Description
Indulge in the festive delight of Christmas Swirl Pinwheel Cookies, where the buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture meets a rich, creamy flavor. Each bite reveals a beautiful swirl of vibrant red and green, reminiscent of holiday cheer, with a hint of vanilla and almond that dances on your palate.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Cookie Dough:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- For the Color:
- ½ cup red food coloring
- ½ cup green food coloring
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract, mixing until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a dough forms.
- Divide the dough into three equal parts. Leave one part plain, and color one part with red food coloring and the other with green food coloring, mixing until evenly colored.
- Roll each colored dough between two sheets of parchment paper into rectangles about ¼ inch thick.
- Layer the colored doughs on top of each other, with the plain dough in the middle, and gently press them together.
- Using the parchment paper, roll the dough tightly into a log shape, then wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Once chilled, slice the log into ¼ inch thick rounds and place them on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Make-ahead: The dough can be prepared and refrigerated up to 3 days in advance.
- Storage: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
- Substitutions: Use gluten-free flour for a gluten-free version or replace almond extract with additional vanilla extract for a nut-free option.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: desserts
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 8 grams
- Sodium: 50 milligrams
- Fat: 6 grams
- Saturated Fat: 4 grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 1 gram
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 15 grams
- Fiber: 0 grams
- Protein: 1 gram
- Cholesterol: 20 milligrams
Keywords: Christmas Swirl Pinwheel Cookies, holiday cookies, festive desserts, Christmas baking, pinwheel cookies, colorful cookies, easy cookie recipes, Christmas treats, cookie exchange, homemade cookies, seasonal baking, dessert recipes, festive sweets