Name: Pinwheel Cookies
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 3 h 40 min
Yield: 24 cookies
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ½ cup butter (brought to room temperature); ½ cup butter-flavored shortening; 1 cup powdered sugar ((also known as confectioners' sugar)); 1 large egg; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon salt; Pink food coloring; Pink sprinkles

Pinwheel Cookies

Pinwheel Cookies are a classic favorite, known for their eye-catching spiral patterns. You will love both how they look and taste!

Prep30 min

Cook10 min

Total3 hr 40 min

Serves24 cookies

Published 5 Jul 2023

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Pinwheel Cookiesare a classic favorite, known for their eye-catching spiral patterns. These cookies are a combination of two different colors of dough that are rolled together and sliced to create beautiful swirled designs. The best part? You can get creative with the colors and flavors to make them even more exciting!

Pinwheel cookies offer a unique twist on traditional cookies. However, they not only look good but they taste great too.

Pinwheel Cookies

Baking pinwheel cookies is a fun and creative activity. The process of rolling and slicing the dough, watching the patterns come to life, and seeing the transformation from a log to individual cookies is so fun. It’s a great opportunity to get creative in the kitchen and cook with your family.

These cookies are perfect for sharing with others. Whether it’s at a party, a bake sale, or simply as a homemade gift, these cookies are sure to impress. The vibrant appearance and delicious taste make them an attractive treat that people will love!

close up of pink and tan swirl decorated pinwheel cookies with pink sprinkles

Ingredients

Butter
Butter-flavored shortening
Powdered sugar
Egg
Vanilla extract
Flour
Salt
Pink food coloring
Pink sprinkles

Keep scrolling to find a full, printable recipe with a detailed ingredient list.

Recipe Instructions

Cream together room temperature butter, butter-flavored shortening, powdered sugar, egg, and vanilla extract.
Add flour and salt to the butter mixture and mix until dough forms.
Divide dough in half. Leave one half plain and color the other half with pink food coloring.
Roll out both dough halves into rectangles of 1/4 inch thickness.
Place the pink dough on top of the plain dough, aligning the edges. Then roll the dough tightly into a cylinder shape.
Roll the dough cylinder in pink sprinkles until coated on all sides.
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight.
Preheat the oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Slice the chilled dough into 1/4 inch thick disks and place them on the baking sheet with space in between.
Bake until the edges turn golden, around 11 minutes. Avoid overbaking.

top view of pink pinwheel cookies and milk

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can make the pinwheel cookie dough ahead of time. After preparing the dough, you can wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for up to three days. When you’re ready to bake, simply slice and bake the cookies as instructed.

Can I use different flavors for the dough?

Pinwheel cookies are versatile, and you can experiment with various flavors for the dough. Try adding cocoa powder for a chocolatey twist, citrus zest for a tangy kick, or even almond extract for a nutty flavor.

Can I make smaller or larger cookies?

ou can adjust the size of the cookies to your preference. For smaller cookies, slice the dough thinner, and for larger cookies, slice it thicker. Just keep in mind that the baking time may vary depending on the size of the cookies, so keep an eye on them to prevent over or under baking.

Can I freeze the dough?

es, you can freeze the pinwheel cookie dough. After rolling the dough into a cylinder, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer-safe bag or container. The dough can be frozen for up to three months.

close up of a plate of pink and tan pinwheel cookies

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Pinwheel cookieslook like magic and taste like a dream. Everyone will be so delighted to devoruthese fun cookies

Pinwheel Cookies

Pinwheel Cookies are a classic favorite, known for their eye-catching spiral patterns.

Ingredients

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, combine the ½ cup of room temperature butter, ½ cup of butter-flavored shortening, 1 cup of powdered sugar, 1 egg, and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. Use an electric mixer to beat these ingredients together until they're well combined and creamy.

Add in the 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon of salt to the butter mixture. Continue mixing until the dough comes together. It should pull away from the sides of the bowl when it's ready.

Divide the dough evenly into two separate portions. Leave one portion as is, and to the other, add several drops of pink food coloring. Mix the colored dough until the color is evenly distributed and you're satisfied with the shade.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out each portion of dough into a rectangle of roughly the same size. Aim for a thickness of about 1/4 inch.

Carefully place one rectangle of dough on top of the other, aligning the edges as closely as possible.

Starting at one end, roll the dough tightly into a cylinder, similar to making a jelly roll.

Pour the pink sprinkles onto a large plate or a flat surface. Roll the dough cylinder into the sprinkles, ensuring all sides are well coated.

Once the cylinder is fully covered in sprinkles, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap.

Place the wrapped dough in the refrigerator to chill for at least 3 hours, but preferably overnight to ensure the dough is completely firm before cutting and baking.

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C), and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Slice the chilled dough into disks about ¼ inch thick. Arrange the cookie slices on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about an inch of space between them to allow for spreading.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 11 minutes, or until the edges just start to turn golden. Be careful not to overbake as the cookies should remain light in color.

Notes

Ensuring the butter is at room temperature helps it to blend more smoothly with the shortening and sugar. Use a good quality butter-flavored shortening for the best results, as it gives the cookies a rich, buttery flavor. When adding the food coloring, start with a small amount and add more as needed to achieve the desired color. Rolling the dough tightly is key for achieving the signature pinwheel shape. Chilling the dough helps to prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking. You can change the color of the cookies and sprinkles to match whatever you'd like. You can make red and white cookies for Christmas, orange and white with Halloween sprinkles on the outside, or just about any other color and sprinkle combination that you would like.

Nutrition

Calories142

Carbohydrates15

Cholesterol17

Fat8

Fiber0.4

Protein2

Saturated fat4

Sodium130

Sugar5