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Home » Recipes » Courses » Desserts » Cookies

Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Published: Dec 6, 2021 by Terri Gilson · Modified: Dec 7, 2021 · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links · 5 Comments

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pin with photo of Christmas Pinwheel cookies on a white plate with 3 cookies wrapped in ribbon

These Christmas Pinwheel Cookies are the ultimate Christmas Cookies! With the festive red, white and green swirls, they make a great addition to your holiday baking platter, a cookie swap or an edible Christmas gift!

4 Christmas pinwheel cookies on a white plate with 3 cookies in a ribbon in the background

These Christmas Pinwheels are very popular at Christmas, but are great for any time of the year. You can change up the colors for any holiday (yellow and pink for Easter or orange and black for Halloween). You could also use store-bought sugar cookie dough if you are in a hurry!

Jump to:
  • 🥘 Ingredients
  • 🔪Instructions
  • 📖Substitutions & Variations
  • 🍽 Equipment
  • 💭Top tip
  • 🌡️Storing
  • 👪 Serving Size
  • 🦺Food safety
  • ⭐ Reviews
  • 📋 Christmas Pinwheel Cookie Recipe
  • 🍪More Christmas Cookies!

🥘 Ingredients

What makes these Christmas Pinwheels Cookies unique is the almond flavor (from both ground almonds and almond extract). For this recipe, you'll need:

  • unsalted butter
  • white granulated sugar
  • egg
  • milk
  • almond extract
  • vanilla extract
  • salt
  • all- purpose flour
  • ground almonds
  • green food coloring * I use Wilton Kelly Green
  • red food coloring *I use Americolor super red

*See recipe card for quantities.

Line a cute cookie tin with parchment paper and you have the ideal edible gift for the holidays!

Pinwheel Christmas cookies in a white and blue snowflake patterned cookie tin

🔪Instructions

A sugar cookie is dyed red and green, then the doughs simply get stacked and rolled together and sliced, to create the swirl. This recipe is involved, but if you follow the steps exactly as shown, the cookies will turn out perfectly!

*There is chilling time involved in this recipe - for a total of about 3 hours

  1. Cream together butter and sugar with an electric mixer (until pale and creamy). Beat in whole egg. Scrape down sides of bowl. Beat in milk, extracts, salt and ground almonds. Gradually add in flour until a soft dough forms. *You many need to add in the final addition of flour by hand.
  2. Divide dough into 3 equal portions, each in its own bowl. Leave one plain and tint one with green food coloring and the other with red food coloring. Mix in food color thoroughly so there are no streaks. Cover each dough with plastic wrap and and chill until firm and no longer sticky (about 45 minutes)
  3. Cut 3 pieces of parchment paper at least 10 x12 inches (25x30 cm) in size. Using a floured rolling pin, roll each dough into a 7x9 inch (18x23 cm) rectangle, approximately ⅛ inch (3mm) thick on its own piece of parchment paper. Patch edges as required to attain size. Chill dough, still on parchment paper (on baking sheet) until firm)- about 10- 15 minutes.
  4. In a small bowl, beat egg white with a fork. To layer, place red dough (still on parchment paper), on work surface and brush with egg white.
  5. Lining up the edges, invert plain dough onto red one and peel off parchment from plain dough. Brush with egg white.
  6. Invert green dough on top again, peeling away parchment.
collage of 6 photos showing how to make pinwheel cookies

Hint: Use your mixer to blend in your food coloring- it's easier than kneading with your hands and you don't stain your hands!

collage of 6 photos showing how to make pinwheel cookies
  • 7. Use a sharp knife to trim edges, wiping blade clean between cuts to keep colors distinct.
  • 8. Place long side of dough nearest to you and tightly roll up into a log, smoothing and straightening it as you roll (lifting the parchment to help release the dough)
  • 9. Gently press edge of log together to seal. If the log is thicker than 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter, gently use your hands to roll it and lengthen it.
  • 10. Wrap log in plastic wrap and chill until firm, approximately 2 hours or overnight.
  • 11.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F/ (180 degrees C). Slice log into ¼ inch (5 mm) thick rounds, wiping blade clean between cuts.
  • 12. Set about ½ inch ( 1.25 cm) apart on 2 parchment lined baking sheets. Bake for 12-14 minutes until firm to the touch, but not browned. Allow to cool for 2 minutes before moving to a cooling rack to cool for an additional 5 minutes

