Description
These Christmas Pinwheel Cookies are buttery, festive sugar cookies with beautiful swirls of red, green and white in every bite. Rolled in colorful Christmas sprinkles, they’re a fun holiday cookie that looks impressive on Christmas cookie trays and is perfect for parties, gifting and holiday baking.
Ingredients
Units
- 2 3/4 cups (345 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg (50 g)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Red gel food coloring, as needed
- Green gel food coloring, as needed
- 3/4-1 cup (120-160 g) Christmas sprinkles, using a mixture of red, green, white and/or gold
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar for 2 to 3 minutes until smooth and creamy. Mix in the egg and vanilla. Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix just until a soft dough forms.
- Divide the dough evenly into three portions. Leave one portion plain. Knead red gel food coloring into the second portion and green gel food coloring into the third until evenly colored.
- Place each portion between two sheets of parchment paper and roll into approximately a 9 × 12-inch rectangle, about ⅛-inch thick. Try to keep all three rectangles the same size and thickness.
- Remove the top sheet of parchment from each piece of dough. Place the white dough on a clean sheet of parchment, followed by the red dough and then the green dough. Gently roll over the stacked dough once or twice with a rolling pin to help the layers stick together. Trim the edges to form an even rectangle.
- Starting at one long edge, tightly roll the layered dough into a log, using the parchment to help guide it as you roll. Wrap the log tightly in plastic wrap or parchment and gently roll it on the counter to help create an even round shape. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or preferably 2 hours, until firm.
- Spread the Christmas sprinkles on a sheet of parchment paper or shallow tray. Unwrap the chilled dough and roll it in the sprinkles, gently pressing them into the outside of the log. Refrigerate for another 20 to 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Slice the chilled dough into ¼-inch rounds using a sharp knife. Arrange the cookies on parchment-lined baking sheets about 1 inch apart.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are just beginning to turn golden. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Recipe Tips & Notes
- Keep the dough cool: The dough is easiest to roll and layer when it’s cool but still pliable. If it becomes sticky or difficult to handle, refrigerate it for 10 to 15 minutes before continuing.
- Measure the flour carefully: Too much flour can make the dough stiff and cause the pinwheel log to crack. For the best results, weigh the flour if possible.
- Use gel food coloring: Gel coloring creates vibrant red and green layers without adding too much moisture to the cookie dough.
- Keep the layers even: Roll all three portions of dough to approximately the same size and thickness for the most defined pinwheel swirl.
- Use parchment paper: Roll the dough between sheets of parchment rather than adding extra flour, which can change the texture of the cookies.
- Chill before slicing: Don’t skip the final chill after adding the sprinkles. A firm dough log is much easier to slice into clean, round cookies.
- Use a sharp knife: Slice with a gentle back-and-forth motion rather than pressing straight down, which can flatten the pinwheel design.
- Keep the cookies pale: Bake just until the edges are beginning to turn golden. Overbaking can dull the bright red, green and white colors.
- Keep the log round: Gently rotate the log as you slice so one side doesn’t become flattened.
- If the dough cracks: Let an overly firm log sit at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing. It should be firm but still slightly pliable
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Chill Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
