Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
Christmas Pinwheel Cookies are festive, buttery vanilla cookies with vibrant red and green swirls, perfect for holiday gifting and celebrations. Their tender texture and eye-catching appearance make them a crowd-pleaser for all ages.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 36 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- Red gel food coloring
- Green gel food coloring
- Coarse sanding sugar or sprinkles (optional, for decoration)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Mix in egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, mixing on low until a soft dough forms.
- Divide dough into 3 equal parts. Leave one plain, tint one with red gel food coloring, and one with green gel coloring. Knead gently until colors are even.
- On parchment paper, roll each color into a rectangle about 8×10 inches, 1/4-inch thick. Stack layers—plain, red, then green. Trim edges for a clean rectangle.
- Starting from the long edge, roll the stacked dough tightly into a log. Wrap tightly and chill for 2 hours or up to overnight.
- Unwrap the chilled log. Slice into 1/4-inch rounds using a sharp knife, cleaning the blade between cuts. Dip edges in coarse sugar or sprinkles if desired.
- Arrange cookies on lined baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart. Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes, until edges are just set but centers remain pale.
- Transfer cookies to a wire rack and cool completely before packing or serving.
Notes
Chill the dough thoroughly for sharp spirals and minimal spreading. Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors. For gluten-free or vegan adaptations, substitute flour and egg as noted. Cookies can be made ahead and freeze well. Decorate edges with sanding sugar or sprinkles for extra crunch and festive appeal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 95
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 40
- Fat: 5
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Protein: 1
Keywords: Christmas cookies, pinwheel cookies, holiday baking, festive cookies, butter cookies, vanilla cookies, edible gifts, cookie box, easy cookies, colorful cookies