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Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 55 reviews

Celebrate the festive season with these colorful and delightful Christmas Pinwheel Cookies. Featuring vibrant red and green swirled dough rolled together and adorned with holiday sprinkles, these cookies are both visually striking and delicious. Perfect for holiday gatherings and gifting, they combine a buttery, tender texture with a playful presentation.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 2 sticks unsalted butter (softened)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Coloring and Decoration

  • Red food coloring
  • Green food coloring
  • Holiday sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, add the softened butter and white sugar. Using an electric mixer, cream the two together for about five minutes until light and fluffy.
  2. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs and pure vanilla extract to the creamed mixture, ensuring everything is thoroughly combined.
  3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and kosher salt.
  4. Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the butter mixture into the dry ingredients and mix well until a dough forms.
  5. Divide Dough: Split the cookie dough evenly into two separate bowls.
  6. Color the Dough: Add several drops of red food coloring to one bowl and knead the dough with your hands until the color is evenly distributed. In the second bowl, add several drops of green food coloring and similarly blend the color into the dough by hand.
  7. Roll Out Dough: Cut four sheets of parchment paper approximately 13 inches by 11 inches. On one parchment sheet, place the red dough ball in the center and cover with another sheet. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to about 11 inches by 9 inches and 1/4 inch thickness. Transfer this onto a cookie sheet. Repeat the process with the green dough on another cookie sheet.
  8. Chill Dough Sheets: Refrigerate both cookie sheets with rolled dough for at least 10 minutes to firm up.
  9. Assemble Pinwheels: Remove the top parchment paper from each dough sheet. Lightly sprinkle water over the exposed dough surfaces and carefully place one dough layer on top of the other. Gently press together to adhere the layers.
  10. Trim Edges: Cut straight edges on all four sides of the stacked dough layers for evenness.
  11. Roll the Dough Log: Remove the top parchment sheet and with the bottom parchment paper underneath, carefully roll the dough layers into a tight log, using the parchment to help pull it gently. If the dough tears, press it back together firmly.
  12. Add Sprinkles: Pour holiday sprinkles onto a platter and roll the cookie log over the sprinkles, pressing lightly to embed them into the dough surface.
  13. Chill the Log: Place the cookie log in the refrigerator and chill for at least 15 minutes to firm up before slicing.
  14. Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  15. Slice Cookies: Remove the log from the refrigerator and slice into 1/4-inch thick slices using a sharp knife.
  16. Bake Cookies: Arrange the slices on the prepared cookie sheets and bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden.
  17. Cool Cookies: Allow cookies to cool slightly on the baking sheets before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • If dough becomes too soft during rolling, refrigerate briefly to firm up before continuing.
  • You can substitute food coloring with natural options like beet juice or spinach powder for a natural twist.
  • Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for longer freshness.
  • Be gentle when rolling the dough log to prevent cracks or breaks for neat pinwheel shapes.
  • For extra flavor, you can add 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract along with the vanilla.

Keywords: Christmas cookies, pinwheel cookies, holiday cookies, festive desserts, sugar cookies, colorful cookies, sprinkles, holiday baking

Find it online: https://thefoodrecipe.com/christmas-pinwheel-cookies-recipe/