Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Bright, festive, and perfect for the holiday season, Christmas Pinwheel Cookies are a cheerful addition to any cookie platter. Their vibrant red and green swirls are eye-catching and guaranteed to impress at cookie exchanges, holiday parties, or family gatherings. Beyond their looks, these cookies are buttery, soft, and lightly sweet—a delightful classic sugar cookie with a festive twist.

Making these cookies is easier than you think. With simple ingredients and a bit of food coloring, you can create bakery-worthy treats right at home. The dough can be prepared ahead of time, making it a stress-free baking project for the busy holiday season.

📝 Ingredients

• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• Red food coloring
• Green food coloring
• Sprinkles (optional for edges)

📋 Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract until smooth.
4. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until a soft dough forms.
5. Divide the dough into three equal portions. Leave one plain, tint one portion red, and the other green.
6. Roll each dough portion between parchment paper into rectangles of equal size.
7. Stack the layers (red, white, green) and gently roll into a log to form swirls. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours.
8. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
9. Slice the chilled dough into ¼-inch rounds and place them on prepared baking sheets.
10. Optional: Roll the edges in sprinkles for extra festivity.
11. Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until cookies are set but not browned.
12. Allow to cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

💡 Tips & Variations

• Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors without altering the dough’s texture.
• Roll the dough tightly to create well-defined pinwheel swirls.
• Freeze the dough logs for up to 3 months to bake fresh cookies whenever needed.

Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Festive red, green, and white swirled sugar cookies—perfect for holiday cookie trays and Christmas parties.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Servings: 30 cookies

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American, Holiday

Calories: 120

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Cookie Dough

• 2.75 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter softened
• 1.25 cups granulated sugar
• 2 eggs large
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• red food coloring gel recommended
• green food coloring gel recommended
• sprinkles optional for edges

Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• Hand or stand mixer
• Rolling Pin
• Parchment paper
• Plastic wrap
• Baking sheets
• Wire rack

Method

 

1. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in eggs and vanilla extract.
4. Gradually mix in dry ingredients to form dough.
5. Divide dough into three portions; tint one red, one green, and leave one plain.
6. Roll dough layers between parchment paper, stack, and roll into a log. Chill for 2 hours.
7. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare baking sheets.
8. Slice dough into rounds, roll edges in sprinkles if desired, and bake for 8–10 minutes.
9. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

Notes

Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Dough can be frozen for up to 3 months.