Name: Festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 3 h 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 cups (360 g) all purpose flour; ½ teaspoon baking powder; ¼ teaspoon salt; 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter softened to room temperature; ½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar; ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar; 1 large egg at room temperature; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; ½ teaspoon red food coloring; ½ teaspoon green food coloring; ½ cup Holiday sprinkles

Imagine biting into a cookie that’s as joyful to look at as it is to eat — that’s the magic of this Festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe. The swirling colors and holiday sprinkles bring such a cheerful vibe, perfect for sharing with friends or bringing to a festive gathering.

A pile of round cookies with three spiral layers in red, white, and green colors, arranged closely on a white plate. Each cookie's outer edge is decorated with small red, green, and white round sprinkles. The cookies have a smooth, slightly textured surface with clear, even swirls. Underneath the plate is a white marbled surface, and a green and white checkered cloth is softly folded in the background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This cookie recipe has become one of my seasonal favorites because it combines a classic buttery texture with a playful pop of Christmas colors. I honestly find myself smiling every time I slice that dough log, revealing those vibrant swirls inside.

Perfect for Parties: These pinwheel cookies are eye-catching and easy to share, making them a instant crowd-pleaser at holiday events.
Delicious Texture: Buttery and tender with just the right amount of sweet crunch from holiday sprinkles.
Fun to Make: Rolling the colored dough layers makes for a satisfying and creative baking experience you’ll look forward to each year.
Customizable Colors and Flavors: You can easily swap colors or add extracts to match your personal style or holiday theme.

The image shows a close-up of round swirl cookies arranged closely together on a white marbled surface. Each cookie has three visible layers: a bright green inner spiral, a thin beige middle spiral, and a thicker red outer spiral. The edges of the cookies are covered with red sugar and decorated with small white, green, and red sprinkles, giving a festive look. The texture of the cookies looks soft and slightly grainy from the sugar coating. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

The success of these pinwheel cookies lies in simple, trusty ingredients that come together for that tender crumb and lovely color contrast. When shopping, pick unsalted butter for control over salt, and make sure your egg is at room temperature for better mixing.

Flat lay of a small mound of all purpose flour on a simple white ceramic plate, a small pile of fine white baking powder next to a pinch of coarse salt on a white ceramic dish, a block of unsalted butter with a smooth surface on a white ceramic square plate, a small heap of light brown sugar and a separate small mound of granulated sugar both on simple white ceramic bowls, one large whole brown egg with a clean shell placed on a white ceramic saucer, a small white bowl filled with clear vanilla extract, two small white bowls each containing vibrant red and green food coloring liquids, and a scattering of colorful holiday sprinkles artfully arranged on a white ceramic plate, all ingredients fresh and natural, perfectly balanced and symmetrical, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

All-purpose flour: Gives structure to the cookies, creating that perfect tender bite.
Baking powder: Just a pinch to help lighten the cookies without making them cakey.
Salt: Balances flavors and enhances the buttery richness.
Unsalted butter: The star for flavor and texture; soften to room temp for easy creaming.
Light brown sugar: Adds a gentle molasses note for depth and chewiness.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens and helps with that delicate crisp edge.
Large egg: Binds everything together and promotes a tender crumb.
Vanilla extract: Adds warmth and classic flavor to the dough.
Red and green food coloring: Gives you those festive swirls that make these cookies so special.
Holiday sprinkles: Adds crunch and whimsical charm to the cookie edges.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I’ve played around with this Festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe by adding different flavors or swapping the colors around, and I love how versatile it is. Don’t be afraid to get creative — it’s your holiday treat after all!

Variation: Once, I replaced the green coloring with a swirl of cinnamon dough — it gave the cookies a warm spice note that friends raved about.
Dietary tweaks: You can try using a butter substitute to make these dairy-free, though the texture will be a touch different.
Alternative colors: Try gold and silver edible dust instead of food coloring for a glittery, elegant vibe.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Mix the Dry Ingredients

Start by whisking together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl until everything is evenly distributed. This simple step helps ensure no surprises when you combine them with your butter mixture.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars

In a mixer or with a hand whisk, beat the room-temperature butter with both sugars until the mixture is smooth and creamy—this usually takes about two minutes. It’s worth using softened butter here, so your dough turns out tender, not tough.

Step 3: Add Egg and Vanilla

Next, beat in the egg and vanilla extract until everything is fully incorporated. This step gives your dough body and that classic cookie flavor you know and love.

