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Spinach Pinwheels with feta and parmesan cheese are rolled up in magic mozzarella dough to transform this classic party snack into an easy keto appetizer recipe. As pretty as they are packed with delicious flavors, you’ll be sure to impress family and friends. And these gluten free appetizers even use a version of fat head dough made with coconut flour instead of almond meal, making them nut-free too.
Easy Keto Appetizers
I admit it, I am a little lazy when it comes to “specialty” baking. I can’t have gluten, so while I will sometimes make a gluten free cake from scratch, I tend to stick with flourless desserts.
That’s why I am always so impressed with my friend Carolyn, the mad scientist behind the low carb blog All Day I Dream About Food. I may have a degree in chemical engineering, but between the two of us, she is the true scientist.
Now she is sharing all of her knowledge and expertise with the world in The Ultimate Guide to Keto Baking. The book starts with some of the science behind the baking, plus tips, checklists, and all of her favorite ingredients and products.
And that is all before she gives you over 150 sweet and savory recipes for every kind of dessert, dinner, and snack that you can pop into your oven. So you can definitely learn a ton from her and make some epically impressive treats.
Or you can start simple with tasty little Spinach Pinwheels as a keto appetizer. You just need dough. Magic mozzarella dough, to be exact…
What is fat head dough?
Fathead dough, also referred to as magic mozzarella dough, is a high-fat, high-protein, low carb and gluten free dough made from mozzarella cheese. It typically also contains cream cheese and almond flour. There are variations that contain baking powder, egg, protein powder, or other ingredients to aid in making it pliable, chewy, and puffy.
It makes a great keto substitute for pizza crust, bagel dough, and more.
Can you make nut-free fat head dough?
Carolyn, from the keto website All Day I Dream About Food, has her own version of Magic Mozzarella Dough that uses a blend of almond flour and coconut flour. However, in her cookbook The Ultimate Guide to Keto Baking, she makes a version that uses only coconut flour, making it nut free.
Besides this recipe for Spinach Feta Pinwheels, she has recipes in the cookbook for bagels, pizzas, and calzones that use this dough. And she even adds powdered erythritol sweetener to make a sweet dough for a galette or turnovers.
What is in Magic Mozzarella Dough (aka Fat Head Dough)?
- Coconut flour
- Baking powder
- Xanthan gum – if you are going to do any low carb or gluten free baking, this is one “non-standard” ingredient I do recommend keeping on hand
- Mozzarella cheese – Carolyn recommends pre-shredded, part-skim mozzarella, as the lower fat content and bit of starch used as filler helps the dough hold together better. You can use an organic pre-shredded cheese, if you prefer to stay away from the artificial fillers.
- Eggs
Can you make nut-free fathead dough?
You’ll get the full directions and amounts in the recipe card at the bottom of this post, but here is a brief overview:
- Whisk together the dry ingredients.
- Microwave the cheese until almost liquid.
- Stir in the dry ingredients and eggs using a rubber spatula.
- Knead on a silicone baking mat or parchment paper until smooth and pliable.
- Use as directed for your specific recipe.
Keto Spinach Feta Pinwheels Recipe
Now let’s use that mozzarella fat head dough to give classic pinwheel appetizers a low carb makeover. It’s so simple to make these easy keto appetizers.
Spinach rollups with feta and parmesan cheese are easy, cheesy, and so tasty. The perfect finger food to share with family and friends at a party or celebration. Add them to a platter with some Tzatziki Dip for dunking. You can even serve them as a side dish for low carb soups, salads, and more.
What is in Low Carb Spinach Pinwheels?
- One batch of nut-free Magic Mozzarella Dough
- Frozen chopped spinach – thawed and drained, with as much liquid squeezed out as possible
- Feta cheese
- Parmesan cheese
- Garlic
- Dried marjoram – you can substitute dried oregano
- Salt and pepper
- Unsalted butter
- Coarse sea salt
What equipment do you need to make them?
