Name: Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 3 h 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 cups all purpose flour (360 g); ½ teaspoon baking powder; ¼ teaspoon salt; 1 cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature (225 g); ½ cup light brown sugar (100 g); ½ cup granulated sugar (100 g); 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

Nothing quite says festive like a swirl of vibrant colors and sweet holiday cheer — that’s exactly why the Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe holds a special place in my heart and on my holiday dessert tray. Each bite brings that perfect balance of buttery goodness with a playful pop of color that never fails to brighten the season.

A white plate is full of round swirl cookies with three layers in red, white, and green, spiraled evenly from the center to the edge. Each cookie has the red outer edge decorated with small white, red, and green round sprinkles, giving it a festive look. The cookies have a smooth, soft texture with bright colors, contrasting sharply against the white marbled background. A green and white checkered cloth is blurred in the background, adding a cozy feel. 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 Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve made so many holiday treats over the years, but the Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe stands out because it’s as fun to make as it is to eat. You get those bold festive colors swirled in every cookie, plus a tender, buttery texture that’s simply irresistible.

Festive Visual Appeal: The swirl of red, green, and white dough instantly makes every cookie feel like a Christmas celebration.
Simple Ingredients: All pantry staples you probably already have, making this recipe super accessible.
Make-Ahead Friendly: The dough chills beautifully, letting you prep in advance and bake fresh cookies when you need them.
Kid-Friendly Fun: Rolling and sprinkling offers a perfect chance to get the kids involved in holiday baking.

The image shows several round cookies stacked close together on a white marbled surface. Each cookie has three visible spiral layers: a bright red outer layer, a creamy beige middle layer, and a vivid green inner layer, all swirling in a smooth pattern. The edges of the cookies are decorated with small white, red, and green sprinkles adding a festive touch and textured contrast. The overall look is colorful, vibrant, and crisp with clear lines between the layers, creating a playful and holiday-themed appearance. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

The magic behind the Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe is in the balance of classic cookie ingredients combined with the festive touch of color and sprinkle crunch. Knowing what each component does can really boost your confidence when making this.

Flat lay of three small piles of fresh all purpose flour, a small mound of light brown sugar, a small mound of granulated white sugar, a whole large brown egg with clean shell, a square of unsalted butter softened to room temperature, two small white ceramic bowls each containing bright red and vibrant green liquid food coloring, a small white ceramic bowl filled with multicolored holiday sprinkles, and a small white ceramic bowl holding pure vanilla extract, all arranged in perfect symmetry 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: Forms the cookie’s structure; helps keep the dough pliable enough to roll without cracking.
Baking powder: Gives just a hint of lift, so the cookies aren’t dense or heavy.
Salt: Enhances all the flavors, balancing out the sweetness from the sugars.
Unsalted butter: The star of any cookie; adds richness and tender flakiness, especially softened to room temperature for easy creaming.
Light brown sugar: Adds moisture and a subtle caramel depth that pairs beautifully with vanilla.
Granulated sugar: Brings sweetness and helps with that slight crisp edge on the cookie.
Large egg: Binds ingredients and contributes to a soft texture; using room temperature eggs helps everything mix more smoothly.
Vanilla extract: Provides warmth and complexity to the cookie base flavor.
Red and green food coloring: Make these cookies unmistakably festive; gel or paste colors work best to keep dough texture intact.
Holiday sprinkles: Give a charming finish and crunchy contrast; don’t be shy about rolling the logs generously!

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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 Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe quite a bit, and one of my favorite tweaks is adding a little almond extract instead of vanilla for a subtle twist. You can also swap sprinkles based on your color theme or dietary preferences—think sugar-free or gluten-free options for a holiday crowd that needs it.

Variation: Once, I experimented with peppermint extract for a cool wintery edge, and it quickly became a family favorite.
Dietary Modifications: Gluten-free flour blends work well, just keep a close eye on the dough texture—it might need a touch more liquid.
Seasonal Change: For Christmas stars or Halloween, just swap the dough colors and sprinkles to fit the holiday vibe!

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

Step 1: Mix the Dry Ingredients

I always start by whisking together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. This way, everything is evenly distributed, so there aren’t any surprise pockets of salt or leavening when you mix into the butter.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars

Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, cream the softened butter with both sugars until the mixture is light and fluffy—about two minutes. This aerates the dough, giving a nice tender crumb to the cookies.

Step 3: Add Egg and Vanilla

Beat in the room temperature egg and pure vanilla extract until fully combined. The dough might look a little curdled, but don’t worry—that’s normal before adding the flour.

