Old Fashioned Christmas Pinwheel (Printable Version)
# What You'll Need:
→ Dough
01 -
375 g all-purpose flour
02 -
1 teaspoon baking powder
03 -
0.5 teaspoon fine salt
04 -
225 g unsalted butter, softened
05 -
200 g granulated sugar
06 -
1 large egg, at room temperature
07 -
1.5 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
08 -
Red food coloring, amount as needed for desired shade
# Step-by-Step Directions:
01 -
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined. Set aside.
02 -
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until pale and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract, beating until fully incorporated.
03 -
Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and mix until just a cohesive dough forms. Avoid overmixing.
04 -
Separate the dough evenly into two bowls. Add the desired amount of red food coloring into one portion and mix until color is uniform; leave the other portion plain.
05 -
Shape each dough portion into a disk, wrap in cling film, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or up to 48 hours.
06 -
On parchment paper, roll each chilled dough portion into a 30 x 30 cm square of about 1.25 cm thickness.
07 -
Place the colored dough square on top of the plain dough square, pressing lightly to adhere. Remove upper parchment and tightly roll the stacked dough into a log, ensuring the spiral is even.
08 -
Wrap the rolled dough log in cling film and refrigerate for another 2 hours to ensure clean slicing.
09 -
Ten minutes before slicing, preheat the oven to 175°C and line two baking trays with parchment paper.
10 -
Unwrap dough and slice into 1.25 cm thick rounds using a sharp knife.
11 -
Arrange the rounds on prepared baking trays, spacing slightly apart, and bake for 8–10 minutes until edges are just golden.
12 -
Let the cookies cool on the trays for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
# Helpful Notes:
01 -
For precise results, use a kitchen scale to equally divide dough portions before coloring.
02 -
If desired, substitute or add flavorings such as peppermint or almond extract for a festive variation.
03 -
To enhance the visual effect, roll dough log edges in colored sprinkles before slicing.
04 -
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week, or freeze the shaped dough log for up to 3 months.