Step 4: Combine Flour and Dough

Slowly add the dry mix into the wet ingredients and stir just until there are no streaks of flour. You want to be careful not to overmix here—overworking flour can make your cookies tough.

Step 5: Divide and Color Your Dough

Separate your dough into three equal parts. Add red food coloring to one, green to another, and leave the last plain. Knead each portion gently until the colors are even and vibrant—this is such a fun step, by the way!

Step 6: Roll and Layer

On a lightly floured surface, roll each colored dough into a rectangle about 12 by 8 inches. Stack the green, then the white, and top with the red. A word of advice: work quickly to prevent the dough from getting too warm.

Step 7: Roll Into a Log and Coat with Sprinkles

Start rolling from the long edge, tightening the roll as you go. The log might stretch a bit, and that’s fine. Once rolled, gently press holiday sprinkles all around the outside. Wrap the log tightly with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 3 hours — patience here really pays off!

Step 8: Slice and Bake

Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) — or 160°C if you have a fan oven — and line baking sheets with parchment. Slice the dough into thin ¼-inch cookies and set them cut side down on the sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, rotating halfway through for even cooking. Watch for a slight puff and light golden edges.

Step 9: Cool and Enjoy

Allow your cookies to cool on the sheet for about five minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps them firm up and keeps those swirls crisp and delightful.

Top Tip

From my experience, chilling the dough well is the secret sauce for perfect pinwheel slices that keep their festive swirl shape intact. If the dough is too warm when slicing, you'll end up with misshapen cookies, and nobody wants that in their holiday spread!

Chill Time: Don’t rush this — at least 3 hours in the fridge keeps the dough firm for clean, neat slices.
Roll Tight: When forming your log, roll snugly but gently to avoid squashing the layers.
Use Parchment Paper: It prevents sticking and makes clean-up a breeze.
Rotate Baking Sheets: Halfway through baking, I always swap trays between racks and turn the pans to get even coloring on all cookies.

How to Serve Festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe

Christmas Pinwheel Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I personally love dusting the cooled cookies with a light sprinkle of powdered sugar for a “freshly fallen snow” effect. Sometimes I add a few edible glitter flakes on top to make them extra sparkly for holiday parties.

Side Dishes

These cookies go wonderfully with a warm mug of spiced hot chocolate or freshly brewed coffee. For a festive spread, pair them alongside gingerbread or peppermint bark for that ultimate Christmas cookie platter.

Creative Ways to Present

I’ve wrapped individual cookies in clear cellophane tied with red ribbon for gifting, which always gets compliments. Another fun idea is to arrange them in a wreath shape on a large platter, surrounded by holly and pine branches for extra festive flair.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftover pinwheel cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, layered between sheets of parchment paper to keep them from sticking or breaking. They usually stay fresh and delicious for up to a week — if they last that long!

Freezing

I’ve frozen dough logs wrapped well in plastic wrap, then placed in a freezer bag. When I want cookies, I thaw the log overnight in the fridge, then slice and bake as usual. This way, you can bake fresh cookies anytime without the fuss.

Reheating

If you want to refresh a cookie that’s lost a bit of its crispness, a quick 5-minute warm-up in a 300°F oven works wonders. Just be careful not to overdo it or they’ll dry out.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do I make sure the colors in my Festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe stay vibrant?

Use gel food coloring if possible for more vivid hues, and make sure the dough is well chilled before slicing and baking to keep those neat, clean swirls.

Can I make this recipe ahead for a holiday party?

Absolutely! You can prepare the dough log and chill it for up to 24 hours before baking, or freeze the dough log for longer storage. Then just slice and bake fresh on the day of your event for best taste.

What’s the best way to avoid crumbly pinwheel cookies?

Ensuring your butter is softened but not melted, creaming it properly with sugars, and avoiding overmixing the flour will give you tender, cohesive dough. Also, chilling the dough keeps it from crumbling when sliced.

Can I use natural food coloring in this recipe?

Yes, but natural food colorings can sometimes be less intense and may affect the dough's texture slightly. You may need to add more coloring or adjust your expectations for color vibrancy.

Final Thoughts

Making this Festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe feels like capturing the spirit of the holidays in each carefully sliced swirl. It’s one of those recipes I return to year after year because it’s fun, reliable, and brings a little festive magic to the kitchen. I can’t wait for you to try it—you’ll be hooked from the first bite, just like I was!