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

There’s something truly magical about these swirly, colorful Christmas pinwheel cookies—they’re a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. This Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe is not only festive but surprisingly simple, making it a perfect holiday baking project that delivers big smiles.

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

What’s so special about this Christmas pinwheel cookies recipe? Besides being eye-catching, the flavors are perfectly balanced, and the dough’s fun-to-make layers make it a creative experience. I genuinely look forward to baking these every year — they bring that nostalgic holiday vibe right into my kitchen.

Vibrant Festive Look: The red, green, and white swirls create a cheerful holiday centerpiece without extra decorating hassle.
Soft Yet Crisp Texture: These cookies are tender in the middle but have enough crunch around the edges for perfect bite.
Easy to Make in Advance: You can prep the dough ahead and chill it, making baking day relaxing and fun.
Perfect for Gifting: Packed with holiday sprinkles and colors, they’re irresistible presents for friends and family.

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

This recipe sticks to simple pantry staples, but each ingredient plays an important role. The combination of butter and sugars creates a buttery sweet base, while the flour structure keeps the cookie tender but sturdy enough to hold those colorful pinwheel swirls.

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: Provides the perfect structure for a cookie that’s soft but keeps its shape when sliced.
Baking Powder: Adds just enough lift to keep your cookies light, no heavy cakiness here.
Salt: Enhances flavor and balances the sweetness, so every bite feels just right.
Unsalted Butter: Use room temperature for easy mixing and a rich, creamy texture.
Light Brown Sugar: Adds subtle molasses notes and moisture for chewy edges.
Granulated Sugar: Keeps it crisp and helps browning for that golden finish.
Egg: Binds everything together—make sure it’s room temp so it blends smoothly.
Pure Vanilla Extract: Classic warmth that complements the simple dough beautifully.
Red and Green Food Coloring: Gives those iconic Christmas colors. Gel food coloring works best to keep dough consistency normal.
Holiday Sprinkles: Adds crunch and festive sparkle on the outside—totally optional but fun!

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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

One of the joys of this Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to customize. You can switch up colors, try different sprinkles, or even sneak in some spices to make it your own holiday tradition.

Variation: One year, I added a sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg to the dough, which turned these festive treats into a warm winter wonderland bite—so cozy and delicious!
Dietary Modifications: Using dairy-free butter and egg replacer works surprisingly well here, though the texture is slightly different—still festive and fun!
Seasonal Twists: Not limited to Christmas—try pastels for Easter or red-white-blue for Fourth of July celebrations, swapping sprinkles accordingly.

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

Step 1: Mixing the Dry Ingredients

First, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl and set it aside. This ensures even distribution and helps the dough rise nicely without surprises.

Step 2: Creaming Butter and Sugars

Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat the softened butter with brown and granulated sugars until smooth and fluffy—about 2 minutes. It’s important the butter isn’t cold, or you’ll miss out on that creamy texture. Once combined, add in the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until it looks silky.

Step 3: Bringing It All Together

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, stirring just until no flour streaks remain. This keeps the dough tender and prevents overworking the gluten, which can make cookies tough.

Step 4: Coloring and Rolling Out

Divide the dough into three equal parts and add red food coloring to one, green to another, and leave the last plain. Knead each until color is even—don’t worry if your hands get messy, it’s part of the fun! Roll each into rectangles about 12×8 inches on floured parchment or surface.

Step 5: Creating the Pinwheel

Layer the green dough on the bottom, then the white, then red on top. Starting from the long edge, roll it tightly into a log. Watch as it stretches slightly—it’s normal! Roll the log in your holiday sprinkles, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and chill it in the fridge for at least 3 hours. This step is key to clean slices and firm swirls.

Step 6: Baking the Cookies

Preheat your oven to 350°F (or 160°C fan oven). Slice the chilled dough into ¼-inch slices and place them cut-side down on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes until just puffed and edges get lightly golden. I always rotate trays halfway through for even baking.

Step 7: Cooling and Enjoying

Let the cookies cool on the sheet about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. This helps them set perfectly without breaking. I usually sneak a warm one with a cup of cocoa—trust me, you’ll want to do the same!

Top Tip

After baking these Christmas pinwheel cookies a dozen times, I’ve picked up a few tricks you’ll love—making the experience smooth and the cookies look stunning.

Keep Dough Well-Chilled: Chilling the dough log is a lifesaver for neat, firm swirls that slice cleanly without smudging colors.
Use Gel Food Coloring: This keeps dough moisture balanced and prevents stickiness or weird dough texture.
Roll Tightly but Gently: A tight roll gives the iconic swirl shape, but don’t press so hard that you squish the layers too thin.
Rotate Baking Sheets: Oven hot spots can burn one side—flipping trays halfway ensures cookies are perfectly golden all around.

How to Serve Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe

Christmas Pinwheel Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually keep garnishes simple—a light dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of melted white chocolate makes these cookies extra festive without stealing the show from those bold swirls. Sometimes, I add crushed candy canes for a peppermint twist.

Side Dishes

Pair these cookies with a warm peppermint mocha or classic eggnog for a cozy holiday vibe. They also sit beautifully alongside a cheese platter for holiday parties—sweet and savory makes a great combo!

Creative Ways to Present

I love wrapping these pinwheel cookies in clear cellophane tied with ribbons for gifting. For parties, arranging them on a tiered dessert stand or nestled around evergreen sprigs adds to the festive charm that guests comment on every year.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store baked cookies in an airtight container layered with parchment paper. They stay fresh at room temperature for up to a week—though they rarely last that long in my house!

Freezing

You can freeze the cookie dough logs wrapped tightly in plastic wrap before baking. Just thaw overnight in the fridge before slicing and baking. This makes holiday prep so much easier when you want fresh cookies in minutes.

Reheating

To refresh leftover cookies, pop them in a preheated 300°F oven for 3-5 minutes. This helps bring back a bit of that fresh-baked crispness without drying them out.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use natural food coloring instead of synthetic ones?

Yes! Natural food colorings like beet powder for red or spinach powder for green work, but colors tend to be less vibrant and may affect dough color subtly. It’s best to test a small batch first.

How do I prevent the colors from bleeding into each other?

The key is chilling the dough log thoroughly before slicing. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or even overnight so the dough firms up and colors stay crisp when cut.

Can I make these cookies gluten-free?

You can substitute a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, but results may vary depending on the brand. I recommend adding a binding agent like xanthan gum if your blend doesn’t include it to maintain structure.

How long do these cookies keep fresh?

When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies stay fresh for about 5-7 days. For longer storage, freezing is your friend to keep them tasting just-baked.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe holds a special place in my holiday baking lineup—not just for the festive colors but because it brings loved ones together in the kitchen. It’s so satisfying to see the smiles when those beautiful swirls hit the plate. I hope you’ll find baking and sharing these as joyful as I do—happy holidays and happy baking!