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Festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Bright, buttery, swirl-patterned sugar cookies perfect for Christmas gifting, holiday parties, and festive baking.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 40 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American, Autumn
Calories: 120
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cookie Dough
  • 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 0.75 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg large
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 0.5 tsp almond extract optional
  • 0.5 tsp baking powder
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • red gel food coloring as needed
  • green gel food coloring as needed

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Baking sheet
  • Wire rack
  • Hand mixer or stand mixer

Method
 

  1. Whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl.
  2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, and almond extract.
  3. Slowly mix in dry ingredients until a dough forms.
  4. Divide dough into three equal parts. Tint one red, one green, and leave one plain.
  5. Roll each dough portion between parchment sheets into rectangles and chill.
  6. Stack layers and gently roll with a rolling pin to fuse.
  7. Roll into a tight log, wrap, and chill for 2 hours.
  8. Slice into 1/4-inch rounds and bake at 350°F for 9–11 minutes.

Notes

Freeze dough logs for make-ahead convenience.