Perfect Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Perfect Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

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This holiday season, delight your loved ones with Perfect Christmas Pinwheel Cookies. These vibrant and festive treats are not only visually stunning but also simple to make. Each bite brings a soft and buttery experience, combined with the joy of festive colors and a sprinkle of red sanding sugar. Perfect for holiday gatherings or as gifts, these cookies are a delightful addition to any dessert table.

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Why Make This Recipe

Perfect Christmas Pinwheel Cookies capture the essence of the holiday spirit. They are easy to bake and fun to decorate, making them a perfect project for families or friends to tackle together. The colorful swirl design brings excitement to any occasion, and the delicious flavor will leave everyone asking for more.

These cookies are also versatile. You can customize them by playing with the colors and decorations. Whether you’re in the mood for something simple or want to impress guests with a pop of festive flair, pinwheel cookies offer endless opportunities for creativity.

Furthermore, making these cookies can be a cherished tradition. With their delightful colors and flavors, they can become a sweet memory for families to share each holiday season. Baking together and enjoying the fruits of your labor creates bonding moments that last far beyond the holidays.

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How to Make Perfect Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Creating Perfect Christmas Pinwheel Cookies is a straightforward process. Follow the steps below to make your holiday cookie baking a breeze.

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• A few drops red gel food coloring
• A few drops green gel food coloring
• To taste red sanding sugar (for decoration)

Directions

1. Preheat the Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare it for baking the cookies.

2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a mixing bowl, take your softened butter and sugar. Use a mixer to cream them together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step is important as it helps incorporate air into the dough, resulting in a softer texture.

3. Add Egg and Vanilla: Next, add the large egg and the teaspoon of vanilla extract to the creamed butter and sugar. Mix until everything is well combined.

4. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, kosher salt, and baking soda. Sifting is important as it helps to remove any lumps and aerates the flour, which contributes to the overall texture of the cookies.

5. Combine Dry with Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry mixture to the butter mixture. Mix carefully until a soft dough forms. Be sure not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies.

6. Divide and Color the Dough: Once your dough is ready, divide it into two equal portions. Color one portion with a few drops of red gel food coloring and the other with green gel food coloring. You can start by adding a couple of drops, then knead the dough until the color is evenly distributed. If you want a deeper hue, feel free to add more color.

7. Roll the Dough: On a floured surface, roll each colored dough into rectangles. Aim for a thickness of about 1/4 inch, ensuring they are even. The dimensions do not need to be exact, but they should be large enough to create a good pinwheel shape when rolled together.

8. Layer and Roll Up: Place the green dough rectangle on top of the red dough rectangle. Gently press the two layers together, ensuring they stick. Then, starting from one end, roll the dough tightly into a log. It’s important to roll it as tightly as possible to achieve nice pinwheel shapes.

9. Chill the Dough: Wrap the log in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 1 hour. Chilling the dough helps it to firm up, making it easier to slice later on.

10. Slice the Cookies: After chilling, take the log out of the refrigerator. Using a sharp knife, slice it into 1/4-inch thick pinwheels. Make sure to cut straight down to maintain the round shape of the cookies.

11. Prepare for Baking: Place the sliced pinwheels on a lined baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. If desired, sprinkle the tops of the cookies with red sanding sugar for a festive touch.

12. Bake the Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes. You will know they are ready when the edges are slightly golden. Keep an eye on them as baking times can vary between ovens.

13. Cool Before Serving: Once done, remove the tray from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on a wire rack. This allows them to set and maintain their shape. Once cooled, they are ready to be enjoyed!

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How to Serve Perfect Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Perfect Christmas Pinwheel Cookies look great on a serving platter. You can arrange them in festive patterns or stacks to create visual interest.

For additional celebration, consider pairing the cookies with a warm beverage like hot cocoa or eggnog. The sweetness of the cookies complements the drink, making for a cozy holiday treat.

You can also include them in gift boxes along with other baked goods. This makes for a lovely and thoughtful gift for family, friends, or neighbors during the holiday season.

If you want to add more flair, serve with a drizzle of icing made from powdered sugar mixed with a little milk (or a splash of vanilla or almond extract) to complement the flavors of the cookies.

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How to Store Perfect Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

To keep your Perfect Christmas Pinwheel Cookies fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They will usually stay fresh for about one week.

If you want to keep the cookies for a longer period, consider freezing them. To freeze, place the cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet until frozen solid, then transfer them to an airtight container or a zip-top freezer bag. When stored this way, they can last for about 2 to 3 months.

To enjoy, simply remove the desired amount of cookies from the freezer and let them sit at room temperature for a little while to thaw. They will still taste delicious!

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Tips to Make Perfect Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

• Soften the Butter: Ensure that your butter is softened but not melted. This will help in achieving the perfect texture when creaming it with sugar.

• Use Gel Food Coloring: Opt for gel food coloring instead of liquid. Gel colors are more concentrated, meaning you’ll need fewer drops to get vibrant colors without altering the dough’s consistency.

• Roll Evenly: Try to roll the dough evenly. This keeps the cookie thickness uniform, helping them bake at the same rate and allowing for even color when sliced.

• Chill Thoroughly: Don’t skip the chilling step. Chilling the rolled log gives better results when slicing and helps prevent spreading during baking, ensuring those beautiful pinwheel designs stay intact.

• Experiment with Flavors: While the basic recipe is lovely as is, consider adding a pinch of peppermint extract to the dough for a minty twist, or replace vanilla with almond extract for a slightly different flavor.

• Check the Oven Temperature: Ovens can vary in temperature. It can be useful to use an oven thermometer to ensure it’s at the right temperature before baking, gathering the best results.

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Variation

While the classic red and green combination is undoubtedly festive, feel free to experiment with other colors or flavors.

For a fun twist, consider using pastel colors for spring celebrations or using chocolate dough for a richer flavor. You can also incorporate different extracts or zests for more depth, such as orange zest for a citrus kick or coconut extract for a tropical flair.

Adjust the sanding sugar sprinkles to match the theme of your festivities – think gold stars for New Year’s or purple and yellow for Mardi Gras!

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FAQs

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?

While you can use salted butter, it may alter the overall flavor of the cookies slightly. Unsalted butter allows you to control the salt level in the recipe better. If you only have salted butter, you can decrease the kosher salt amount in the recipe or omit it entirely.

How can I make my pinwheel cookies more colorful?

You can achieve brighter colors by adding more gel food coloring or by working with the dough a bit longer to ensure the color is uniformly mixed. Moreover, using a white dough base and coloring only portions also creates stunning contrasts.

Can I make the dough in advance?

Absolutely! You can prepare the dough ahead of time, roll it into a log, and store it wrapped tightly in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Alternatively, you can freeze it as mentioned earlier for longer storage.

What if I don’t have red and green gel food coloring?

If you don’t have gel food coloring, you could utilize other natural coloring sources. Such as beet juice or spinach puree for the green and cranberry juice for red. Keep in mind that this might change the flavor slightly.

Can I decorate my cookies differently?

Of course! You can use icing, edible glitter, or even sprinkles to make your cookies unique. Experimentation in decorating can lead to beautiful and one-of-a-kind treats.

What’s the best way to slice the log?

To achieve cleaner cuts, use a sharp knife and gently press down. A serrated knife can also work well. To prevent sticking, you can dip the knife in warm water and wipe it off before each slice.

Creating and enjoying Perfect Christmas Pinwheel Cookies is a delightful, festive endeavor. Not only do they fill your home with seasonal joy, but they also provide a wonderful bonding time with loved ones. Enjoy baking, sharing, and savoring each delicious bite of these colorful treats!

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