📖Substitutions & Variations

  • Store-bought cookie dough- you can use store-bought sugar cookie dough to make these if you're in a hurry. *Just be sure to add in the ground almonds and almond extract!
  • Butter - if you don't have unsalted butter, you can use salted and skip the salt in the recipe
  • Food Coloring- you could change these up and make them an Easter cookie with pink and yellow food coloring or a Halloween themed cookie with orange and black
  • Almonds - you can make ground almonds in your food processor with slivered almonds (I did this because the store was out of ground almonds)

🍽 Equipment

You'll need a mixer for this Christmas Pinwheel Cookie recipe. You can use a hand mixer (affiliate link) or a stand mixer (affiliate link). You'll also need a cutting board, baking sheet, pastry brush and a good sharp knife.

💭Top tip

I use icing food coloring for these Christmas Swirl Cookies because you can use less and get a deeper color. *I used Wilton Kelly green (affiliate link) and Americolor super red (affiliate link).

3 Christmas sugar swirl cookies on a plate with a jar of more cookies in the background

🌡️Storing

You can store these Christmas Swirl Cookies in an airtight container on the counter for 4 days. However, they freeze very well, so I usually pop them into the freezer right away. You can freeze these cookies for up to 3 months.

3 Christmas swirl cookies on a white plate, tied with a white bow, with more cookies, a candy cane and a mug in the background

👪 Serving Size

This recipe makes 30 Christmas Pinwheels Cookies. However, you can half, double or triple the recipe by simply clicking on the blue serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust.

🦺Food safety

  • Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
  • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
  • Wash hands after touching raw meat
  • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
  • Never leave cooking food unattended
  • Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
  • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

4 Christmas pinwheel cookies on a white plate with 3 cookies in a ribbon in the background, as well as a cookie tin

These Pinwheel Christmas Cookies are not only fun and festive with holidays colors, they are really fun to make. So, if you're looking for a holiday baking project, an edible gift or cookie exchange item, these are sure to be the star of your holiday cookie swap!

⭐ Reviews

Did you make this recipe? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

Please SUBSCRIBE  (get my FREE E-cookbook) and be sure to FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST!

4 Christmas pinwheel cookies on a white plate with 3 cookies in a ribbon in the background
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5 from 5 votes

📋 Christmas Pinwheel Cookie Recipe

These Pinwheel Christmas Cookies are the ultimate Christmas Cookies! With the festive red, white and green swirls, they make a great addition to your holiday baking platter, a cookie swap or an edible Christmas gift!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American, Canadian
Keyword christmas, cookie, pinwheel, swirl
Special Diet Vegetarian
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 14 minutes
chilling 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 45 minutes
Servings 30 cookies
Calories 109kcal
Author Adapted from: Inspired | Holiday (Sobey's magazine) 2011, pg. 30
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup white granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • ⅓ cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 egg white
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 pkg ground almonds 100 g
  • ½ teaspoon red food coloring
  • ½ teaspoon green food coloring
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Heads up: there are 2 chilling times involved in this recipe - for a total of about 3 hours
  • Cream together butter and sugar with an electric mixer (until pale and creamy). Beat in whole egg. Scrape down sides of bowl.
  • Beat in milk, extracts, salt and ground almonds.
  • Gradually add in flour until a soft dough forms. *You many need to add in the final addition of flour by hand.
  • Divide dough into 3 equal portions, each in its own bowl. Leave one plain and tint one with green food coloring and the other with red food coloring. Mix in food color thoroughly so there are no streaks. Cover each dough with plastic wrap and and chill until firm and no longer sticky (about 45 minutes)
  • Cut 3 pieces of parchment paper at least 10 x12 inches (25x30 cm) in size. Using a floured rolling pin, roll each dough into a 7x9 inch (18x23 cm) rectangle, approximately ⅛ inch (3mm) thick on its own piece of parchment paper. Patch edges as required to attain size. Chill dough, still on parchment paper (on baking sheet) until firm).
  • In a small bowl, beat egg white with a fork. To layer, place red dough (still on parchment paper), on work surface and brush with egg white. Lining up the edges, invert plain dough onto red one and peel off parchment from plain dough. Brush with egg white and invert green dough on top again, peeling away parchment.
    collage of 6 photos showing how to make pinwheel cookies
  • Use a sharp knife to trim edges, wiping blade clean between cuts to keep colors distinct.
  • Place long side of dough nearest to you and tightly roll up into a log, smoothing and straightening it as you roll (lifting the parchment to help release the dough) Gently press edge of log together to seal. If the log is thicker than 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter, gently use your hands to roll it and lengthen it.
  • Wrap log in plastic wrap and chill until firm, approximately 2 hours or overnight.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F/ (180 degrees C). Slice log into ¼ inch (5 mm) thick rounds, wiping blade clean between cuts. Set about ½ inch ( 1.25 cm) apart on 2 parchment lined baking sheets.
    collage of 6 photos showing how to make pinwheel cookies
  • Bake for 12-14 minutes until firm to the touch, but not browned. Allow to cool for 2 minutes before moving to a cooling rack to cool for an additional 5 minutes.

