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Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Festive red-and-white swirl Christmas pinwheel cookies made from buttery sugar cookie dough. Perfect for holiday baking, gifting, and cookie platters.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 30 cookies
Course: Dessert, Holiday
Cuisine: American
Calories: 120

Ingredients
  

Cookie Dough
  • 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg large
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 0.5 tsp almond extract optional
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • red food coloring gel preferred

Equipment

  • Mixing bowl
  • Electric mixer
  • Parchment paper
  • Baking sheet

Method
 

  1. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, and almond extract.
  2. Mix in flour and salt until dough forms.
  3. Divide dough in half; leave one plain and color the second half red.
  4. Roll both doughs into rectangles between parchment paper to 1/4 inch thick.
  5. Layer red dough over plain dough, trim edges, and roll tightly into a log.
  6. Chill dough log for 2–3 hours or freeze 30 minutes.
  7. Slice into 1/4-inch rounds and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 9–11 minutes.
  8. Cool completely before serving.

Notes

For neat spirals, freeze the dough slightly before slicing.