evenly.
Set aside the pastry for now.
Add the apple
You need to cut the apple into really small cubes so this job is either for grown ups or older children. I did it while the kids were preparing the pastry.
Once the apple is chopped, sprinkle it evenly over the puff pastry.
Make the apple pinwheels
Roll the pastry up, starting at the long edge. Your kids might need a bit of help to make sure it’s rolled tightly enough. You want to make sure it’s as tight as possible so it remains together once it’s baked.
Use a sharp knife to cut the roll into 1 inch (roughly 2-3 cm) pieces. Lay them on the prepared baking tray, leaving enough space for them to expand in the oven.
Bake the apple pinwheels
Pop the apple cinnamon puff pastry into the oven for 20 minutes. They’re ready when they’ve turned golden brown, puffed up and turned crispy.
Remove from the oven and leave to cool on the baking trays. Some of the insides might ooze out a bit but it’ll be fine once they’ve cooled down.
Add the drizzle
Mix the icing sugar with a splash of milk and mix it until it comes together but isn’t too runny. If you need to, add a little extra icing sugar or milk until it is the right consistency.
Drizzle the icing over the top of the pastries with a small spoon. Leave to set.

Apple pinwheels
Ingredients
- 1 sheet ready-rolled puff pastry
- 1 or 2 apples
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 50 g (4 tbsp) golden caster sugar
- 15 g (1tbsp) butter
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 200C / 180C Fan / 390F and line two baking trays with baking paper.
Prepare the pastry
- Melt the butter then lay the pastry flat on a large chopping board, or work surface, and use a pastry brush to brush the it over the top of the puff pastry.
- In a small bowl mix the sugar and cinnamon together, then sprinkle on top. Set aside the pastry for now.
Add the apple
- Chop the apple into small cubes then sprinkle it evenly over the puff pastry.
Make the apple pinwheels
- Roll the pastry up, starting at the long edge. You want to make sure it's as tight as possible so it remains together once it's baked.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the roll into 1 inch (roughly 2-3 cpieces. Lay them on the prepared baking tray, leaving enough space for them to expand in the oven.
Bake the apple pinwheels
- Pop the apple cinnamon puff pastry into the oven for 20 minutes. They're ready when they've turned golden brown, puffed up and turned crispy.
- Remove from the oven and leave to cool on the baking trays. Some of the insides might ooze out a bit but it'll be fine once they've cooled down.
Add the drizzle (optional)
- Once the pastries are cool. Mix a little icing sugar with some milk until it is runny enough to pour but not too watery. Using a small spoon, drizzle it over your pastries.
Video
If you liked this apple recipe, you’ll love these
If you liked these apple pinwheels, you’ll love our puff pastry cinnamon rolls and our other easy bakes for kids.
Pin apple pinwheels for later
I’ve linked this up with other fabulous recipes to #CookBlogShare:
I think you’ve made a mistake on the ingredients list as 1 or 21 apples seems like abit of an big leap
Thanks, yes that was a typo in the recipe card. It’s 1 or 2 apples (unless you really really like apples!!)
That looks delicious, Helen! Thanks for sharing.
What a fab bake for autumn!
Yes. I love using apples to bake with in the autumn.
This is a perfect recipe to make with kids, I am sure your children enjoyed making it. Looks delicious! Thank you for bringing it to #CookBlogShare:)
Thanks. Sometimes when you’re making things with kids the simple the better. It’s a bonus when they’re really tasty too though!