Description
Festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies spiral delightful red and white swirls of holiday cheer onto your dessert plate. Sweet spirals blend classic vanilla and peppermint flavors, promising cheerful moments for family gatherings and seasonal celebrations you will treasure.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups (240 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Butter and Sweeteners:
- 12 tablespoons (170 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3/4 cup (150 grams) sugar
Binding and Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon liquid red food coloring
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon liquid green food coloring
- Additional flour for dusting
Instructions
- Prepare dry ingredients by whisking flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside for later use.
- Cream butter and sugar in a larger bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes. Incorporate egg and vanilla, mixing until smooth and well-blended.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture in two portions, mixing gently until just combined. Carefully scrape bowl sides to ensure even integration.
- Divide prepared dough into three equal portions, using a kitchen scale for precise measurement. Form each portion into a compact ball.
- Apply food coloring to separate dough portions: transform one ball to vibrant red, another to festive green, leaving the third in its original state. Mix colors thoroughly using a non-staining bowl, adding pigment incrementally.
- Flatten each colored dough ball into a square shape. Encase in plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour to firm the dough.
- Roll out each chilled dough square between parchment paper sheets, aiming for a 10-inch square dimension. Carefully layer red, white, and green doughs, removing parchment between layers. Trim edges for clean lines.
- Initiate rolling process from one trimmed edge, using parchment as a guide. Gently roll stacked dough into a compact log, smoothing any potential cracks.
- Wrap log in plastic wrap and return to refrigerator for an additional hour to enhance slicing precision.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Slice chilled log into 1/4-inch rounds. Arrange cookies on lined baking sheets, maintaining 2-inch spacing. Bake for 12-15 minutes until edges are set but not browned.
- Allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes. Transfer to wire rack for complete cooling before serving or storing.
Notes
- Master color control by adding food coloring drop by drop, ensuring vibrant yet natural-looking hues without oversaturating the dough.
- Use parchment paper as your secret weapon for smooth rolling and easy log formation, preventing potential dough sticking or tearing.
- Chill dough thoroughly between stages to maintain crisp edges and prevent spreading during baking, guaranteeing picture-perfect pinwheel patterns.
- Swap food coloring for natural alternatives like beet juice for red or matcha powder for green if you prefer avoiding artificial colorings, creating a healthier holiday treat.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 136
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 33 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg