Description
These festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies combine buttery, tender dough swirled with vibrant red and green colors, making them perfect for holiday celebrations. Decorated with colorful sprinkles, they offer a delightful crunch and cheerful appearance that will brighten any cookie platter.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 12.75 oz all-purpose flour (3 cups)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 8 oz unsalted butter (1 cup), at room temperature
- 8.75 oz granulated sugar (1.25 cups)
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Decorations
- Red and green food coloring (Americolor gel colors recommended)
- 6.75 oz sprinkles (1 cup)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl, beat the room temperature butter and granulated sugar until fluffy and pale. Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until fully combined.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet, mixing until a smooth dough forms. Divide the dough evenly into three portions.
- Color the Dough: Leave one portion as is for the white dough. To the other two portions, add red and green gel food coloring respectively, kneading each until the color is evenly distributed.
- Assemble the Pinwheels: Roll each colored dough portion into equal-sized rectangles. Stack the three sheets with the white dough at the bottom, the green in the middle, and the red on top. Carefully roll the stacked dough sheets tightly into a log shape, ensuring the layers form distinct swirls.
- Chill the Dough: Wrap the dough log in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up, which will make slicing easier.
- Prepare for Baking: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Spread the sprinkles on a flat surface or shallow dish.
- Coat the Cookies: Slice the chilled dough log into ¼-inch thick rounds. Roll the edges of each slice in the sprinkles to coat the sides thoroughly.
- Bake the Cookies: Arrange the coated cookie slices on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden but the centers remain soft.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely. Enjoy festive, colorful pinwheel cookies!
Notes
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors without altering the dough consistency.
- Chilling the dough log is key to clean and even slices when cutting.
- Customize sprinkles according to your holiday theme.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- For firmer cookies, bake a few minutes longer but watch carefully to avoid overbaking.
