
These Christmas Pinwheel Cookies are a festive and fun holiday treat! With their bright red, green, and white swirls, they are as beautiful as they are delicious. Buttery, soft, and slightly crisp on the edges, these cookies make the perfect addition to your holiday cookie platter!
Ingredients
For the Cookie Dough:
✅ 3 cups all-purpose flour
✅ 1 teaspoon baking powder
✅ ½ teaspoon salt
✅ 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
✅ 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
✅ 1 large egg
✅ 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
✅ ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional, for extra flavor)
✅ Red and green gel food coloring
For Decoration:
✅ Sprinkles (optional, for rolling the edges)
Instructions
Step 1: Make the Dough
1️⃣ In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
2️⃣ In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes).
3️⃣ Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract, and mix until well combined.
4️⃣ Gradually add the dry ingredients, mixing until a dough forms.
Step 2: Color and Layer the Dough
5️⃣ Divide the dough into three equal portions.
6️⃣ Leave one portion plain (this will be the white layer).
7️⃣ Color one portion red and another portion green using gel food coloring. Mix well until evenly colored.
Step 3: Assemble the Pinwheel
8️⃣ Roll out each dough portion into equal-sized rectangles (about ¼-inch thick).
9️⃣ Stack the layers: place the green layer on parchment paper, then the white layer, and finally the red layer on top.
🔟 Gently press them together with a rolling pin to remove air bubbles.
Step 4: Roll and Chill the Dough
1️⃣1️⃣ Roll the dough tightly from the long side into a log shape. If using, roll the log in sprinkles for extra holiday sparkle!
1️⃣2️⃣ Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours (or overnight) to firm up.
Step 5: Slice and Bake
1️⃣3️⃣ Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
1️⃣4️⃣ Slice the chilled dough into ¼-inch rounds and place them on the baking sheet.
1️⃣5️⃣ Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are set but not browned.
Step 6: Cool and Enjoy!
1️⃣6️⃣ Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Tips for Perfect Pinwheel Cookies
✔ Use Gel Food Coloring: Liquid food coloring can make the dough too soft.
✔ Chill the Dough: This helps keep the layers sharp and prevents spreading.
✔ Even Layers: Roll each layer to the same size for a neat, uniform swirl.
✔ Freeze for Later: The dough log can be frozen for up to 3 months – just slice and bake when ready!
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