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    Home » Pastry » Vegan Pesto Cheese Swirls

    Vegan Pesto Cheese Swirls

    Published: Aug 23, 2020 · Modified: Dec 29, 2021 by Jacqueline Meldrum · 14 Comments

    These pesto cheese swirls are simple lunch box pastries with a filling of vegan pesto and vegan cheese.
     
    Vegan Pesto Cheese Swirls on a baking sheet

    LUNCHBOX PASTRY SWIRLS

     
     
    These savoury pesto cheese swirls are great for lunch at home or lunch boxes.
     
    Children and adults love these and they are simple enough for children to make themselves, as long as an adult can pop them into the oven.
     
    They are crisp and flaky with a real umami flavour.
     
    To be honest they are rather addictive.

     

    HOW TO SERVE PASTRY SWIRLS

     
    These tasty little golden bites are great on their own, but you can serve them with salad.
     
    If you are at home, you could serve them hot out of the oven with baked beans or baby potatoes and salad.
     
    For your lunchbox, store them in an airtight container and keep your salad separate.
     
     
    Serve with Vegan Lemon & Chive Dip for dunking
     
     
    Close up of a Vegan Pesto Cheese Swirls
     

    VEGAN PUFF PASTRY

    Most brands of puff pastry these days are suitable for vegans, both big brands like Jusrol and supermarket own brands.
     
    The puff pastry to avoid are any which say all butter, as they are just that and not suitable for vegans.
     
    Do make sure to check the back of the pack if it's a brand you haven't tried before.
     
     

    PUFF PASTRY TIPS

    Here are a few tips to help you get the best out of your pastry.
     
     
    1. Ready-rolled puff pastry saves time and gives you a perfect rectangle to work with.
    2. Take it out of the fridge 20-30 minutes before you are going to use it to let it come to room temperature. If you try and unwrap it while it is cold, it will resist and crack.
    3. Keep it on the paper it comes wrapped in, it is usually non-stick so the pastry can be moved directly onto a baking tray on the paper.
    4. Once your pie or swirls are made, you can brush exposed pastry with a little olive oil for a golden finish. 
    5. If you want to freeze a pastry or pie you have made, freeze it after you have added the toppings before you bake it. Flash freeze on a tray, then move to a freezer bag.
     
    also try Vegan Cheese & Red Pepper Filo Hand Pies or Mini Falafel Onion Pies
    A tray of Vegan Pesto Cheese Swirls on a tray just out of the oven
     

    VEGAN PESTO

     
    There are lots of brands of vegan pesto. I've tried a few of them and there are not many I really love.
     
    My top picks are Sacla Vegan Pesto and Mr Organic Vegan Pesto.
     
    Of course you can make your own pesto.
     
    Try Kale & Cashew Pesto ,  Homemade Vegan Cashew Pesto or Easy Broccoli Pesto
     

    VEGAN CHEESE

     
    Everyone has their favourite vegan cheese. 
     
    For these swirls you want one that melts well. 
     
    We like Violife cheddar with some of their vegan parmesan which is called Prosociano mixed in. 
     
    The Violife original flavour is very mild, but melts well and the Prosicano gives a lot of flavour. It has that real parmesan tang.
     
    Vegan Applewood smoked cheese is another good one for flavour that melts well. It works really well in these swirls.
     
     
    also check out Kid- Friendly School Lunch Plan for Vegan Kids & Vegan Pizza Swirls
     
     
    pin it for later
     
     
    Follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 
    Then join my Facebook group Living on the Veg. It's a very friendly community with lots of recipes and chat. I'm in there every day chatting.

    HOW TO MAKE VEGAN PESTO CHEESE SWIRLS

    Scroll down for step-by-step photos of my son making these followed by the printable recipe. If you don't have a printer, hit print and save as a PDF.
    Making vegan pesto cheese swirls - Step 1 - Boy spreading pesto on a sheet of puff pastry

    STEP 1 - PASTRY

     
    Once your pastry is at room temperature carefully unroll it.
    Spread the pesto in an even layer across the pastry.
    Making vegan pesto cheese swirls - Step 2 - Boy spreading cheese on pastry

    STEP 2 - CHEESE

     
    Sprinkle cheese in an even layer across the pesto topped pastry.
     
