Name: 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

Nothing says festive quite like a colorful swirl of sweetness, and this Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe is just the treat to brighten your holiday baking. There's something so satisfying about slicing through those chilled logs to see perfect red, green, and white spirals ready for the oven.

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 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

When the holidays roll around, I love sharing recipes that are as joyful to make as they are delicious. This Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe is one of those wins—it's visually stunning, bursting with classic flavors, and versatile enough to customize with your favorite colors and sprinkles.

Vibrant, Festive Look: The red, green, and white spirals bring instant holiday cheer to your cookie platter.
Easy to Make in Advance: Chill the dough logs and slice fresh cookies whenever you want throughout the season.
Fun for All Skill Levels: Whether you’re a baking newbie or a seasoned pro, the steps are straightforward and rewarding.
Customizable Flavors and Decorations: You can easily swap sprinkles, colors, or add extracts to make the recipe your own.

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 magic of this Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe lies in its simple, trusted ingredients working together to create a tender but firm dough that holds its shape beautifully and tastes buttery and sweet without overwhelming your palate.

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: Essential for structure—too much can make the cookies tough, so measuring carefully is key.
Baking powder: Just a touch keeps the cookies light and slightly puffed without losing that crispness.
Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances the buttery flavor.
Unsalted butter: Softened for easy creaming, it creates rich flavor and tender texture.
Brown and granulated sugar: The combo adds moistness and a touch of caramel depth from the brown sugar.
Egg: Helps bind the dough and adds richness.
Vanilla extract: A classic warm note that pairs beautifully with the holiday colors and sprinkles.
Red and green food coloring: For that unmistakable Christmas vibe in each swirl.
Holiday sprinkles: Adds whimsy and a little extra texture right on 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

What I really enjoy about this Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to tweak and personalize. I sometimes swap the sprinkles for crushed peppermint or use different shades of red and green to match a theme—go wild with your creativity!

Variation: Last year, I added a hint of peppermint extract instead of vanilla—it gave the cookies a fresh holiday twist that my family loved.
Dietary swap: To make the cookies gluten-free, try a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend, but be sure to chill the dough extra long for firm slices.
Color options: Experiment with pastel colors or gold and silver sprinkles for New Year's celebrations beyond Christmas.

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

Step 1: Mixing the Dough Base

First, I whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl, keeping those dry ingredients ready. Then, in a separate large bowl, I cream the softened butter with both sugars until the mixture is smooth and pale—takes about 2 minutes with a handheld mixer. Adding the egg and vanilla next creates a velvety batter that’s just begging for those vibrant colors.

Step 2: Coloring and Layering the Dough

Once the flour mixture joins the butter mix, you’ll want to stir just enough until no flour streaks remain—overmixing can toughen the dough. Then divide it into three portions; I color one red, one green, and leave the last one plain white. Rolling each portion into rectangles about 12x8 inches lets me layer them perfectly—green on the bottom, then white, finally red on top. It looks so cheerful even before baking!

Step 3: Rolling and Chilling the Dough Log

Here comes the fun part: starting at the long edge, roll the dough tightly into a log. Be gentle but firm—too loose and the swirl won’t hold up, too tight and the log might stretch and lose shape. Next, roll the log in holiday sprinkles for that festive sparkle. Wrap it well in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 3 hours. Trust me, this chilling step is the key to slicing neat pinwheels.

Step 4: Baking the Pinwheel Cookies

Preheat your oven to 350°F (or 160°C for fan ovens) and line your baking sheets with parchment. Slice the log into quarter-inch thick rounds and arrange them cut-side down on the sheets. I like to rotate the baking sheets halfway through to ensure even golden edges. Bake for 8-10 minutes until they puff slightly and shimmer with golden hues. Let them cool a few minutes on the pan before transferring to a wire rack.

Top Tip

From my experience making this Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe year after year, a few simple tips can really make your cookies shine and avoid baking blunders.

Keep the Dough Cold: Chilling the dough log thoroughly before slicing is crucial for clean pinwheels that don’t lose their shape.
Tight Rolling: When rolling up your layered rectangles, roll firmly but don’t overstretch the dough, or it will lose the spiral effect inside.
Rotate Baking Sheets: I always switch sheet positions halfway through baking for even heat exposure and consistent coloring.
Mix Colors Thoroughly: Make sure food coloring is fully blended so you get bright, uniform pinwheels—not streaky patches.

How to Serve Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe

Christmas Pinwheel Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like to sprinkle a little coarse sanding sugar or extra festive sprinkles over the chilled logs before baking for a sparkling finish. For extra oomph, a light dusting of powdered sugar after baking gives a snow-dusted effect that’s just perfect for holiday gatherings.

Side Dishes

Pair these pinwheels with a warm cup of spiced cider or freshly brewed peppermint tea for a cozy holiday vibe. Personally, I find a small plate of dark chocolate or roasted nuts complements the sweetness of the cookies beautifully.

Creative Ways to Present

When I’ve taken these cookies to parties, I like to arrange them on tiered dessert trays for a festive display. Wrapping a few in clear cellophane tied with a pretty ribbon makes for charming gifts, too—you’ll leave friends wondering if you bought them.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover cookies stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. I recommend placing parchment paper between layers to keep the sprinkles and edges intact. They’re perfect for nibbling throughout the holiday week!

Freezing

I often freeze the dough logs right after rolling and wrapping them tightly in plastic. When I’m ready for fresh cookies, I just thaw the logs in the fridge overnight and slice to bake. Cookies baked from frozen dough logs taste just as delightful and save me loads of time during busy holidays.

Reheating

If you want to enjoy leftover cookies warm, I pop a few in the oven at 300°F for about 5 minutes to revive that fresh-baked feeling without drying them out. Avoid microwaving as it can make the edges chewy.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make this Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe without food coloring?

Yes! You can skip the food coloring for a simple vanilla swirl version. The shapes will still be charming, just less festive in color. Alternatively, you could try natural coloring options like beet juice for red or spinach juice for green, but results may vary.

How long can I store the cookie dough logs in the fridge?

You can store the dough logs wrapped in plastic wrap in the fridge safely for up to 3 days. If you need longer storage, freezing is best to maintain dough quality. When ready, thaw overnight in the fridge before slicing and baking.

Any tips for cutting perfect pinwheel slices?

Use a sharp serrated knife and cut the dough log into ¼-inch slices while still cold—this helps prevent squishing and maintains neat spirals. Clean the knife between cuts if dough sticks for smoother slicing.

What if my dough feels too soft or sticky?

If the dough feels too soft to work with, chill it longer in the fridge before rolling. You can also lightly flour your workspace and rolling pin to prevent sticking. Avoid adding extra flour into the dough, as it can change the texture of the cookies.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe has become my go-to for festive baking because it’s as joyful to make as it is to share. I hope you have as much fun creating those colorful spirals and that these cookies bring smiles and warmth to your holiday table. Happy baking, friend!