Notes

📖SUBSTITUTIONS & VARIATIONS
  • Store-bought cookie dough- you can use store-bought sugar cookie dough to make these if you're in a hurry. *Just be sure to add in the ground almonds and almond extract!
  • Butter - if you don't have unsalted butter, you can use salted and skip the salt in the recipe
  • Food Coloring- you could change these up and make them an Easter theme with pink and yellow food coloring or a Halloween theme with orange and black
  • Almonds - you can make ground almonds in your food processor with slivered almonds (I did this because the store was out of ground almonds)
🍽 EQUIPMENT
You'll need a mixer for this Christmas Pinwheel Cookie recipe. You can use a hand mixer (affiliate link) or a stand mixer (affiliate link). You'll also need a cutting board, baking sheet, pastry brush and a good sharp knife.
💭TOP TIP
I use icing food coloring for these Christmas Swirl Cookies because you can use less and get a deeper color. *I used Wilton Kelly green (affiliate link) and Americolor super red (affiliate link).
🌡️STORING
You can store these Christmas Swirl Cookies in an airtight container on the counter for 4 days. However, they freeze very well, so I usually pop them into the freezer right away. You can freeze these cookies for up to 3 months.
👪 SERVING SIZE
This recipe makes 30 Christmas Pinwheels Cookies. However, you can half, double or triple the recipe by simply clicking on the blue serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust.
My Amazon Recommendations (affiliate links)

Nutrition Facts
📋 Christmas Pinwheel Cookie Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 cookie)
Calories 109 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 18mg6%
Sodium 25mg1%
Potassium 21mg1%
Carbohydrates 15g5%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 7g8%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 155IU3%
Calcium 7mg1%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 109kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 25mg | Potassium: 21mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 155IU | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg
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🍪More Christmas Cookies!

  • Gingerbread Snowball Cookies
  • Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti- Christmas Biscotti
  • Gingerbread Yule Log Cookies
  • Raspberry Jam Cookies
  • 4 ingredient Whipped Shortbread Cookies
  • NO CHILL Gingerbread Cookies
  • Butter Tart Thumbprint Cookies

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bernice

    December 14, 2021 at 1:25 pm

    These cookies would make a great addition to any Christmas cookie platter. I'm a huge fan of 'slice n bake' style cookies. They're so easy and fun to make!

    Reply
  2. Lily

    December 14, 2021 at 2:37 pm

    So bright, beautiful, and festive! The cookies look delicious!

    Reply
  3. nancy

    December 14, 2021 at 6:39 pm

    awesome holiday cookie recipe! it looks so pretty for display too

    Reply
  4. Julia

    December 15, 2021 at 3:23 am

    So beautiful! These cookies would great on any Christmas cookie platter. Saving for later.

    Reply
  5. Colleen

    December 16, 2021 at 11:29 am

    These cookies are so simple but so festive. I love that you can change the colours according to the holiday!

    Reply

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I'm Terri, a passionate home cook and baker, an award-winning recipe developer and a busy working mom that is trying to eat healthy and fit everything into not enough hours in a day! My mission is to share not only my recipes, cooking hacks and tips with you, but also my secrets to successful weight maintenance.

More about me →

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