Whether filling a lunchbox, planning a picnic, or looking for an easy savoury snack, these crispy, golden vegan pesto cheese swirls are a tasty choice.
Flaky puff pastry is layered with vegan pesto (I like to use this Vegan Cashew Pesto) and dairy-free cheese for a golden, delicious baked snack or lunch that's easy to make ahead and is freezer-friendly too.
Love these, try these Pizza Pinwheels next.
⭐ Why You'll Love These Pastry Swirls
- Less than 5 Ingredients
- Great hot or cold
- Perfect for lunchboxes and picnics
- Easy and fun for children to make with a little help
- You can make them ahead, so they are good for meal prep
- Freezer-friendly
- Ready in 30 minutes
- Ideal for using leftover pesto
At-a-Glance - Pesto Cheese Swirls
⏲️ Ready in: 30 minutes
👪 Serves: 24 (swirls)
🍽 Calories: 46.7 kcals
🧾 Main ingredients: Puff pastry, pesto, vegan cheese
👩🏻🍳 Suitable for: Vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, egg-free, vegetarian & gluten-free (if you use gluten-free puff pastry)
These savoury pesto cheese swirls are great for lunch at home or lunch boxes.
Crisp and flaky with a real umami flavour.
Summarise & save this recipe:
Jump to:
- ⭐ Why You'll Love These Pastry Swirls
- At-a-Glance - Pesto Cheese Swirls
- 💭 What Do Pesto Cheese Swirls Taste Like?
- 📋 The Ingredients You Need
- 👩🏻🍳 Vegan Puff Pastry
- 💭 Puff Pastry Tips
- 👩🏻🍳 How to Make Vegan Cheese Pesto Pinwheels
- 💭 Which Pesto is Best?
- 💭 Homemade Pesto Vs Shop-Bought Pesto
- 🌡️ Storing them
- 👩🏻🍳 Serving Pastry Swirls
- 💭 Pastry Swirls FAQs
- 👩🏻🍳 More Pastry Piwheels to try
- ⭐ Sign up for a free recipe sent to your inbox every morning
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
💭 What Do Pesto Cheese Swirls Taste Like?
These pesto cheese swirls are flaky, butter (without the butter), savoury and packed with umami flavour.
The pesto adds the taste of garlic and herbs, while the melted vegan cheddar gives them a rich and comforting flavour. A cross between Pizza Swirls & Cheese Straws.
📋 The Ingredients You Need
These very moreish cheese pinwheels are made with just a handful of simple ingredients, but taste good enough to be sold in a bakery.
Find the full ingredient list with quantities, method and notes in the recipe card.
- Puff pastry - ready-rolled puff pastry makes these really easy to make, but you can roll out a block of shop-bought puff pastry or homemade puff pastry.
- Cheese - vegan cheddar works well in these pastry swirls.
- Pesto - shop-bought pesto or homemade pesto works equally well in these savoury pastries. Try this Broccoli Pesto to add some hidden veg.
👩🏻🍳 Vegan Puff Pastry
Most brands of puff pastry are suitable for vegans these days, both the big brands like Jusrol and supermarket own brands.
The puff pastry to avoid is the ones which say 'all butter' as they usually are made with regular butter and therefore are not suitable for vegans.
So, do check the back of the pack before buying it, if it's a brand you aren't sure.
Vegan-friendly puff pastry doesn't always say vegan on the front, so you need to check the ingredients.
💭 Puff Pastry Tips
Here are a few tips to help you have the best results with puff pastry.
- Buying ready-rolled puff pastry has 3 benefits: it saves time, it's a perfect rectangle, and it's perfectly, evenly rolled.
- Leave it a few minutes after it comes out of the fridge before unrolling (unless it's a hot day), as it can crack if still very cold.
- Keep it on the baking paper it comes wrapped in, it's non-stick parchment, so the pastry won't stick to it.
- For an extra golden finish without an egg wash, you can brush the swirls with olive oil or milk (any plant-based milk) before they go in the oven.
- Want to freeze the pastry swirls? Flash freeze them on a tray (before they are baked), once frozen, pop them in a labelled and dated freezer bag, then bake from frozen.
For a sweet version of this recipe, try these Biscoff Swirls.
If you're looking for more savoury pastry lunchbox treats, try Cheese and Red Pepper Pastry Pies or these easy Falafel Pies.
👩🏻🍳 How to Make Vegan Cheese Pesto Pinwheels
These step-by-step photos will show you how easy these vegan cheese pastries are to make. Even a toddler can make them!
- Step 1: Preheat your oven and then carefully unroll the puff pastry, leaving it on the baking paper (it comes wrapped in) and spread the pesto over the pastry.
- Step 2: Add a layer of grated cheddar and spread it out evenly, then start rolling the pastry away from you.
- Step 3: Carry on rolling the filled pastry until you have a long sausage shape, then cut in slices.
