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Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe

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★★★★

4 from 44 reviews

These festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies feature a delightful combination of vanilla-flavored dough tinted in classic holiday red, white, and green colors. Rolled with holiday colored nonpareils on the outside, these buttery, soft yet chewy cookies are perfect for celebrations and gift-giving during the Christmas season.

Ingredients

Scale

Base Dough

  • 3/4 cup salted butter (softened to room temperature)
  • 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup (150g) powdered sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups (353g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Coloring & Decoration

  • Red gel food coloring (5-10 drops)
  • Green gel food coloring (5-10 drops)
  • Holiday colored nonpareils (for rolling the dough log)

Optional Flavorings

  • 1/2–1 teaspoon of additional flavoring extracts or lemon zest (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cream Butter and Sugars: Combine the softened butter, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar in a mixer. Beat well until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, ensuring a smooth base for your dough.
  2. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Incorporate the eggs, vanilla extract, and any optional flavorings into the mixture. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to make sure everything is well combined.
  3. Mix Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt into the wet mixture. Mix until just combined, taking care not to overwork the dough. Divide the dough evenly into three balls.
  4. Color Dough Portions: Return one ball (1/3 of the dough) to the mixing bowl and add 5-10 drops of red gel food coloring. Mix until the dough is uniformly colored. Repeat this process with another 1/3 of dough and the green gel food coloring. Leave the last portion white.
  5. Chill Dough: Flatten each dough ball into a disc, wrap with plastic wrap, and chill in the freezer for 20 minutes or the refrigerator for 1 hour to firm up the dough.
  6. Roll and Stack Layers: Roll out each chilled dough disc on parchment paper into rectangles of roughly the same size. Stack the rectangles with white dough in the middle and red and green on the outside layers. Trim the long edges so they are even, leaving the shorter ends to be trimmed later.
  7. Roll into Log and Chill: Using the parchment paper to guide you, carefully roll the stacked dough layers into a tight log without cracking. Wrap the log in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 to 2 hours to set the shape.
  8. Coat with Nonpareils: Once chilled, unwrapped the dough log and roll it on a baking sheet filled with holiday colored nonpareils, pressing gently so the sprinkles stick evenly to the dough’s outer surface. You can slice and bake immediately or store in the fridge for up to one week to bake later.
  9. Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
  10. Slice and Arrange Cookies: Unwrap the dough log, trim off uneven ends, and slice into 1/4-inch thick rounds using a sharp knife. Place slices on the prepared baking sheet spaced 1-2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
  11. Bake and Cool: Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes or until set but not browned. Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before serving or storing.

Notes

  • You can customize the dough colors using gel food coloring in any shades you prefer.
  • Optional flavor extracts like almond or lemon zest can be added for a unique twist.
  • Make sure the dough is well chilled before rolling to avoid cracking during the process.
  • Press the nonpareils firmly to the dough log to get good coverage; this prevents them from falling off after baking.
  • Store dough logs wrapped in plastic in the refrigerator for up to one week if baking later.
  • Use a sharp knife to get clean edges when slicing cookies to maintain the pinwheel appearance.
  • Baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven; watch for cookies to be set and not browned.

Keywords: Christmas cookies, pinwheel cookies, holiday baking, festive cookies, vanilla cookies, colored sugar cookies

Find it online: https://foodiecara.com/christmas-pinwheel-cookies-recipe/