Pinwheel Christmas Cookies – With the holiday season drawing near what could be more delightful, than baking a batch of visually appealing Pinwheel Christmas Cookies? These cookies aren’t only a treat for your taste buds but also a feast for the eyes making them ideal for get-togethers. Made using ingredients like flour, butter, and sugar and enhanced with red and green colors they truly embody the Christmas spirit.
I can still vividly recall the first time I tried my hand at making these Pinwheel Christmas Cookies. It was a chilly December afternoon. I was eager to experiment with something new for the holiday season. The experience was enjoyable though slightly challenging. However, the real reward came when my husband and our little one took their bites. Their faces lit up with joy and ever since then, these cookies have become a tradition in our household during the holidays.
What makes these Pinwheel Christmas Cookies truly special?
What sets these Pinwheel Christmas Cookies apart is their colors, customizable features, and versatility. The eye-catching swirls of red and green perfectly capture the essence of holiday cheer – making these cookies an outstanding addition to any Christmas spread. You have the freedom to adjust the intensity of the colors according to your preference – ensuring that each batch is as unique, as your own holiday celebration. Not only are these cookies enjoyable to make and consume. They also serve as delightful presents adding a homemade touch of warmth, to loved ones during the holiday season.
What You Need To Make This Pinwheel Christmas Cookies Recipe?
All-Purpose Flour: This is our foundation. It gives the cookies their structure and ensures they hold their whimsical shape. Remember, a little extra for dusting is like sprinkling a bit of holiday magic!
Baking Powder: Just a whisper, half a teaspoon, but oh so important. It’s the lift that makes our cookies light and airy, like a snowflake landing softly.
Salt: A pinch (1/4 teaspoon, to be exact) to balance the sweetness. It’s like the contrast between a chilly winter night and the warmth of a festive home.
Unsalted Butter: The unsung hero! Twelve tablespoons at room temperature ensures our cookies are rich and melt-in-your-mouth tender. It’s the comfort of a cozy blanket in cookie form.
Sugar: Three-quarters of a cup of this sweet crystal is what brings joy to our cookies. Just like the first snow of the season, it’s essential for that festive feeling.
Egg: A single egg binds our dough, holding together all the merry and bright as a family gathered around the fireplace.
Vanilla Extract: A teaspoon of this aromatic essence adds a background note of warmth and depth, much like the subtle glow of holiday lights.
Liquid Food Coloring: Here’s where our cookies get their festive attire. Red and green, each in half to one teaspoon, depending on how vibrant you want your cookies to look. It’s like dressing them up in their holiday best!
Steps To Make Pinwheel Christmas Cookies:
Step 1: In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 cups of flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. This blend forms the backbone of our cookies.
Step 2: In a larger bowl, beat 12 tablespoons of butter with 3/4 cup sugar until fluffy. This step is like fluffing up a pillow of sweetness.
Step 3: Crack in an egg and add a teaspoon of vanilla, mixing them into the fluffy base. It’s the soul of our cookie dough.
Step 4: Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture in two parts. You’re looking for a perfectly mingled dough.
Step 5: Divide the dough into three. Mix red food coloring into one and green into another, leaving the third as is. It’s like painting with dough!
Want To Save This Recipe?
Step 6: Flatten each piece of dough, wrap, and refrigerate for an hour. This rest period lets the dough firm up, making it easier to handle.
Step 7: Roll each dough piece between parchment paper into a 10-inch square. This is where our cookies start taking shape.
Step 8: Stack the dough layers – red, plain, green – and trim the edges for neatness.
Step 9: Carefully roll the layered dough into a log. This step is crucial in creating those beautiful pinwheel patterns.
Step 10: Wrap the dough log and chill for another hour. Patience is key here!
Step 11: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Slice the log into 1/4-inch cookies and bake for 12-15 minutes until they’re just right.
Step 12: Let the cookies cool a bit on the baking sheet, then transfer them to a wire rack.
Step 13: And voilà! Your Pinwheel Christmas Cookies are ready – a merry blend of color, flavor, and holiday cheer. Enjoy the festive bites and share the love!
Tip:
To create these delicious Pinwheel Christmas Cookies with their swirls it’s important to follow the process carefully. As you layer and roll the dough make sure to press the layers firmly but gently. This step is crucial, for maintaining the pinwheel pattern when you slice and bake them.
Here’s a neat trick; use parchment paper as a guide and support while rolling. Start rolling from one end peeling back the parchment as you go. This way the layers will fuse together seamlessly without any air pockets or gaps. Imagine it like rolling out a festive dough carpet! This technique guarantees a tidy roll resulting in defined spirals, in each cookie.
Remember, patience and careful precision are key here. Enjoy your baking!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Sure! You can definitely prepare the dough in advance up, to a day. Store it in the refrigerator.
How do I store these cookies?
To keep these cookies fresh it’s best to store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They should stay delicious for a week.
Can I use gel food coloring instead of liquid?
If you prefer using gel food coloring instead of liquid that’s perfectly fine. Just keep in mind that you might need to make some adjustments, with the quantity to achieve your desired color intensity.
<Remember it later>
Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
<Remember it later>
Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
Pinwheel Christmas Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 c all-purpose flour plus more for dusting
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 12 tbsp unsalted butter room temperature
- 3/4 c sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 to 1 tsp liquid red food coloring to your color preference
- 1/2 to 1 tsp liquid green food coloring to your color preference
Instructions
- Start by preparing the dry ingredients. In a bowl combine 2 cups of flour, 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
- Next cream together 12 tablespoons of butter and 3/4 cup of sugar until the mixture becomes fluffy. Then add 1 egg and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, to the mixture and mix well.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredient mixture into the butter mixture. Take your time with this step.
- To add some color to the dough divide it into thirds. Mix food coloring into one part and green food coloring into another part. Leave the part plain without any coloring added.
- After that flatten each piece of dough to form a shape. Wrap each square in plastic wrap. Refrigerate them for an hour.
- Once chilled roll out each piece of dough between parchment paper until they form approximately 10-inch squares in size.
- Stack the plain and green layers on top of each other while trimming any edges as needed.
- Create a log shape by rolling up all three layers. Wrap it tightly in wrap again. Chill, for another hour.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Slice the dough log into 1/4-inch slices and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Bake them for around 12 to 15 minutes until they turn brown. Allow the cookies to cool briefly on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
I’m Bitty, owner of nodashofgluten.com, where I share simple, delicious recipes for all tastes, including gluten-free. Check out my “About Me” page for more info!
