Description
Magical Spiral Cookies are beautifully swirled treats featuring a vibrant combination of purple and black colors. These buttery, tender cookies are infused with vanilla and almond extracts, creating a captivating flavor profile. Finished with colorful purple sprinkles on the inside spiral and black sprinkles on the outside, these cookies are perfect for special occasions or whenever you want to impress with eye-catching homemade sweets.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough:
- 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar, sifted
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour, sifted
Coloring & Decoration:
- Purple gel food coloring (about 1 teaspoon)
- Black gel food coloring (about 1 teaspoon)
- Purple sprinkles (for the purple spiral)
- Black sprinkles (for the outer edge)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough Base: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then blend in the milk, vanilla extract, and almond extract until combined.
- Incorporate Flour: Gradually add the all-purpose flour into the wet mixture, mixing until a smooth, cohesive dough forms. Divide the dough evenly into two portions.
- Color the Dough: Add purple gel food coloring to one portion of the dough, kneading gently until the color is fully incorporated and evenly distributed. Repeat this process with black gel food coloring for the second portion.
- Roll Out and Shape Spirals: On a lightly floured surface, roll out each colored dough portion into similar-sized rectangles about 1/4 inch thick. Place the purple dough rectangle on top of the black dough rectangle, then gently press together to adhere evenly.
- Form the Spiral: Starting from one long edge, carefully roll the layered doughs into a tight spiral log. Chill the log in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to firm up for easier slicing.
- Slice and Decorate: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Once chilled, slice the dough log into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Lightly press purple sprinkles into the exposed purple spiral on each cookie. Roll or press black sprinkles onto the outer black edge of each cookie to coat evenly.
- Bake the Cookies: Arrange the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges begin to set but the cookies remain tender and slightly soft in the center.
- Cool: Remove cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Be sure to chill the dough log well before slicing to maintain clean spiral edges and prevent cookies from spreading too much.
- For more vibrant coloring, gel food colors are preferred over liquid food colors.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Optionally, you can swap sprinkles for finely chopped nuts or colored sugar for different decoration effects.