- Bowls
- Rubber spatula
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mats – for rolling out the dough and lining your baking sheets
- Rolling pin
- Baking sheet
- Sharp knife
How to make Feta and Spinach Pinwheels
All of the details and quantities are in the printable recipe below, but here is a brief overview so you can see that low carb baking can be really easy.
- Prepare the dough and preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Stir together the spinach, feta, parmesan, garlic, marjoram (or oregano), salt, and pepper.
- On a silicone baking mat or parchment paper, press the dough into a rectangle, cover with another mat or piece of parchment, and roll into a 16-inch square.
- Spread the filling to within 1/2-inch of the edge.
- Roll up tightly and pinch the seam to seal.
- Cut into 1-inch slices and place on a lined baking sheet.
- Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
- Bake for 18 to 22 minutes until golden and firm.
- Remove and cool completely on the pan.
Make it a meal
Serve these as a side dish with…
- Keto Broccoli Cheese Soup
- Seared Cubed Steaks with Worcestershire Sauce
- Greek Beef Kabobs
- Tomato Spinach Frittata
What are the best low carb cookbooks?
If you need keto recipes for every meal of the day, Carolyn has you covered:
- In The Everyday Ketogenic Kitchen you’ll get all the basics with information and recipes for every meal of the day to get you started on your low carb journey.
- Easy Keto Dinners will help you with your menu planning so you can stay low carb even on the busiest of nights. Try the Skillet Chicken Enchiladas!
- All of these Keto Soups & Stews will make you warm and cozy all winter long. Try the Keto Stuffed Peppers Soup!
- Easy Keto Desserts is perfect for anyone who has a sweet tooth but still wants to cut their carbs.
- Be sure to start your day the low carb way with Easy Keto Breakfasts. Try the Strawberry Cheesecake Parfaits!
More low carb appetizers
- Ground Beef Stuffed Mushrooms with Mozzarella
- Kentucky Hot Brown Dip
- Chef Salad Skewers
- Greek Yogurt Deviled Eggs
- Spinach Artichoke Cheesy Cauliflower Breadsticks
Low Carb Spinach Feta Pinwheels
Ingredients
For the Nut-Free Magic Mozzarella Dough:
- 1/2 cup coconut flour
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
- 12 ounces preshredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
- 2 large eggs
For the pinwheels:
- 8 ounces frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
- 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (about 3 ounces)
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated (about 1 ounce)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram (or 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- Coarse sea salt, for sprinkling
Instructions
For the Nut-Free Magic Mozzarella Dough:
- Cover a work surface with a silicone baking mat or a large piece of parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together the coconut flour, baking powder, and xanthan gum. Set aside.
- In a large, microwave-safe bowl, heat the cheese on high in 30-second increments until almost liquid. Stir in the flour mixture and eggs and knead in the bowl using a rubber spatula.
- Turn the dough out onto the prepared work surface and continue to knead until cohesive. Set dough aside while preparing the filling.
For the pinwheels:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
- Squeeze out as much moisture from the spinach as possible and place the spinach in a medium bowl. Stir in the feta, Parmesan, garlic, marjoram, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Lightly grease another baking mat or large piece of parchment paper and transfer the prepared dough onto it. Pat into a rough square and top with another piece of parchment or waxed paper.
- Roll out the dough to a 16-inch square. Spread the filling on top, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Roll up the dough tightly and pinch the seam to seal.
- Use a very sharp knife to cut the dough into 1-inch slices and place the pinwheels cut side down on the prepared baking sheet. Brush with the butter and sprinkle with a little coarse salt.
- Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, until the pinwheels are golden brown and just firm to the touch. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on the pan.
Categories:
Enjoy!
Hi! I’m alergic to xantham (psillium husk as well) every time I eat the slightest amount I feel sick with my stomach. Is there any low carb susbtitute here? maybe potato starch?
I am not aware of other options to substitute, but here is a similar-style dough that might work for this recipe. https://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/low-carb-garlic-parmesan-knots/
Hey Brianne, how did I not know you’d done a review? Or did you tell me and I let it slip my mind? Things were so crazy back in December. Thank you so much, I am pinning and sharing on Facebook!