Ingredients:
- 1 sheet (14.1 oz / 400g) All-Butter Puff Pastry, thawed but kept cold
- 4 Tbsp (60g) Fig Jam, good quality
- 4 oz (115g) Smoked Gouda Cheese, finely grated
- 3 oz (85g) Prosciutto, very thinly sliced and roughly chopped
- ½ tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- 1 large Egg
- 1 tsp Water
- 1 Tbsp Fresh Thyme Leaves (optional, for garnish)
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Gently unroll the cold puff pastry sheet onto a lightly floured work surface. If the pastry is soft, return it to the refrigerator for 5 minutes.
- Mix the Egg Wash: Whisk the egg and water together in a small bowl until well combined.
- Assemble the Filling Base: Spread the 4 tablespoons of fig jam evenly over the entire surface of the pastry sheet, leaving a half-inch border along the two shorter sides.
- Layer the Flavour: Sprinkle the grated smoked Gouda evenly over the jam. Scatter the roughly chopped prosciutto slices over the cheese layer, and finish with a generous grinding of black pepper.
- Roll the Pastry: Starting from one of the long edges, tightly roll the pastry into a neat log. Do this slowly and firmly to ensure a compact roll.
- Seal the Seam: Brush the exposed seam lightly with the prepared egg wash to help seal the roll completely.
- Chill (Crucial Step): Wrap the rolled log tightly in plastic wrap or parchment paper. Place it in the freezer for 30 minutes (or the fridge for 1 hour). This firms up the butter, ensuring clean cuts.
- Slice: Remove the chilled log and unwrap it. Using a very sharp chef's knife, slice the log into pieces approximately ½ inch (1.2 cm) thick.
- Arrange on Trays: Lay the sliced pinwheels flat on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch (2.5 cm) between them.
- Egg Wash and Bake: Brush the tops of the pinwheels lightly with the remaining egg wash.
- Bake for 18–20 minutes, rotating the trays halfway through, until the pastry is puffed up, deeply golden brown, and the cheese is bubbly.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from the oven and transfer the pinwheels immediately to a cooling rack. Garnish lightly with fresh thyme leaves if desired. Serve warm or at room temperature.