These easy to make pickle cream cheese rollups are fun and interactive. Get the kids involved in preparing a traditional family dinner or special event. This recipe includes modifications to elevate the dish.
Pickle Cream Cheese Rollups
Prep time
Total time
Author: Mama Caruso
Serves: 30 - 40 individual apps
Ingredients
- 1 jar Kosher dill pickles, you will need 6-8 pickles
- 2 - 8 oz blocks of cream cheese, softened
- 1 pound dried beef or procuitto, thinly sliced (about 8-10 slices)
Instructions
- place a slice of dried beef on a cutting board
- spread 1 tablespoon of softened cream cheese on the dried beef
- place the dry pickle at one end of the cream cheese coated dried beef
- roll the cream cheese coated dried beef slice around the pickle
- place on a flat container like a large Tupperware container (this is important because any indentation on a plate will show in the roll-up and make it more difficult to cut)
- repeat until your ingredients are used up or you have made the number you desire
- set the rolls in the fridge for 30 minutes to harden the cream cheese a little (this makes them easier to cut - so if time is an issue, you can skip this step)
- cut the ends off so that you have one cohesive roll (this is the part that all of the helpers love)
- use a serrated knife to cut the slices in ½ inch to ¾ inch slices
- lay flat on a serving dish, stack and serve.
Mama’s Notes:
Tips
Get The Kids Involved
In our family, these pickle cream cheese rollups are a staple for any holiday dinner or special family event. The kids, both adult and younger kids love making this appetizer.
Here’s some tips for getting the kids involved making pickle cream cheese rollups:
- individually dry the pickles with paper towels – if the pickles have any juice on them, the cream cheese will not stick and the final product will become mushy.>
- set the cream cheese out on a counter for several hours to soften.
- when you set the cream cheese out, take all of the wrapping off – any boxes or foil or plastic – it is much easier to to at this point
- use block cream cheese, the whipped or pre-softened style just do not hold up.
All of these things are something that the kids can do. I like to have the cream cheese softened ahead of time and will have a helper get that ready several hours before we sit down to make the rollups.
Whether you are cooking for a large group or a party of one, join the Mama Caruso Cooks Cooking Club and let’s get cooking together.
I saw a trick but haven’t tried it yet…. you take the cream cheese and put it between two sheets of parchment paper. Roll it thin with a rolling pin. Remove top sheet, layer meat then put paper back. Flip over, remove paper, lay pickles and roll sushi style then slice. I plan to try.