Dessert

Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe

ByHugo Harnd November 17, 2025November 17, 2025

Introduction

Christmas Pinwheel Cookies are a festive and colorful treat that bring joy to holiday gatherings. With layers of red, green, and vanilla dough swirled together, these cookies are as delightful to look at as they are to eat.

The image shows several stacks of round swirl cookies with three distinct layers spiraled: a bright red outer layer, a white middle layer, and a green inner layer. The edges of each cookie are covered in small red, white, and green round sprinkles, adding texture and color contrast. The cookies are neatly stacked in tall piles with some cookies laid flat in front, showing the full spiral pattern. One cookie stands upright leaning against the stack, highlighting the smooth spiral. All cookies rest on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

3/4 cup salted butter (softened to room temperature)
3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
3/4 cup (150g) powdered sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups (353g) all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Red & green gel food coloring
Holiday colored nonpareils
Optional: 1/2-1 teaspoon additional flavoring extracts or lemon zest

Instructions

Step 1: In a mixer, combine the softened butter, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar. Beat well until the mixture is light and fluffy.
Step 2: Add the eggs, vanilla extract, and any optional flavoring. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl to ensure everything is well mixed.
Step 3: Mix in the flour, baking powder, and salt until just combined. Divide the dough into three equal portions.
Step 4: Place one portion back into the mixing bowl and add 5-10 drops of red gel food coloring. Mix until the color is evenly distributed. Repeat with another portion using green gel food coloring.
Step 5: Flatten each dough ball into a disc. Wrap each in plastic wrap and chill—freeze for 20 minutes or refrigerate for 1 hour.
Step 6: Roll out each chilled dough disc on parchment paper into rectangles of similar size and shape. Stack the layers with white dough in the middle and the colored doughs on the top and bottom. Trim the long edges for evenness.
Step 7: Carefully roll the stacked dough layers into a tight log, using the parchment paper to help prevent cracks. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 1-2 hours.
Step 8: Remove the chilled dough log and roll it on a baking sheet covered with nonpareils. Press gently to ensure the sprinkles stick. You can slice and bake immediately or wrap and refrigerate for up to 1 week.
Step 9: When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 10: Unwrap the dough log, trim off uneven ends, then slice into 1/4-inch thick cookies with a sharp knife. Place cookies 1-2 inches apart on the baking sheet.
Step 11: Bake for 10-12 minutes until set. Allow cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before serving.

Tips & Variations

Use gel food coloring to avoid altering the dough’s texture with liquids.
For extra flavor, add lemon zest or almond extract to the dough.
Chill the dough well to prevent spreading and maintain sharp pinwheel patterns.
Substitute nonpareils with colored sanding sugar for a different texture.

Storage

Store the baked pinwheel cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. If unbaked, wrap the dough log tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 7 days or freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, bring baked cookies to room temperature—no need to warm in the oven.

How to Serve

On a round white plate with red edges and red snowflakes, there is a pile of round spiral cookies. Each cookie has three color layers: an outer red layer with a sugar texture, a middle white layer, and an inner green layer. The cookies are thick and stacked slightly on top of each other, showing their colorful swirl pattern. The plate is placed on a white marbled surface with a red mug and a glass of milk nearby, along with a gray and white cloth at the bottom right corner. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the dough log and refrigerate it for up to a week or freeze it for longer storage. Slice and bake as needed, which makes these cookies convenient for holiday prepping.

Why is chilling the dough important?

Chilling firms up the dough, making it easier to roll and slice without cracking. It also helps maintain the defined layers and shapes in the pinwheel design during baking.