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My Favorite Holiday Pinwheels
These festive pinwheel cookies have become my signature Christmas treat. The swirls of red and green never fail to make people smile and I love watching kids' faces light up when they see them. After years of making these I've learned all the tricks to get those perfect spirals every time.
A Holiday Showstopper
The best part about these cookies is how impressive they look while being surprisingly simple to make. Those gorgeous red and green swirls always make people think I spent hours in the kitchen. I love that I can make the dough ahead and slice them whenever I need fresh cookies during the busy holiday season.
What You'll Need
- Butter: Make sure it's truly room temperature.
- Sugar: Regular granulated works perfectly.
- Egg: This helps bind everything together.
- Vanilla: Pure extract gives the best flavor.
- Flour: Just regular all-purpose is fine.
- Salt: I use kosher salt it blends better.
- Baking soda: Makes them just puffy enough.
- Food coloring: Gel colors give the best results.
- Sanding sugar: Adds such pretty sparkle.
Let's Make Some Magic
- Start with Your Base
- Cream that butter and sugar until it's light and fluffy then mix in your wet ingredients.
- Color Time
- Split the dough and add those vibrant colors. The chilling time is so important here.
- Stack and Roll
- Layer those colors just right then roll them into a neat rectangle.
- Make the Swirl
- Roll it up nice and tight this is where the magic happens.
- Bake and Enjoy
- Slice them thin coat in sparkly sugar and watch them transform in the oven.
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My Best Tips
Always use gel food coloring it won't change your dough texture like liquid ones. If things get sticky pop everything back in the fridge for a bit. A little water or egg wash helps that sugar stick perfectly to the edges.
Mix It Up
These cookies are so fun to customize. I make them in pastels for spring pink and red for Valentine's Day even school colors for bake sales. Sometimes I roll them in different colored sugars or fun sprinkles to match the occasion.
Keep Them Fresh
They'll stay perfect in a cookie tin for about a week. The best part is you can keep rolls of dough in the freezer for up to three months. Nothing beats having fresh warm cookies whenever you want them just slice and bake straight from frozen.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Why do I need to chill the dough multiple times?
Chilling the dough makes it easier to handle and roll without sticking. It also helps maintain the distinct swirl pattern when slicing and baking.
- → Can I make these cookies ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the dough log and freeze it for up to 2 months. Thaw slightly before slicing and baking. The baked cookies keep for about a week in an airtight container.
- → Why use gel food coloring?
Gel food coloring provides more intense colors without adding excess liquid to the dough, which could affect the texture of the cookies.
- → Can I use different colors?
Yes, you can customize the colors for any holiday or occasion. Just make sure to use gel food coloring for best results.
- → Why use a serrated knife for slicing?
A serrated knife helps cut clean slices through the chilled dough without squishing or distorting the swirl pattern.