Old Fashioned Pink Pinwheel Cookies are darling cookies with a swirl of pink & coated in sprinkles! Make pinwheel cookies for any party or special occasion!
These sprinkle cookies are a favorite of children, who love the colorful and playful appearance and light and buttery, slightly sweet taste. This pinwheel cookie recipe is simple to make, but the results are impressive!
Pinwheel Cookies- A Fun & Delicious Treat
Pinwheel cookies are not only visually appealing, but they also taste amazing. The combination of sweet, buttery dough and a crunchy sprinkles makes these cookies a fun and delicious treat. These cookies are perfect for any occasion, from a casual afternoon snack to a fancy dessert for a dinner party. They are also a great treat to make with kids, as they can help with the rolling and cutting of the dough.
These pink pinwheel cookies are a fun and delectable treat that everyone will enjoy. With their beautiful pink and white swirls and sprinkle coating, they are sure to be a hit with anyone who tries them!
Variations of this Pinwheel Cookie Recipe
- Chocolate and Vanilla Pinwheel Cookies: For a twist on the classic recipe, you can substitute the pink food coloring with cocoa powder to make chocolate dough. Then, alternate layers of chocolate and vanilla dough to create a beautiful pinwheel effect.
- Almond Pinwheel Cookies: For a nutty flavor, you can add some almond extract and chopped almonds to the dough. This will give the cookies a crunchy texture and a delicious almond flavor.
- Rainbow Pinwheel Cookies: For a colorful twist, you can divide the dough into several portions and add different food colorings to each one. Then, roll the dough into a log and slice it to create rainbow pinwheel cookies.
Ingredients For Pink Pinwheel Cookies
Flour: You will need 2 ¼ cups of all-purpose flour for the structural base of this cookie dough.
Baking powder: Help the cookies rise as they bake by adding 1 tsp of baking powder.
Salt: Balance all the incredible flavors by using ½ tsp of salt in this recipe.
Butter: Add ¾ cup of butter, softened, for rich tasting cookies that shine.
Brown sugar: Give these cookies a wonderful depth of flavor by using ½ cup of light brown sugar.
Sugar: Make the cookies soft and chewy with ¼ cup of granulated sugar.
Egg: Bind the ingredients together by adding 1 large egg to the dough.
Vanilla extract: Enhance the amazing flavors in this dough by using 1 tsp of vanilla extract.
Food coloring: Adding a few drops of pink gel food coloring will make these cookies fun & festive.
Sprinkles: These cookies are not complete without the addition of pastel-colored sprinkles.
Step by step on how to make Pink Pinwheel Cookies
Dough
In a medium size bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt until combined. Then set it aside.
Next in a separate large mixing bowl, cream the butter and both sugars using an electric handheld mixer or a stand mixer. Beat the mixture until smooth, then add in the egg and vanilla extract, mix again well.
After that, fold in the dry ingredients to the bowl of wet ones, mixing until smooth. A thick and smooth dough will form, proceed to separate the dough into two equal parts.
Then add gel food coloring (starting with 3-4 inches of gel) to one part of the dough. Blend until a solid light to medium pink color forms.
Layer & shape dough
Continue to roll each piece of dough out flat using a rolling pin over a floured surface to about ¼ inch thick.
Next, layer each piece of dough on top of one another. Using a pizza cutter, cut out a 9×13” rectangle, making both layers equal in size. Set aside excess dough, separating colors. With the excess dough, repeat the rolling process to use all the dough.
Very carefully begin at one long side of the rectangle and roll tightly, moving slowly to keep the log straight.
Now lay a sheet of plastic wrap down and pour the sprinkles on it. Then place the rolled dough onto the sprinkles, evenly coating the outside.
Chill
Once coated with sprinkles, wrap the log of dough tightly in plastic wrap. Place it in the refrigerator and allow it to chill for 2 hours.
Bake
After 1 ½ hours chill time, prepare a baking sheet by lining with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 350°F.
Once chill time is complete, unwrap the log of dough. Then use a sharp knife to cut ½ inch cookies from the log and place them onto the prepared baking sheet.
Bake the cookies for 12-13 minutes or until the cookies are just set. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 1 minute before transferring to a wire cooling rack.
These cookies are best served warm or at room temperature, enjoy!
Storage and Shelf Life for Pinwheel Cookies
These sprinkle cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, they can be frozen for up to 3 months. It is recommended to separate the layers of cookies with parchment paper to prevent them from sticking together.
Tips for ensuring pinwheel cookies maintain their shape
To ensure that pinwheel cookies maintain their shape while baking, it is important to chill the dough before slicing and baking. This helps the dough to firm up and hold its shape. Additionally, it is important to handle the dough gently and not overwork it, as this can cause the colors to blend together and the dough to lose its shape.
What is the best way to soften butter?
The best way to soften butter is to leave it at room temperature for 30-60 minutes, depending on the temperature of your kitchen. Alternatively, you can microwave the butter for 5-10 seconds at a time, checking and stirring in between, until it is soft but not melted.
How can I add pink to my cookies without altering the taste?
To add a pink hue to pinwheel cookies without altering the taste, you can use a small amount of food coloring. Gel food coloring is recommended, as it is more concentrated and will not affect the consistency of the dough. Add the food coloring gradually, mixing well after each addition, until the desired shade is achieved.
Tips for making sliced sugar cookies
- Be sure the dough is completely chilled before slicing. This will ensure the dough is easier to slice, prevents the cookies from overspreading when baked, and improves the overall flavor and texture.
- Use gel food coloring rather than liquid, as it produces brighter and more vibrant colors.
- After the dough is removed from the fridge, it quickly starts warming back up and can become harder to work with. So work quickly! To ensure the cookies stay round as you cut them, you can either cut them as is and try to re-round them using your fingers, or re-roll the dough a bit after each couple of slices.
For more incredible sugar cookie recipes, try these:
- Chocolate Sugar Cookies
- Mini Sugar Cookie Bites
- Blueberry Sugar Cookies
- Popsicle Sugar Cookies
- Sugar Cookie Bars
- Coconut Sugar Cookies
- Sour Cream Sugar Cookies
- Butter Sugar Cookies
- Frosted Strawberry Cookies
- Best Fruit Pizza Cookies
- Fall Cut Out Sugar Cookies
- Lucky Charms Sugar Cookies
- Buttermilk Sugar Cookies
- Watermelon Sugar Cookies
- Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
- Crispy Sugar Cookies
- Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars
Old Fashioned Pink Pinwheel Cookies are not only delicious, but they are also visually stunning with their pink and white swirls. These pinwheel cookies have a buttery taste with a subtle sweetness that is absolutely delectable!
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