Help me win a contest! How would you upgrade this recipe for Pizza Pinwheels?

So we have friends that host a Holiday Party every year. Everyone brings an appetizer they made, and then at the end everyone votes for their Top 3.

Last year I made these Pizza Pinwheels.

I won 3rd place out of about 20 or so recipes

Is there anything you can think of to change in this recipe that would make them better???




Pillsbury's Pizza Pinwheels
Serve pizza toppings swirled in a tender crescent pastry with a dipping sauce at your next get-together.

Prep Time: 20 Min
Total Time: 35 Min
Makes: 24 servings

INGREDIENTS
1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup finely chopped pepperoni (about 1 1/2 oz)
1/2 cup shredded Italian cheese blend (2 oz)
1/2 cup pizza sauce (from 8-oz can)



DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray.
2. Unroll dough; separate dough into 4 rectangles. Firmly press perforations to seal.
3. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese, pepperoni and Italian cheese blend over each rectangle.
4. Starting with one short side, roll up each rectangle; press edge to seal. With serrated knife, cut each roll into 6 slices; place cut side down on cookie sheet.
5. Bake 13 to 17 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Meanwhile, heat pizza sauce. Immediately remove pinwheels from cookie sheet. Serve warm with warm pizza sauce for dipping.

Re: Help me win a contest! How would you upgrade this recipe for Pizza Pinwheels?

Besides making my own sauce no idea.

Good luck!

Re: Help me win a contest! How would you upgrade this recipe for Pizza Pinwheels?

Maybe you can make a few different varieties with more unique “toppings,” think like California Pizza Kitchen type pizza-toppings? Like some traditional, some with a pesto and a different cheese and some other fun toppings, etc.?

Re: Help me win a contest! How would you upgrade this recipe for Pizza Pinwheels?

I'd use better sauce and my own cheese blend... like good Mozzarella, Gruyere with a nice Asiago...and some good Reggiano Parmesan instead of okay parmesan. I'd probably make some with pepperoni, some with sausage and some with sauteed mushroom and onion... that way you have a selection for all involved!

Also.. instead of using Pillsbury dough.. I'd buy pizza dough from my favorite pizzeria and roll that out into long rectangles to use as the dough.

Message edited 12/4/2009 9:55:00 AM.

Re: Help me win a contest! How would you upgrade this recipe for Pizza Pinwheels?

Make them pizza wontons? Instead of rolling them up and cutting - pinch to seal like a wonton?

You'd have to use more ingredients but it would kind of be like a Totino's Pizza Roll only a wonton..

Re: Help me win a contest! How would you upgrade this recipe for Pizza Pinwheels?

Pillsbury has their own baking contest - did you try searching their website for ideas?