Description
At its core, a salted caramel pecan pinwheel is a rolled pastry item. It displays beautiful spiral layers filled with sweet and savory ingredients. The foundation relies on a classic lamination of butter and flour known as puff pastry. Steam creates hundreds of delicate micro-layers as the dough bakes in the oven.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed but still cold
- ½ cup pecans, finely chopped
- ⅓ cup packed brown sugar
- 3 tbsp butter, softened
- ¼ cup caramel sauce, plus extra for drizzling
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp flaky sea salt, plus more for topping
- 1 egg + 1 tbsp water, beaten, for egg wash
Instructions
- Heat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Make the filling: Mix the softened butter, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and ¼ cup caramel sauce until smooth. Stir in about half of the chopped pecans.
- Roll out the pastry into a rectangle, roughly 10 × 14 inches. Spread the caramel mixture evenly over the surface, leaving a small border around the edges. Sprinkle with the remaining pecans and a pinch of flaky salt.
- Roll tightly from one long side into a log. Wrap and refrigerate for 20–30 minutes so it becomes firm enough to slice.
- Slice into ½–¾-inch rounds and arrange them cut-side up on the baking sheet, leaving space between each.
- Brush with egg wash and sprinkle lightly with flaky sea salt.
- Bake for 18–22 minutes, until puffed and deeply golden.
- Let cool for about 10 minutes, then drizzle with additional warm caramel sauce and sprinkle with a little more flaky salt.
Notes
After slicing, put the pinwheels back in the refrigerator for 10 minutes before baking. Cold puff pastry + a hot oven gives you the best layers and lift.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pinwheel
- Calories: ~220 kcal
Keywords: caramel pecan pinwheel pastries, salted caramel pecan rolls, puff pastry pecan pinwheels