Festive Pinwheel Cookies: Easy Christmas Recipe Kids Love
Festive Pinwheel Cookies are buttery, tender sugar cookies swirled with vibrant red and green colors, perfect for holiday gatherings and edible gifting. This easy, kid-friendly recipe delivers nostalgic comfort and showstopping results every Christmas season.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: 36 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Red gel food coloring
- Green gel food coloring
- Colored sprinkles (optional, for rolling)
- 1 tablespoon milk (optional, if dough feels dry)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat softened butter with granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Beat in egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) until fully combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing on low until a smooth dough forms. If dough feels dry, add up to 1 tablespoon milk.
- Divide dough evenly into two bowls. Tint one half with red gel food coloring, one with green. Mix until colors are vibrant.
- Place each colored dough between two sheets of parchment paper. Roll each into a rectangle about ¼-inch thick (roughly 10×12 inches). Chill both sheets in the fridge for 20-30 minutes.
- Remove dough from fridge and peel off top parchment. Place green dough on a clean surface, then carefully lay red dough on top. Press together and trim edges if needed.
- Starting from the long edge, roll up the dough tightly into a log, using parchment to help guide the roll.
- Wrap the log in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour (or overnight). Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C) while dough chills.
- Using a sharp knife, slice log into ¼-inch rounds. Wipe blade between cuts for clean swirls. Roll edges in colored sprinkles if desired.
- Place cookies on parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing about 1 inch apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until edges are set but centers are still soft.
- Remove from oven and let cookies cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks.
Notes
Chilling the dough before rolling and slicing is key for crisp swirls and vibrant colors. Use gel food coloring for best results. Dough logs can be frozen for up to 2 months; slice and bake as needed. For gluten-free or dairy-free adaptations, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend and plant-based butter/milk. Let kids help with coloring and rolling for a fun holiday activity.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 100
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 40
- Fat: 5
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Protein: 1
Keywords: Christmas cookies, pinwheel cookies, holiday baking, kid-friendly, sugar cookies, festive dessert, edible gifts, easy cookies