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I’ve been making Ham Pecan Pinwheels for many years now, especially for holiday gatherings and tea parties. Roll sliced ham in a delicious spread of cream cheese, pecans, minced onion, and olives. They are so yummy, you’ll want to eat more than one.

(Post modified on 8/24/23.)

My grandma helped me with this recipe many years ago when I held my first tea party. It’s evolved through the years, as most recipes do. I now add chopped pecans to the spread as well as a mixture of black and green olives stuffed with pimentos, to give the pinwheels a dash of color.

Every November, I try to purchase a big bag of freshly picked pecans from a local pecan harvester. They are cracked and ready to shell. Then I use the pecans in my holiday baking. There is nothing quite like fresh pecans in cookies, cakes, pies, and quick breads. And they are a really good addition for recipes such as this one.

If you have kids in your home, get them involved in making these pinwheels. Little hands can spread the cream cheese mixture on the ham, or younger children can simply help with the toothpicks.

Pinwheels are also pretty on an appetizer table. No matter what type of entertaining you’re planning, whether a party with finger foods, a holiday dinner, or even a tea party, these little hor d’oeuvres will be a favorite among your guests. Plus they are easy to make! See my recipe for Tortilla Pinwheels Here.

More Appetizers to Try

Ingredients for Ham Pecan Pinwheels

(See the full recipe at the bottom of this post.)

cream cheese, room temperature
mayonnaise (not salad dressing)
chopped pecans
black olives
green olives stuffed with pimento
Louisiana hot sauce
red wine vinegar
dried minced onion
whole mustard
paprika
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
cayenne pepper
sliced ham (rectangular deli ham works best)

Instructions for this Recipe

Gather your ingredients so that you have everything close at hand on the counter or table.

Prepare the Ingredients

Using a Chef’s knife and cutting board, mince the black and green olives.

You may substitute 2 tablespoons of dill relish for the green olives, which I’ve done when I didn’t have enough olives in my pantry. This adds a nice dill flavor to the mixture.

Chop the pecans with a knife or nut chopper.

Make the Cream Cheese Spread

In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth.

Stir in the chopped pecans, the minced black and green olives, along with the Louisiana hot sauce, red wine vinegar, dried minced onion, whole mustard, paprika, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Mix well until thoroughly combined.

Divide the mixture into five parts.

Assemble the Pinwheels

With a paper towel, pat dry the ham slices on both sides.

Spread one portion of the cream cheese mixture on a slice of ham. Roll tightly and place on a small baking sheet or tray. Repeat with the remaining pieces of ham and cream cheese.

Place the baking sheet in the freezer for thirty minutes until the ham is slightly frozen.

I’ve learned that slicing the ham is much easier and less messy when it is slightly frozen. Trust me, you don’t want to skip this step!

Using a sharp knife and cutting board, slice each roll into 8 pieces. Insert toothpicks through the center of each and arrange the pinwheels on a serving platter.

If you want to make the pinwheels ahead of time, place ham slices in a tightly covered container and refrigerate up to 3 days. I like to separate the layers with waxed paper to keep the pinwheels nice and neat.

This recipe will make 40 pinwheels and will serve 12-20 people for a holiday gathering or tea party.

See more Appetizers Here. Browse Holiday Entertaining Ideas Here. View more Tea Party Recipes Here.

Ham Pecan Pinwheels

Prep Time 20

Freezing Time 30

Total Time 50

Serving Size 15

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Equipment

Ingredients

8 oz cheese cheese (room temperature)
2 tablespoons mayonnaise ((not salad dressing))
2 tablespoons pecans (finely chopped)
2 tablespoons black olives (minced)
2 tablespoons green olives stuffed with pimento (minced)
1 tablespoon Louisiana hot sauce (or 3-4 drops)
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
1 teaspoon whole mustard
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
5 oz sliced ham (5 slices - rectangular deli ham works best)

Instructions

Gather your ingredients so that you have everything close at hand on the counter or table.

Prepare the Ingredients

Chop the pecans with a knife and cutting board or a nut chopper.
Using a Chef's knife and cutting board, mince the black and green olives.

Make the Cream Cheese Spread

In a small mixing bowl, mix the softened cream cheese and mayonnaise with a spoon or fork until smooth.
Stir in the chopped pecans, minced black and green olives, along with the Louisiana hot sauce, red wine vinegar, dried minced onion, whole mustard, paprika, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Mix well until thoroughly combined.
Divide the mixture into five parts.

Assemble the Pinwheels

With a paper towel, pat dry the ham slices on both sides. Spread one portion of the cream cheese mixture on a slice of ham all the way to the edges. Roll tightly and place on a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining pieces of ham and cream cheese.
Place the baking sheet in the freezer for thirty minutes until the ham is frozen solid. Using a sharp knife and cutting board, slice each roll into 8 pieces. Insert toothpicks through the center of each. Arrange the pinwheels on a serving platter.
If you want to make the pinwheels ahead of time, place ham slices in a tightly covered container and refrigerate up to 3 days.
This recipe will make 40 pinwheels and will serve 13-20 people.