    Roll the pastry in a fairly tight roll.
     
    Making vegan pesto cheese swirls - step 3 - Boy cutting pastry swirls

    STEP 3 - SLICE

     
    Once it has been rolled into a sausage shape, cut into slices.
     
    If you are letting a child cut the pastry, a blunt butter knife will cut through the soft pastry easily,
     
    Adults and older children can use a sharp knife.
     
     
     
    Making vegan pesto cheese swirls - step 4 -  Swirls on baking sheet before and after bake

    STEP 4 - BAKE

    Place the cut slices flat on a baking sheet. You should be able to see the swirl.
    If the pastry comes wrapped in baking paper you can sit it on that on a baking sheet.
    I used a non-stick baking mat.
    Making vegan pesto cheese swirls - step 5 - Boy tasting the pastries

    STEP 5 - TASTE TEST

     
    Now these puff pastry swirls are for your lunch, but if would be a crying shame not to taste one, just to make sure.
     
    As you can see they got the thumbs up!

    Top Tip

    For a sweet treat, make these Biscoff & Chocolate Pastry Swirls.

    Vegan pesto cheese swirls on a baking sheet

    Vegan Pesto Cheese Swirls

    Jacqueline Meldrum
    Simple lunch box pastries with a filling of pesto and cheese.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Easy Vegan Pastry Recipes
    Cuisine British
    Servings 24 swirls
    Calories 46.74 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 320 g ready-rolled puff pastry
    • 3 tbsp 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.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 46.74kcalCarbohydrates: 0.98gProtein: 1.99gFat: 3.91gSaturated Fat: 1.63gCholesterol: 7.71mgSodium: 60.83mgFiber: 0.06gSugar: 0.06g
    Keyword back to school snack, pastry swirls. pesto pastry, puff pastry pies, puff pastry tarts, vegan lunch box snack, vegan snack
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mahy

      August 28, 2020 at 9:45 am

      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 🙂

      Reply
    2. Dannii

      August 28, 2020 at 9:45 am

      We love making pinwheels. So many ways you can adapt them, and easy for kids to make too.

      Reply
    3. Pris

      August 28, 2020 at 10:03 am

      I can totally see why these are addicting! Cheesy pastry slathered in pesto... hummmm I'll be trying it very soon!

      Reply
    4. Nart

      August 28, 2020 at 12:08 pm

      Looks so good! Also love that it's vegan. I'd have it any day any time!

      Reply
    5. kim

      August 28, 2020 at 12:08 pm

      This recipe was absolutely delicious! So easy and tasty! Will definitely be making again and again!

      Reply
    6. Jacqueline Meldrum

      August 28, 2020 at 1:52 pm

      haha yes me too. My son loves them so that's a plus.

      Reply
    7. Jacqueline Meldrum

      August 28, 2020 at 1:52 pm

      I am so glad you enjoyed thrm. They are a favourite here too.

      Reply
    8. Jacqueline Meldrum

      August 28, 2020 at 1:52 pm

      haha yes, they do rather call out to you.

      Reply
    9. Jacqueline Meldrum

      August 28, 2020 at 1:52 pm

      Super easy and great for lunch. A nice change ftom sandwiches.

      Reply
    10. Jacqueline Meldrum

      August 28, 2020 at 1:52 pm

      Oh yes you can do so many flavours and they are great for kids.

      Reply
    11. Angie Dennett

      June 28, 2021 at 6:44 pm

      What a little sweetheart, he certainly takes his baking seriously.

      Reply
      • jac

        July 08, 2021 at 2:56 pm

        He does, although these photos are from years ago, he's much bigger now.

        Reply
    12. Gill Hill

      December 02, 2021 at 1:43 pm

      Cheese and marmite swirls are yum too!

      Reply
      • Jacqueline Meldrum

        December 02, 2021 at 2:48 pm

        Oh yes definitely, a great combo.

        Reply

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