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
- 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)
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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