Swirly Magic: Christmas Cookie Pinwheels Recipe for Festive Joy

Sweet holiday memories swirl around these delightful christmas cookie pinwheels that dance with festive charm.

Spiraling colors catch every eye at seasonal gatherings.

Delicate layers tell stories of kitchen creativity and warm connection.

Family traditions shine through each carefully crafted twist.

Soft dough becomes a canvas for culinary imagination.

Baking these treats connects generations through shared joy.

You’ll fall in love with how simple ingredients create something magical.

Let’s make memories one delicious cookie at a time.

Cookie Pinwheels That Look Twisted and Taste Just Right

• Craft Festive Treats: Create stunning, colorful cookies that look like magical pinwheels perfect for holiday celebrations.
• Wow Guests with Minimal Effort: The recipe requires basic baking skills and simple ingredients, making it accessible for bakers of all levels.
• Customize Color Combinations: Easily switch up the color palette to match different themes or personal preferences, adding a fun creative element to baking.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the dough in advance and chill, allowing for stress-free baking and convenient party prep for special occasions.

Grinch Popcorn Sweet & Salty Ingredients

• All-Purpose Flour: A base for creating the cookie's structure.
• Baking Powder: Helps the cookies rise and become light.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the cookies.

• Butter: Provides richness and helps create a soft texture.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps with cookie browning.
• Egg: Binds the ingredients together.
• Vanilla Extract: Gives a classic, warm flavor to the cookies.

• Red Food Coloring: Creates the festive red layer.
• Green Food Coloring: Creates the festive green layer.

• Parchment Paper: Helps with rolling and prevents sticking.

How to Make Christmas Cookie Pinwheels

Step 1: Prepare Dry Ingredients

Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Ensure all dry ingredients are thoroughly combined and free of lumps.

Step 2: Create Butter Mixture

Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until the mixture turns pale and becomes light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla, mixing until everything is perfectly blended.

Step 3: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Gently incorporate dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix the dough.

Step 4: Color the Dough

• Red food coloring for first portion
• Green food coloring for second portion
• Leave third portion in its original color

Wrap each colored dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour.

Step 5: Roll Out Colored Doughs

Roll each colored dough into a 10-inch square between sheets of parchment paper. Return rolled doughs to refrigerator and chill for 30 minutes.

Step 6: Create Cookie Log

• Red layer on bottom
• White layer in middle
• Green layer on top

Remove parchment paper between layers. Trim edges neatly and roll tightly into a log. Wrap the log in plastic and refrigerate for one hour.

Step 7: Bake Cookies

Preheat oven to 350°F. Slice the chilled dough log into 1/4-inch rounds. Place cookie rounds on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes until edges are lightly golden.

Step 8: Cool and Serve

Let cookies rest on the baking tray for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and allow to cool completely. Enjoy your colorful holiday swirl cookies!

Cookie Tips That Spiral Into Christmas Pinwheel Perfection

• Perfectly Chill the Dough: Refrigerate each colored dough and the final log to ensure firm, clean-cut cookies with vibrant swirls.
• Roll with Precision: Use parchment paper when rolling to prevent sticking and achieve smooth, even layers without extra flour.
• Color Consistently: Use gel food coloring for intense, even colors that won't alter the dough's texture or moisture.
• Control Slice Thickness: Cut cookies uniformly at 1/4-inch to guarantee even baking and professional-looking pinwheel patterns.
• Prevent Spreading: Keep dough cold before baking to maintain crisp edges and prevent cookies from losing their beautiful spiral design.

Chill Cookie Pinwheels So They Stay Neat

• Store cooled cookies in an airtight container, layered between parchment paper, for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
• Wrap the unbaked log tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, storing in the freezer for 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before slicing and baking.
• Place completely cooled cookies in a freezer-safe container with parchment between layers. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
• Warm cookies gently in a preheated 300°F oven for 3-5 minutes to restore crispness and bring back their fresh-baked texture.