Step 4: Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients

Gently fold the flour mixture into the wet ingredients just until no streaks remain. Overmixing will toughen the dough, so stop as soon as it comes together.

Step 5: Divide and Color the Dough

Split the dough into three equal parts. Add red food coloring to one, green to the second, and leave the third plain (white). Knead each portion until the color is even—gel colors work best here to avoid thinning the dough.

Step 6: Roll and Layer the Dough

On a lightly floured surface, roll each dough into a roughly 12×8 inch rectangle. I like to layer them with the green on the bottom, then white, then red on top. This order keeps the colors bright and balanced when rolled.

Step 7: Roll Into a Log and Chill

Carefully roll the layered dough into a tight log starting from the long edge. The log tends to lengthen a little, which is fine. Then roll it in holiday sprinkles for a colorful, crunchy finish. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 3 hours — this step is crucial for clean slices.

Step 8: Slice and Bake

Preheat your oven to 350°F (or 160°C if using a fan oven) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Slice the log into ¼-inch thick cookies and place them cut side down spaced well apart. I usually rotate my baking sheets halfway through to make sure they brown evenly. Bake 8-10 minutes until lightly golden and just puffed.

Step 9: Cool and Enjoy

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents breaking and keeps that swirl pattern intact.

Top Tip

Over the years, I've learned the best results come from paying close attention to chilling and slicing. These steps make the difference between gorgeous, distinct swirls and a messy, blended dough.

Chilling is Key: Don’t rush the 3-hour chill — it firms the dough so you get perfect pinwheels that slice cleanly.
Sharp Knife for Slicing: Use a very sharp knife, and wipe it clean between cuts to keep edges crisp and neat.
Generous Sprinkle Roll: Don’t be shy rolling the dough in sprinkles; it adds festive colors and a satisfying crunch.
Don’t Overbake: Cookies continue to firm up after removing from the oven, so watch for that light golden edge to avoid dryness.

How to Serve Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe

Christmas Pinwheel Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually keep garnishes simple — just a dusting of powdered sugar on top for a snowy effect, or sometimes I drizzle a little white chocolate for an extra festive touch. The sprinkles on the outside already add plenty of color and texture, so minimal is often best.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair wonderfully with a warm cup of spiced cider, hot chocolate, or even a creamy eggnog. On my holiday platter, I like to add some salted nuts and fresh cranberries to balance the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

For gatherings, I love arranging these cookies in a spiral on a festive platter to echo the pinwheel design itself. Tying small bundles with red and green ribbon for gift-giving also makes a delightful presentation that friends and neighbors appreciate.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover Christmas Pinwheel Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature; they stay fresh and chewy for up to a week. Layering them between parchment paper helps prevent sticking and keeps those pretty swirls intact.

Freezing

The dough freezes beautifully if you want to prep in advance. Just wrap the dough log tightly in plastic wrap and then foil before freezing. When you're ready, thaw overnight in the fridge, slice, and bake fresh. Baked cookies freeze well too, just bring back to room temperature before serving.

Reheating

To refresh leftover cookies, I pop a few on a baking sheet and warm them in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes — it brings back that fresh-baked softness without drying them out.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use gel food coloring for the Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe?

Absolutely! Gel or paste food coloring is actually preferred because it adds vibrant colors without thinning the dough, which helps keep your pinwheels perfectly shaped.

How thick should I slice the cookie dough log?

Slice the dough into about ¼ inch thick slices for even baking and beautiful pinwheels. Thinner slices can burn quickly, while thicker ones may bake unevenly.

What if my dough cracks when I roll it into a log?

If your dough cracks, it’s often too cold or dry. Let it warm up briefly at room temperature until pliable, then gently press the cracks back together before rolling again. Adding a tiny bit of moisture can help if needed, but take care not to overwork the dough.

Can I make this recipe dairy-free?

Yes, you can swap the unsalted butter with a dairy-free margarine or vegan butter substitute. Just make sure it’s suitable for baking and keep the dough chilled as usual for best results. The texture might be slightly different but still delicious!

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe is one of those holiday baking gems I always return to because it combines everything I love: color, flavor, and a little bit of nostalgia. Baking these feels like wrapping up the Christmas spirit, slice by slice. So why not pull out your mixing bowls and get rolling? I promise your kitchen will be filled with happiness, and your friends and family will be asking for seconds (and maybe the recipe too).