Jolly Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe: Festive Swirls of Joy

Sweet memories of holiday gatherings dance through kitchens when christmas pinwheel cookies arrive on festive plates.

Swirling colors and delicate layers make these treats a delightful centerpiece for seasonal celebrations.

The delicate spiral pattern catches every eye, promising a blend of buttery richness and cheerful visual appeal.

Soft dough carefully rolled with vibrant colors creates a stunning dessert that feels like edible art.

Each slice reveals a mesmerizing pattern that surprises and delights cookie lovers.

Generations have treasured this recipe, passing down the secret to creating these charming treats.

Gather your ingredients and prepare to craft a cookie that will become a cherished tradition in your home.

Color Ideas For Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

• Perfect Pinwheel Precision
• Chill the dough thoroughly to ensure clean, crisp swirls that hold their shape during baking. Cold dough prevents spreading and maintains the intricate pinwheel design.
• Make-Ahead Magic
• Prepare the cookie dough log up to 3 days in advance and store wrapped in plastic in the refrigerator. Alternatively, freeze the unbaked log for up to 2 months, slicing and baking directly from frozen state with minimal time adjustment.
• Dietary Adaptations
• Swap regular flour with gluten-free flour blend for celiac-friendly cookies. Replace butter with plant-based margarine to create a vegan version that maintains the same festive swirl pattern.
• Flavor Exploration
• Experiment with different extract variations like peppermint, almond, or orange to add unique flavor dimensions. Consider replacing vanilla with complementary extracts that enhance the holiday spirit of these colorful cookies.
• Decorative Finishing
• Replace standard sprinkles with crushed candy canes, colored sanding sugar, or edible glitter for extra holiday flair. Roll cookie edges in finely chopped nuts or white chocolate chips for added texture and visual appeal.

How To Serve Christmas Pinwheel Cookies For Fun

• Festive Cookie Display: Arrange the pinwheel cookies on a decorative holiday platter, creating a colorful swirl pattern that showcases their vibrant red and green layers.
• Sweet Gift Packaging: Bundle these cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with red and green ribbons, perfect for homemade Christmas gifts or cookie exchange parties.
• Dessert Pairing Perfection: Serve alongside hot cocoa or peppermint tea to complement the cookies' festive colors and create a cozy holiday moment with family and friends.
• Holiday Plating Charm: Dust the cookies with a light sprinkle of powdered sugar to add a snow-like touch, enhancing their Christmas spirit and visual appeal.

Tips To Keep Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Looking Neat

• Festive Cookie Storage: Shield your delightful Christmas pinwheel cookies in airtight containers to maintain their crisp texture and vibrant colors.
• Chilled Cookie Sanctuary: Safeguard cookies in the refrigerator for up to one week, ensuring they remain fresh and delectable between enjoyable snacking moments.
• Freezer-Friendly Strategy: Wrap the unbaked cookie log tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze for 2-3 months, allowing spontaneous baking whenever holiday cravings strike.
• Smart Separation Technique: Place parchment paper between cookie layers during storage to prevent sticking and maintain their beautiful pinwheel design, keeping each cookie looking picture-perfect.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours 12 minutes

Calories: 120 kcal

Servings: 23

Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Ingredient Rundown

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides the essential structure and texture for crisp, delightful cookies that crumble perfectly.
• Baking Powder: Helps the cookies rise and creates a light, airy consistency that melts in your mouth.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor and balances the sweetness of the cookie.

• Butter: Delivers rich, creamy taste and creates a smooth, tender cookie texture.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a golden, crisp exterior.
• Egg: Binds ingredients together and contributes to the cookie's soft, cohesive structure.
• Vanilla Extract: Infuses a warm, classic flavor that elevates the entire cookie experience.

• Red Gel Food Coloring: Creates vibrant red layers for a festive Christmas appearance.
• Green Gel Food Coloring: Adds a bright green layer representing holiday cheer.
• Sprinkles (Optional): Provides a fun, decorative border with extra holiday sparkle.