Pistachio Cranberry Wreath Cookies Tips

• Pair Sweet Holiday Cheer with Festive Beverages: Smooth peppermint hot chocolate perfectly complements the colorful cookie's buttery sweetness, creating a delightful winter taste experience.
• Serve Cozy Beverage Companions: Warm spiced apple cider brings gentle warmth and seasonal comfort, enhancing the cookie's delicate vanilla and festive color palette.
• Create Cheerful Drink Combinations: Classic eggnog's rich, creamy texture balances the crisp cookie edges, delivering a traditional Christmas flavor harmony that delights taste buds.
• Elevate Dessert Moment: Cold milk's classic simplicity provides a clean, refreshing contrast to the pinwheel's rich butter and sweet vanilla notes, making each bite more enjoyable.

Grinch Popcorn Holiday Sweet Swaps

• Gluten-Free Pinwheels: Replace wheat flour with a blend of almond and rice flour for a celiac-friendly version that maintains the colorful swirl.
• Vegan Holiday Cookies: Substitute butter with coconut oil and use a flax egg instead of regular egg to create plant-based festive treats.
• Low-Sugar Option: Swap granulated sugar with monk fruit sweetener or stevia to reduce overall sugar content while keeping the classic cookie texture.
• Chocolate Marble Variation: Replace red and green colors with cocoa powder and vanilla dough for a rich, chocolatey holiday cookie alternative.

FAQs

• Why are my cookie dough colors bleeding or mixing together?

This can happen if the dough is too soft or not chilled properly. Always keep dough cold between rolling and stacking, and work quickly to prevent color transfer.

• How can I get perfectly even pinwheel layers?

Use a ruler or straight edge when rolling out dough to ensure consistent thickness. Chill dough between each step to maintain sharp, clean color boundaries.

• What's the best way to slice the cookie log for uniform cookies?

Use a sharp, non-serrated knife and clean the blade between cuts. For the most even slices, rotate the log slightly with each cut to prevent flattening.

• Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes! The cookie log can be prepared and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 weeks. When ready to bake, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and slice when still cold.

Christmas Cookie Pinwheels Recipe

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4.9 from 27 reviews

• Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Festive Christmas cookie pinwheels swirl holiday cheer with delightful red and white spirals of buttery dough. Sweet memories dance across your palate, promising delicious moments of seasonal joy and family celebration.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 12 tablespoons (170 grams) unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup (150 grams) sugar
• 1 egg

Flavoring and Coloring Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon liquid red food coloring
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon liquid green food coloring

Dry Ingredients:

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

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Instructions

1. Prepare the foundational dry mixture by whisking flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl until evenly combined.
2. Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl until the mixture becomes light and airy, then blend in egg and vanilla extract until smooth and homogeneous.
3. Gradually fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring minimally to prevent overmixing and maintain a tender texture.
4. Partition the dough into three identical segments, tinting one portion with red food coloring, another with green, and leaving the third in its natural state.
5. Individually wrap each colored dough segment in plastic film and refrigerate for approximately one hour to firm up the consistency.
6. Carefully roll each chilled dough portion into a precise 10-inch square between sheets of parchment paper, ensuring uniform thickness.
7. Return rolled dough squares to the refrigerator for an additional 30 minutes to enhance structural integrity.
8. Layer the dough sheets strategically – red as the base, followed by the uncolored dough, then topped with the green layer – removing parchment between each placement.
9. Trim the edges of the stacked dough to create clean, symmetrical borders.
10. Tightly roll the layered dough into a compact cylindrical log, maintaining consistent pressure to prevent air pockets.
11. Wrap the completed log in plastic and chill for one hour to solidify the pinwheel design.
12. Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a parchment-lined baking sheet.
13. Slice the chilled log into delicate 1/4-inch rounds, arranging them with slight spacing on the prepared baking sheet.
14. Bake for 12-15 minutes until edges are subtly golden and cookies appear set.
15. Allow cookies to rest on the baking tray for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to reach room temperature.

Notes

• Chilling dough is crucial for vibrant, distinct color layers and prevents spreading during baking, ensuring crisp pinwheel patterns.
• Use gel food coloring for intense, uniform red and green hues without altering dough consistency or texture.
• Cut log with a sharp, thin-bladed knife for clean, even cookie slices that maintain intricate spiral design.
• Swap vanilla extract with almond or peppermint for festive flavor variations that complement holiday spirit.

• Prep Time: 3 hours
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 153
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 47 mg
• Fat: 7 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 21 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 1.5 g
• Cholesterol: 20 mg