- Step 4: Place the slices, swirl side up, showing the filling on a lined baking tray and bake until golden.
- Step 5: Remove from the oven and leave to cool, then do a taste test. This part is essential!
💭 Which Pesto is Best?
- Basil Pesto - for a classic flavour
- Sundried Tomato Pesto (or Sundried Tomato Paste) - for a pizza-style swirl
- Red Pepper Pesto - for a sweeter finish
- Wild Garlic Pesto - when it's in season, and you can forage for it
- Homemade Vegan Pesto - for maximum flavour
💭 Homemade Pesto Vs Shop-Bought Pesto
| Homemade Pesto | Shop-Bought Pesto |
|---|---|
| Fresher flavour | Faster |
| Easy to customise | Convenient |
| Often cheaper in summer | Available year-round |
| Great for using garden herbs | No prep required |
🌡️ Storing them
Once cool, store the puff pastry swirls in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-5 days.
Freeze them for up to 3 months in a labelled and dated freezer bag.
👩🏻🍳 Serving Pastry Swirls
These tasty little golden pastries are great on their own, but you can serve them with salad.
They are also good served with hummus and crunchy veg.
If you're at home you could serve these hot out of the oven with baked beans and oven chips or with baby potatoes and green vegetables or salad.
For packed lunches, keep them in an airtight container and the salad in a separate tub, so the pastries don't go soft before you serve them.
I like to serve them in lunchboxes with a wee tub of lemon & chive dip.
For more lunch ideas, check out Vegan School Lunch Ideas, Vegan Packed Lunch Ideas, Vegan Picnic Food and How to Pack Lunches.
💭 Pastry Swirls FAQs
The most common cause of pastry pinwheels or swirls unravelling is that the pastry wasn't rolled tightly enough, the pastry became too warm, or the slices were cut too thickly.
Too much pesto, or they weren't cooked long enough. Also, remember to preheat the oven.
It could be they weren't cooked long enough. Also, some brands of vegan cheddar don't melt well, but you can help it along, by adding a little vegan mayo to the grated vegan cheese.
You can make the swirls the night before, chill them in the fridge overnight, then bake them in the morning or bake them at night, let them cool, then store them in an airtight container in the fridge overnight.
👩🏻🍳 More Pastry Piwheels to try
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📖 Recipe
Vegan Pesto Cheese Swirls
Ingredients
- 320 g ready-rolled puff pastry
- 3 tablespoon pesto
- 150 vegan cheddar grated , more depending on how cheesy you want it
- pinch black pepper
Instructions
- Remove the pastry from the fridge and pop on a plate to come to room temperature.
- Preheat your oven to 200c/180c fan/400f/gas mark 4.
- Carefully unroll the pastry and spread with pesto.
- Top with an even layer of grated vegan cheese and season with black pepper.
- Slice and place the swirls face up on a baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes until golden.
- Serve hot or leave to cool and store in an airtight container for lunches through the week.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- If the vegan cheese you are using is mild, you can add some vegan parmesan to the mixture.
- These pastries once cooled can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
- If you want to freeze these, flash freeze on a tray before cooking, then store them in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight.
Clare says
If you keep these in the fridge can you reheat in oven or microwave the next day?
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Yes either, but they wlll be crisper in the oven. cover with foil so they don't over brown.
Looloo says
Loved them and so simple
Jacqueline Meldrum says
I am so glad you enjoyed them Looloo. They are a favourite with my son.
Chrissy says
You're son is so cute & I am addicted to these swirls for lunch with a rocket salad.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Aww thanks, he is a strapping big teenager now, but he still loves these swirls. I am glad you are enjoying them too.
Gill Hill says
Cheese and marmite swirls are yum too!
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Oh yes definitely, a great combo.
Angie Dennett says
What a little sweetheart, he certainly takes his baking seriously.
jac says
He does, although these photos are from years ago, he's much bigger now.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Oh yes you can do so many flavours and they are great for kids.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Super easy and great for lunch. A nice change ftom sandwiches.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
haha yes, they do rather call out to you.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
I am so glad you enjoyed thrm. They are a favourite here too.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
haha yes me too. My son loves them so that's a plus.
kim says
This recipe was absolutely delicious! So easy and tasty! Will definitely be making again and again!
Nart says
Looks so good! Also love that it's vegan. I'd have it any day any time!
Pris says
I can totally see why these are addicting! Cheesy pastry slathered in pesto... hummmm I'll be trying it very soon!
Dannii says
We love making pinwheels. So many ways you can adapt them, and easy for kids to make too.
Mahy says
I can see how these delicious swirls can easily become part of my lunch box - delicious and so yum! Easy to make, too, which is as important 🙂
Jill says
Never mind kids, I am making these for my lunch tomorrow.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
You will love these pastry swirls Jill. I know you have an air fryer, so with the heatwave just now, it might be better to bake them in that. It won't heat up the kitchen as much.