Tools To Create Christmas Pinwheel Cookies With Swirl

• Rolling Pin: Essential for creating flat, even dough layers.
• Parchment Paper: Crucial for rolling and stacking dough without sticking.
• Large Mixing Bowls: Needed for combining wet and dry ingredients.
• Whisk: Perfect for mixing dry ingredients smoothly.
• Electric Mixer or Hand Mixer: Great for creaming butter and sugar to light, fluffy consistency.
• Baking Sheets: Necessary for baking cookies evenly.
• Wire Cooling Rack: Helps cookies cool without getting soggy.
• Knife or Bench Scraper: Useful for trimming dough edges and cutting even cookie slices.
• Gel Food Coloring: Creates vibrant red and green holiday colors.

Steps To Roll And Slice Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

• Holiday Spirit Preparation

Gather all your baking passion and festive cheer. These colorful pinwheel cookies will transform your kitchen into a winter wonderland of deliciousness.

• Dough Foundation

Mix flour, butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla until a smooth, silky dough forms. This is where the magic begins.

• Color Explosion

Separate the dough into three sections. Create a white canvas, then transform two portions into vibrant red and green using food coloring. Each section becomes a canvas of holiday joy.

• Layering Adventure

Roll out each colored dough into delicate sheets. Carefully stack them – white, red, green – like a festive flag of flavor. Precision matters in this culinary art.

• Rolling Technique

Gently roll the stacked dough into a perfect cylinder. Think of it like wrapping a delicious gift that will soon become a spectacular treat. Chill the log to let the flavors meld and settle.

• Baking Transformation

Slice the chilled log into delicate rounds. Bake until the edges turn golden, creating a symphony of color and crunch. Let them cool and watch the swirls come to life.

• Festive Finale

Optional sparkle: Roll the log in festive sprinkles before slicing for an extra touch of holiday magic. These cookies aren’t just dessert – they’re edible celebration.

Festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.9 from 10 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours 12 minutes
• Yield: 23 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Festive Christmas pinwheel cookies blend red and green swirls of buttery dough into a whimsical holiday treat. Colorful spirals and sweet vanilla notes make these cookies a delightful addition to seasonal celebrations you’ll treasure.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• ¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 ½ cups (313 g) all-purpose flour
• 2 tsps vanilla extract
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• Red gel food coloring
• Green gel food coloring
• Sprinkles (optional, for rolling)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Dough Preparation: Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. In a separate large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Blend in egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
2. Color Segmentation: Divide dough into three equal portions. Leave one portion plain. Tint the second portion with red gel food coloring and the third with green gel food coloring, ensuring uniform color distribution.
3. Rolling and Layering: Individually roll each colored dough section into thin rectangular sheets on parchment paper, approximately 14-inch thick. Chill dough sheets for 30 minutes. After chilling, stack the dough layers precisely – plain first, then red, followed by green – trimming edges for clean alignment.
4. Shaping the Log: Using parchment paper as a guide, gently roll the stacked layers into a compact cylindrical shape, starting from the long edge. Refrigerate the log for 1 hour until firm and easily manageable.
5. Baking Process: Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Slice the chilled dough log into 14-inch rounds, spacing them evenly. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are set but not darkened. Rest cookies on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
6. Optional Festive Finish: For added flair, roll the dough log in holiday sprinkles before slicing to create a decorative cookie border.

Notes

• Chill Dough Strategically: Refrigeration is crucial for maintaining color definition and preventing color bleeding, ensuring crisp pinwheel patterns.
• Color Intensity Matters: Use gel food coloring for vibrant, concentrated colors that won’t dilute dough consistency or compromise texture.
• Roll with Precision: Use parchment paper for smooth, even rolling and easy log formation, preventing dough from sticking or breaking.
• Slice Uniformly: Cut cookies at consistent 1/4-inch thickness to guarantee even baking and prevent some cookies from burning while others remain undercooked.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 23
• Calories: 120
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 50 mg
• Fat: 6 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 15 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 20 mg