Rosette de Lyon Pinwheels
The easiest no-cook snack in the lineup: soft tortillas, creamy cheese, and mild salami rolled up and sliced into little spirals that kids find impossible to resist.
Rosette de Lyon is our mildest salami — clean, lightly nutty, and not a bit spicy — which makes it the perfect starter salami for little eaters. Here it gets rolled into pinwheels, the kind of fun-shaped finger food kids reach for before they even think about it.
The method is forgiving and endlessly customizable, which is exactly why pinwheel sandwiches are such a lunchbox staple. A schmear of cream cheese acts as the glue, a layer of mild cheese and salami goes on top, and a tight roll plus a sharp knife does the rest.
Best of all, this is a job kids can own: they spread, they layer, they roll. Make them ahead for the week and slice in the morning for clean little spirals.
Ingredients
For the pinwheels
2 large flour tortillas (8–10 inch)
4 oz cream cheese, softened
4 slices mild cheese (mozzarella, Havarti, or mild cheddar)
12–16 thin slices Rosette de Lyon salami
Optional: a handful of baby spinach or shredded lettuce
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Instructions
Lay a tortilla flat and spread half the cream cheese all the way to the edges — this is the “glue” that holds everything together.
Layer on a single, even sheet of cheese slices, then the salami, then the optional greens. Keep it flat so the spirals stay tidy.
Starting from one edge, roll the tortilla up as tightly as you can without tearing it. Repeat with the second tortilla.
Wrap each roll snugly in plastic wrap and chill for at least 20 minutes (this makes them much easier to slice).
Unwrap and slice into 1-inch pinwheels with a sharp serrated knife. Serve cut-side up.
Chef Notes
Chilling is the secret to clean spirals — warm pinwheels squish and unravel, cold ones slice like a dream. If you’re packing them for lunch, roll and wrap the night before and slice fresh in the morning.
For toddlers and younger kids, quarter the pinwheels or slice them a little thinner so each piece is an easy, small bite. Rosette de Lyon is gentle and ready-to-eat, but it’s flavorful and lightly salty, so a few slices go a long way.
Substitutions & Tips
Swap the cream cheese for hummus or a mild herb spread, and use whatever melty mild cheese your kid already loves. Whole-wheat or spinach tortillas work just as well as plain flour.
If your little ones like a touch more character, our Orange Fennel (gently sweet) or Saucisson Sec both pinwheel beautifully.
Serving & Storage
Serve as a snack, a party platter, or the centerpiece of a lunchbox alongside fruit and veggies. They’re great cold or at room temperature.
Store sliced pinwheels in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days; skip juicy fillings if you’re prepping ahead so they don’t go soggy.
Published
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