Vegan Pizza Swirls for Lunch Boxes

These simple vegan pastry swirls are great hot or cold and perfect for lunch boxes.

Vegan pastry swirls are so popular in my house, I just had to share them.

They are so, so easy to make and oh my, you should try them when they are warm and flaking out of the oven. Mmmmmmm!

We also add them to lunch boxes with hummus and crunchy veg.

They are great for back-to-school lunchboxes for kids, but I haven't met an adult yet who would say no to one.

Jump to:

• 🍕 What do you use instead of pizza dough?
• 💭 Is puff pastry suitable for vegans?
• 🥫 What is used for pizza sauce?
• 🧀 Do you add vegan cheese?
• 🥫 Adding dried herbs
• 📖 Variations to this vegan snack recipe
• 💭 Top tip for pastry swirls
• 🍱 How to serve vegan pizza swirls (pizza wheels)
• ⏲️ How long will vegan pizza swirls keep?
• 🌡️ Can you freeze vegan pastry swirls?
• 🧾 More vegan lunchbox pastry recipes
• 👩🏻‍🍳 Want new recipes delivered to your inbox?
• 📋 Pin it for later
• 🥦 Living on the Veg
• 👩🏻‍🍳 How to make Vegan Pizza Swirls
• 📖 Recipe
• Comments

🍕 What do you use instead of pizza dough?

Pizza swirls could be made with pizza dough, if you have some, but they wouldn't be as soft as these are.

Made with pizza dough, they will be crunchy like a pizza crust.

Instead of pizza dough, I use puff pastry.

Shop-bought puff pastry is such good quality, I never see the point of making my own.

Even better, ready-rolled pastry is already beautifully rolled into a rectangle.

My rolling skills would never produce such an even, neat layer, so ready-rolled pastry it is.

💭 Is puff pastry suitable for vegans?

Puff pastry is generally suitable for vegans but do check the pack for details.

Most big brands and supermarket brand puff pastry are vegan friendly, sometimes accidentally so.

Let's face it using margarine is always going to be cheaper than butter.

Do avoid any pastry that says 'all butter' as it will be exactly that and definitely not suitable for vegans.

🥫 What is used for pizza sauce?

There are several options when making these pizza swirls. Let me share a few with you.

• Tomato puree
• Sundried tomato paste
• Pizza sauce (homemade pizza sauce or jarred)
• Tomato pesto

All of these options would be great in these swirls.

I like to use either tomato puree or sundried tomato paste.

If you are using pizza sauce, just remember it's thinner so don't use too much.

🧀 Do you add vegan cheese?

Hell yeah I do!

You could use vegan cheddar, vegan mozzarella or vegan-style parmesan for these swirls.

I use a variety when making these cute little vegan pizza swirls, depending on what I have in the fridge.

Vegan Applewood cheese is a favourite with us at the moment and I always have a bag of grated cheese in the fridge. It's so handy for adding to dishes or topping pasta.

Of course, there are other brands out there. I love this one as it melts beautifully and has a good smoky flavour.

🥫 Adding dried herbs

Adding dried herbs, salt and pepper adds extra flavour to these pizza swirls.

My favourite dried herbs to add are dried oregano or dried basil.

Both flavours pair so well with tomato.

Fresh herbs don't work so well in swirls, so stick to dried.

📖 Variations to this vegan snack recipe

Here are a few ideas of flavours to add to these popular pizza swirls.

1. Olives - I like to add finely chopped black olives but you could use green.
2. Red Pepper - chopped very finely
3. Red Onion - sliced very finely
4. Sundried Tomato - chopped very finely
5. Chilli Flakes - for little pops of heat

💭 Top tip for pastry swirls

Make sure any extra ingredients you add are chopped finely and spread thinly.

You don't want too much filling.

If your added ingredient is in water or oil, do dab it with kitchen paper to dry it, before chopping it finely and adding to the pastry.

🍱 How to serve vegan pizza swirls (pizza wheels)

Here are some ideas for serving pizza swirls.

• Grab one or two to snack on while still warm. Oh my they are moreish.
• Serve warm with baby potatoes and salad.
• Serve hot with roast potatoes, vegetables and gravy.
• With chips and baked beans (popular with kids).
• Cold in a lunch box with hummus and crunchy veg.
• In a lunchbox with salad.

⏲️ How long will vegan pizza swirls keep?

These pizza wheel snacks can be kept in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Store them in an airtight container with some kitchen paper in the bottom and between layers.

🌡️ Can you freeze vegan pastry swirls?

Freeze pizza swirls, before they are baked.

Just roll up the pastry with the fillings, then slice.

Flash freeze them on a baking tray, before moving to a freezer bag or tub.

Cook them from frozen whenever you fancy some.

🧾 More vegan lunchbox pastry recipes

Here are a few more vegan pastries that are perfect for lunch boxes.

Savoury Vegan Pastries

• Balsamic Tomato Bites
• Chickpea & Vegetable Hand Pies
• Pesto & Cheese Swirls
• Rumbledethump Pies

Sweet Vegan Pastries

• Caramel Banana Filo Hand Pies
• Easy Danish Pastries
• Easy Filo Apple Crumble Hand Pies
• Strawberry Turnovers

For more lunchbox tips, check out my guides Packing Lunch, 39 of the Best Vegan Sandwiches and 45 Back-to-School Vegan Packed Lunches.

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👩🏻‍🍳 How to make Vegan Pizza Swirls

Step-by-step photos of these vegan pizza swirls being made. Keep scrolling for the full printable recipe.

Step 1

• Carefully unroll the ready-rolled puff pastry or roll out your block of pastry to a rectangular sheet about ½ cm thick.
  • You can leave it in the baking paper it was wrapped in or move to a fresh non-stick baking sheet.
• Dollop on the sauce you are using and spread in an even layer with the back of a dessert spoon.
• Top with grated cheese and dried herbs, then season with salt and pepper.
  • It doesn't look like a lot of cheese but that is more than enough.
• Start to roll the pastry, fairly firmly.

Step 2

• Keep rolling until fully rolled, then use a sharp knife to cut into 1 cm wide slices.
• Turn them on their side and place on the baking sheet with a bit of space between them.
• Bake in a pre-heated oven until cooked and golden.
• Serve hot or cold.
• Enjoy!

📖 Recipe