Tortilla Roll-Ups Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can you make pinwheels in advance? ›

Can You Make Pinwheels the Day Before? Yes, you can make pinwheels the day or night before you plan to serve them.

And don't skip the plastic wrap step—this is the best way to keep the roll-ups from getting soggy.

Problem: The Pinwheels are Falling Apart

If pinwheels aren't rolled tightly or the filling is too bulky, they may not hold their shape. Solution: Use toothpicks to secure the tortilla after rolling​​. Prevention: Do not overfill the tortillas, and ensure there is enough cream cheese to hold the ingredients together​​.

You've got to heat the tortillas before you roll them up. You can give them a lite coating of oil and toss them into a hot sauté pan. Use no oil, if you prefer, or do it restaurant style and dip them into the deep fat fryer. Corn tortillas are brittle and will break when they are bent.

Compression, compression, compression.

You don't want a tortilla that's too thick — the steam won't rise under the weight of too much masa! A very thin tortilla will also be susceptible to tearing, which will sabotage your chance at a puff.

You combat this by heating them in a moist environment. You could set up a steamer, but much faster is to simply dip the tortilla in water and toss it straight on a hot surface. As the surface moisture evaporates, it steams the tortilla until it's soft all the way through.

Take a tip from Mexican restaurants and steam your tortillas to warm them. They retain their flavor and texture, without getting too soft or too crisp. Steam-warming tortillas is a great way to heat them up before using without adding any extra fat, requiring a gas stove, or getting them too crisp.

-Use a light touch and even pressure when rolling to prevent the dough from sticking to the rolling pin or surface. -If you're still having trouble, try using a round template (like a plate or lid) to trim your tortilla into a perfect circle after rolling it out.

Keep it moist at all times but not sticky (experts say it should have the smooth, pliant consistency of Play-Doh). Cover the bowl of unrolled dough balls with a damp towel and have a bowl of water handy to moisten your hands when rolling.