Easy Baked Mozzarella Pizza Pinwheels for Kids
These easy baked mozzarella pizza pinwheels are the perfect after-school snack or party appetizer. Made with simple ingredients like pizza dough, fresh mozzarella, and marinara, they come together in about 25 minutes and are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for kids and adults alike.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 12 pinwheels 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb pizza dough (store-bought or homemade), at room temperature
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced or torn into small pieces
- ½ cup marinara or pizza sauce
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Lightly flour your work surface and rolling pin. Place the pizza dough on the floured surface and roll it into a 12×10-inch rectangle, about ¼-inch thick.
- Spread the marinara sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a ½-inch border along the edges.
- Sprinkle the garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and a pinch of salt and pepper over the sauce.
- Scatter the fresh mozzarella pieces evenly over the sauce, then sprinkle the grated Parmesan on top.
- Starting from one of the long edges, carefully roll the dough into a tight log. Pinch the seam to seal.
- Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, slice the log into 12 equal pieces, about 1 inch thick each.
- Place the pinwheels cut-side up on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
- Brush the tops of each pinwheel with the melted butter.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, until the tops are golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and melted.
- Let the pinwheels cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
For cleaner slices, chill the rolled log in the fridge for 10-15 minutes before slicing. Do not overfill the pinwheels to prevent bursting. Use parchment paper for easy cleanup. Watch the oven closely as baking times may vary. Serve with warm marinara for dipping.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pinwheel
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 300
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 16
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 7
Keywords: pizza pinwheels, mozzarella pinwheels, easy snack, kids snack, after-school snack, pizza rolls, baked pinwheels