Description
Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
These red, white, and green swirl sugar cookies are soft, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Each bite is sweet with a hint of vanilla, and the sprinkle-covered edges add the perfect festive crunch. Perfect for holiday parties, cookie platters, or enjoying by the tree with a warm drink. A classic Christmas treat that’s as tasty as it is beautiful!
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), room temperature
- 1 tsp almond extract (optional)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- red gel food coloring
- green gel food coloring
- sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix the dry ingredients – in a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream the butter and sugar – in a large bowl, use a hand or stand mixer to beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Combine – slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter and sugar mixture, mixing until fully incorporated.
- Divide the dough into three equal parts.
- Add color – mix red gel coloring into one portion until you reach the desired shade (keep in mind it will lighten as it bakes). Add green gel coloring to the second portion and leave the third plain.
- Chill the dough – wrap each section in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Roll out the dough – place parchment paper over each piece of dough and roll it into a rectangle, roughly 12×8 inches. Repeat for each color.
- Layer and roll –stack the dough layers, then use a pizza cutter to trim the edges for a clean, even shape. Starting from the long edge, roll the dough tightly into a log, pressing gently as you go to keep the layers together.
- Wrap and chill – wrap the log in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Slice – cut the chilled dough into ¼-inch slices.
- Add sprinkles – roll the edges of each cookie in sprinkles and place on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about an inch between each.
- Bake – bake for 8-10 minutes until set but not browned.
- Cool – let the cookies cool before serving.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Chill Time: 1-2 hours
- Cook Time: 8 - 10 minutes