Description
These Swirled Christmas Cookies feature vibrant red and green layers of soft, buttery dough rolled into festive pinwheels, perfect for holiday celebrations. They are easy to prepare and bake into delightful, colorful cookies that bring holiday cheer with every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Coloring
- Red gel food coloring
- Green gel food coloring
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which will incorporate air to give the cookies a tender texture.
- Add Flavorings and Egg: Beat in the large egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until fully combined, ensuring the dough is smooth and homogenous.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing just until a soft dough forms, being careful not to overwork it.
- Divide and Color Dough: Divide the dough evenly into three portions. Leave one portion plain, tint one with red gel food coloring, and the third portion with green gel food coloring. Knead each coloring into the dough until uniformly colored.
- Shape Dough Rectangles: Roll each portion of dough into a rectangle approximately 9 by 6 inches on a lightly floured surface, keeping the thickness even for uniform baking.
- Layer and Roll: Stack the three colored dough rectangles on top of each other in any order you prefer, gently pressing them together, then roll the stack tightly from the short side to form a log.
- Chill Dough Log: Wrap the rolled dough log securely in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to firm up, which helps in slicing clean pinwheels.
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Slice Dough: Remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator and slice it into ¼-inch thick rounds using a sharp knife, placing the slices spaced apart on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 9 to 11 minutes, or until they are just set. Avoid overbaking to maintain a tender texture.
- Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes to firm up, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
Notes
- Use gel food coloring to achieve vibrant colors without changing the dough consistency.
- Ensure dough is well chilled before slicing to prevent distortion of swirled pattern.
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- For best results, do not overmix dough to keep cookies tender.
- Feel free to customize colors to match different holiday themes.
