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Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 145 reviews

These festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies combine buttery, tender dough with vibrant red and green colors swirled together, perfect for holiday celebrations. They’re decorated with colorful sprinkles that add a crunchy texture and cheerful visual appeal, making them an ideal treat for gifting or enjoying with family and friends during the Christmas season.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 12.75 oz all-purpose flour (3 cups)
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt

Wet Ingredients

  • 8 oz unsalted butter (1 cup), at room temperature
  • 8.75 oz granulated sugar (1.25 cups)
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

Additional

  • Red and green food coloring (preferably gel colors such as Americolor)
  • 6.75 oz sprinkles (1 cup)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the dough base: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter with granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix until fully incorporated.
  2. Combine ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing gently until a soft dough forms. Divide the dough evenly into three portions.
  3. Color the dough: Leave one portion of dough plain. Add red gel food coloring to the second portion and green gel food coloring to the third portion. Knead each portion separately until the color is uniformly distributed.
  4. Shape the pinwheels: Roll each colored dough portion into flat rectangles of equal size, stacking the layers starting with the plain dough, then the green, and finally the red layer on top.
  5. Form the dough roll: Carefully roll the stacked dough layers into a tight log to create a pinwheel pattern. Wrap the log tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until firm.
  6. Add sprinkles: Once the dough log is firm, roll it lightly in the sprinkles to coat the outside evenly. This adds a festive crunch and color on the cookie edges.
  7. Slice and bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Slice the dough log into approximately ¼ inch thick rounds and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
  8. Bake the cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges begin to turn a light golden brown. Remove from oven and allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • Use gel food coloring to prevent altering the dough’s consistency.
  • Make sure the butter is at room temperature to achieve a creamy texture when creaming with sugar.
  • Refrigerate the dough log adequately before slicing to help maintain the pinwheel shape during baking.
  • Sprinkles on the outside add both texture and festive visuals but are optional.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Keywords: Christmas Cookies, Holiday Cookies, Pinwheel Cookies, Festive Cookies, Sugar Cookies, Sprinkles, Holiday Baking

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