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Festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe

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4.7 from 140 reviews

Delight in these festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies, featuring a soft buttery dough swirled with vibrant red and green colors, topped with holiday nonpareils for a perfect crunchy finish. These eye-catching treats combine classic vanilla flavor with optional hints of citrus or other extracts, making them an ideal sweet centerpiece for holiday celebrations.

Ingredients

Cookie 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 and green gel food coloring
  • Holiday colored nonpareils

Optional Flavorings

  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoon additional flavoring extracts (such as almond or peppermint) or lemon zest

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened salted butter, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract and any optional additional flavorings or lemon zest to enhance the taste.
  2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning.
  3. Mix Dry Into Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the butter mixture, mixing until just combined. The dough should be soft but not sticky.
  4. Divide and Color Dough: Split the dough evenly into three portions. Leave one portion plain (uncolored), and tint the other two portions with red and green gel food coloring respectively, kneading the color through until fully incorporated.
  5. Roll and Assemble Pinwheels: Roll each colored dough portion into flat, even rectangles of the same size. Layer the red and green dough sheets on top of the plain dough sheet. Starting from one edge, carefully roll the stacked dough layers tightly into a long log, forming the pinwheel effect.
  6. Chill the Dough Log: Wrap the dough log in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to firm up the dough and make it easier to slice.
  7. Slice and Decorate: Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Remove the chilled dough log from the fridge and slice into 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick rounds. Press holiday colored nonpareils lightly onto one side of each cookie slice.
  8. Bake the Cookies: Place the slices on a parchment-lined baking sheet about 1 inch apart. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes or until the edges just begin to turn golden. Avoid overbaking to retain softness.
  9. Cool and Serve: Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing them.

Notes

  • Ensure butter is softened to room temperature to allow for proper creaming with sugars.
  • You can substitute food gel colors with natural coloring if preferred.
  • Chilling the dough log is crucial for clean, easy slicing and holding the pinwheel shape.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week or freeze for longer storage.
  • For a subtle flavor twist, experiment with peppermint, almond, or orange extract in the dough.

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