The first time I made these Christmas pinwheel cookies, my entire kitchen looked—and smelled—like pure holiday magic. The sweet aroma of sugar cookie dough mixing with vanilla filled the air, and the bright streaks of red and green food coloring on my counter made me feel like one of Santa’s helpers. When I finally rolled the dough into that beautiful spiral and sliced into the chilled log, I remember gasping because the swirls looked even prettier than I imagined. They instantly became one of my favorite festive baking traditions.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
You’ll love this recipe because it’s surprisingly easy, unbelievably festive, and the kind of cookie that makes everyone think you spent hours crafting them—even though you and I both know the real secret. From my experience, these cookies bring such joy to holiday tables, and the colorful spirals make them a guaranteed showstopper, especially when you’re short on time but still want something impressive.
Ingredients
- 1 tube (16.5 oz) refrigerated sugar cookie dough
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- Red gel food coloring
- Green gel food coloring
- ½ cup Christmas sprinkles (nonpareils work best)
I’ve tested this recipe using both homemade sugar cookie dough and store-bought, and honestly, the store-bought dough works unbelievably well and saves so much time during busy holiday baking. Gel food coloring is important—liquid food dye makes the dough too wet. And when it comes to sprinkles, nonpareils stick the best and create a crisp, colorful border that really makes the cookies pop.
Equipment Needed
- Mixing bowls
- Rolling pin
- Plastic wrap
- Parchment paper
- Baking sheet
- Sharp knife
A rolling pin is essential for creating even dough layers, but I’ve also used a flat water bottle in emergencies and it worked fine. Plastic wrap helps the dough maintain its shape while chilling and prevents sticking. A sharp knife is important for clean slices—I tried using a dull one once and ended up squishing half the log. Parchment paper makes transferring the dough much easier and keeps your baking sheet clean.
Step-by-Step Instructions
When I start making these Christmas pinwheel cookies, the first thing I do is knead the sugar cookie dough with the flour until it becomes smooth and workable. At first, stickiness might make you doubt the process, but just keep going. Once the dough is soft and pliable, I divide it evenly into three pieces. The first piece stays white, the second becomes bright red, and the third gets transformed into cheerful green. Adding the gel coloring is always my favorite part because the dough becomes so vibrant and festive.(See the next page below to continue…)