Puff Pastry Cinnamon Apple Pinwheels {Oven/Air Fryer}

This easy apple cinnamon pinwheels recipe is the perfect party treat on a budget! Transforms a simple sheet of puff pastry into delicious, pretty golden brown swirls in minutes - no fuss required.

Recently, I was invited to a community event and was asked to bake something. I had a busy week, but knew I could make these cinnamon apple roll ups at the last minute (and my cinnamon sugar pinwheels recipe).

Stuffed with real apples and cinnamon for a gooey sweet, caramelised soft centre, these apple and cinnamon pinwheels will not only please a crowd, but they're low effort and only take a few minutes to make.

Topped with chopped nuts, and a drizzle of icing sugar, they travel well, great for breakfast, packed lunches, easy weekend baking, or just a quick family dessert.

✔️ Why You'll Love This Recipe

Here's why these apple puff pastry rolls will be a regular in your baking repertoire!:

• Budget friendly
• Ready in just minutes
• Great for any time of day
• Travels well to parties, lunchboxes, etc
• Uses simple ingredients - nothing fancy!
• A great way to use up fresh apples

🛒 Ingredient Notes

Please see the printable recipe card with exact ingredient quantities and preparation instructions at the bottom of this post.

Puff pastry - I use a ready-rolled sheet for minimal faff, or you can use a block and roll it into a square or rectangle.

Butter - Add a rich buttery taste and also helps the cinnamon and sugar adhere to the pastry.

Vanilla - makes the puff pastry swirls sweet taste extra ordinary.

Grated apple - I use tart Granny Smith cooking apples, which have a firm texture, making them ideal for apple cinnamon rolls with puff pastry.

Cinnamon - The star of this recipe along with the apples for a cosy classic cinnamon sugar puff pastry pinwheels.

Brown sugar - adds a warm, caramelised flavour to these sweet pinwheels.

Granulated sugar - adds a crunchier texture - I find the mix of the two more balanced.

Chopped walnuts - for a delicious nutty crunch, or use pecans, hazelnuts or almond slices/flakes.

Icing sugar - This is powdered icing sugar and milk mixed together to make a simple drizzle that visually finishes the apple cinnamon pastry rolls perfectly.

📋 Instructions

Here's my step by step guide on how to make cinnamon swirls with puff pastry:

1. Prepare the apple filling:
First, heat to 200°C / 180°C fan / 400°F / gas mark 6.

Then peel and grate your apple right down to the core, then, using your hands, squeeze out any excess juice.

Set the grated apple to one side.

2. Spread the butter mix:
Next, melt the butter in the microwave and stir in the vanilla extract (but hold back a little for a final brush instead of using an egg wash).

Now unroll the ready-rolled puff pastry onto a clean work surfacetop, but keeping the baking paper intact.

Using a pastry brush, brush the butter vanilla mix all over.

3. Mix the cinnamon sugar:
In a mixing bowl, mix the sugars and cinnamon.

Now add the grated apple and mix well until combined

Then spread all over the buttered puff pastry.

4. Roll the puff pastry:
Starting from the longest edges, roll the pastry tightly and evenly into a log.

Note - I use the paper to help roll a little, smooth out, peel a bit back and repeat until it is sealed.

5. Slice your pinwheels:
Slice your log into 1" slices.

Then reuse the pastry's parchment paper to line your baking tray.

Place each slice on top and gently flatten with the palm of your hand so they're all uniform.

6. Top & bake:
Next, brush all the apple pinwheels with spare butter and add a pinch of the walnuts.

Oven: Place in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until they're golden, puffed and crisp.

Air fryer: Bake at 180°c for 20 minutes using a air fryer liner (photo below).

Then transfer to a cooling rack and leave to cool for 10 minutes before mixing and drizzling the icing sugar on top.

Tip: After rolling up your apple cinnamon swirls pastry, if you feel the pastry is too soft, feel free to refrigerate it for 10 minutes so you can cut neater slices.

👩‍🍳 Substitutions

Depending on your dietary needs, here are a few simple swaps you can make to these apple cinnamon scrolls:

• Pear pinwheels - instead of making a rustic apple swirl, swap for pear, but take more time to squeeze out the excess juice out as they have a higher moisture content.
• Butter - use melted coconut oil for a vegan dairy free option if required
• Croissant dough - use crescent rolls if desired for apple cinnamon croissants. You can follow my canned croissants air fryer recipe here
• Icing sugar - swap for caramel sauce, or drizzle with homemade apple and cinnamon curd
• Walnuts - if using nuts, then try pecan, chopped hazelnuts or almond flakes/slices

⚖️ Variations

Here are some different ways you can enhance and truly personalise these apple puff rolls:

• Easy pinwheel cinnamon rolls: skip the apples and just use sugar, cinnamon and puff pastry if you wish.
• Christmas mince pie roly polys - swap apple for Christmas mincemeat or from a jar
• Apple cream cheese pinwheels - whip up sweetened vanilla cream cheese and spread over the pastry before adding the apple.
• Apple and raisin - a handful of raisins or other dried fruit to the grated apples
• Nutella - this is so easy to make chocolate pinwheels - just spread Nutella on, roll, slice, then bake
• Savoury pinwheels - if apple bites with puff pastry aren't your thing, then why not spread with Dijon mustard (or English) and lots of freshly grated parmesan or cheddar cheese

🔪 Equipment

Please note that as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made through affiliate links.

• Grater
• Rolling pin (optional)
• Pastry brush
• Baking tray
• Mixing bowl
• Sharp knife

❄️ Storage

Storing - we prefer eating these apple cinnamon puff pastry rolls once the icing sugar has set, but they're great for storing in air-tight containers at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Freezing - you can freeze my cinnamon puff pastry swirls
before baking (and bake from frozen - they just need a few more minutes) for up to 3 months. Or freeze after baking, but before you drizzle on the icing sugar.

Reheating - If you want to eat the next day, defrost in the fridge if required and eat once thawed, or bake in the oven until warm

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

• Enjoy with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
• Wash the sugar down with a cup of tea (our favourite)
• Or with coffee as a classic Danish pastry breakfast

❓ FAQ

➕ More Apple Cinnamon Desserts

Looking for more easy desserts like this, but with cinnamon and apple pinwheel? Then why not try these: