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

There’s something magical about watching those bright red, green, and snowy white swirls come to life in the oven. This Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe is not only festive but a joy to make — it’s like a holiday party wrapped into a cookie. You’ll love how these colorful treats bring a pop of cheer to your kitchen and your cookie jar!

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

I’ve made Christmas Pinwheel Cookies more times than I can count, and each batch still feels special — maybe because of the vibrant colors, the buttery flavor, or simply the fun of rolling and slicing the dough. This recipe is the kind of baking that turns your kitchen into a holiday workshop with smiles to spare.

Festive and Fun: The swirled colors make these cookies instantly charming and perfect for gifting or party platters.
Simple Ingredients: You probably have everything on hand, which means it’s easy to whip up even at the last minute.
Perfect Texture: They're crisp on the edges, tender in the middle—just the right cookie bite!
Customizable: You can play around with colors, sprinkles, or even subtle flavor tweaks to make this your own seasonal superstar.

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 Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe relies on simple pantry staples that combine to create a soft, buttery dough that’s easy to shape and holds those festive colors beautifully. Choosing good-quality butter and using room temperature ingredients will really make your cookies shine.

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: Gives structure to the dough without making it tough or crumbly.
Baking powder: Just a touch to keep the cookie tender and slightly puffed.
Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances the buttery flavor.
Unsalted butter: Room temperature butter creams smoothly with the sugar and gives a rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Light brown sugar: Adds moisture, a hint of caramel, and depth of flavor.
Granulated sugar: Brings classic sweetness and helps with the cookie’s crisp edges.
Large egg: Helps bind everything together and adds tenderness.
Pure vanilla extract: Elevates the flavor with warm, sweet notes.
Red and green food coloring: The fun part — don’t be shy here, vibrant colors are what make these cookies pop.
Holiday sprinkles: Adds an extra festive sparkle and slight crunch on the outside.

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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 love tweaking this Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe a bit each year. Sometimes I swap sprinkles for crushed peppermint candy or add a pinch of cinnamon to the dough—it’s fun to mix things up and still end up with that iconic swirl festive look.

Variation: One year, I experimented with half almond extract instead of vanilla — it was subtle but gave the cookies a lovely nutty undertone that my family adored.
Dietary tweak: If you want to go gluten-free, try a blend of almond and oat flours, but keep the dough chilled well before rolling to maintain shape.
Color swap: Feel free to swap traditional red and green for blue and silver if you prefer a winter wonderland theme.
Sprinkle mix: Use your favorite colorful or themed sprinkles to match your holiday decor—that’s part of the fun!

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

Step 1: Mix Dry Ingredients and Cream Butter

Start by combining your flour, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, cream the softened butter with the brown and granulated sugars until it’s smooth and fluffy—usually about two minutes. This step ensures your cookies have that light but rich texture we all love.

Step 2: Combine Wet & Dry Ingredients

Next, mix in the egg and vanilla to the butter-sugar mixture until fully combined. Then slowly add the flour mixture, stirring gently until there are no streaks left. Avoid overmixing here — you want to keep the dough tender.

Step 3: Divide and Color Your Dough

Divide your dough into three equal portions. Add red food coloring to one portion, green to another, and leave the last one white. Knead each section until the color is even. This is where the fun really starts—the colors should be bright and inviting.

Step 4: Roll, Layer, and Form the Pinwheel

Roll each colored dough into a roughly 12 by 8 inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface. Layer them carefully with green on the bottom, then white in the middle, and red on top. Starting from the long edge, roll the dough into a tight log. Roll this log in holiday sprinkles and wrap in plastic wrap.

Step 5: Chill and Slice

Pop the wrapped log into the fridge for at least 3 hours. This chilling step is key—it helps the dough firm up so you get those crisp, defined pinwheels when you slice. When you’re ready, slice into ¼ inch rounds and place them on parchment-lined baking sheets.

Step 6: Bake and Cool

Bake your cookies at 350°F (180°C) for about 8-10 minutes, rotating trays halfway through for even baking. You’re looking for just a slight puff and a hint of golden edges. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack — patience here keeps them from breaking.

Top Tip

I’ve learned that the magic behind perfect Christmas Pinwheel Cookies is all in the chill time and gentle handling. Here are a few tips that helped me avoid common pitfalls.

Chill Thoroughly: Don’t be tempted to skip the 3-hour chilling—it makes slicing clean, pretty pinwheels so much easier.
Even Rolling: Roll all dough layers to roughly the same thickness so your pinwheels bake evenly and look balanced.
Slice with a Sharp Knife: Use a sharp, serrated knife to slice—this prevents squishing and preserves your neat spirals.
Rotate Baking Sheets: Turning the trays halfway through baking ensures every cookie browns evenly without burning edges.

How to Serve Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe

Christmas Pinwheel Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually skip extra garnishes because the cookies themselves are so festive, but I like to place them on a pretty holiday plate with a dusting of powdered sugar nearby for a snowy effect. Sometimes a sprinkle of edible glitter adds that extra sparkle if I’m feeling fancy.

Side Dishes

These pinwheel cookies pair beautifully with a warm cup of spiced chai, hot cocoa, or fresh coffee — perfect for a cozy holiday gathering or quiet winter afternoon.

Creative Ways to Present

I love arranging them in rows stacked by colors or even assembling a cookie wreath on a cake platter by overlapping pinwheels in a circle. For gift-giving, wrapping a bundle in cellophane tied with ribbon makes such a sweet, edible present.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once cooled completely, I store these Christmas Pinwheel Cookies in an airtight container layered with parchment paper to keep them from sticking. They stay fresh and crisp for up to a week, which is usually enough time to enjoy every last one!

Freezing

The dough log freezes wonderfully—wrap it tightly in plastic and foil, and it can chill in the freezer for up to 2 months. When ready, thaw overnight in the fridge, slice, and bake fresh. I’ve found this makes holiday baking less stressful.

Reheating

If you want warm cookies, pop them in a 300°F oven for about 4-5 minutes. Avoid microwaving, as that can make them soft or soggy. Warmed this way, they taste just like fresh from the oven.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use gel food coloring instead of liquid?

Absolutely! Gel food coloring actually works brilliantly because it won’t alter the dough consistency as much as liquid colors might. Just add a little at a time until you reach the shade you want.

What if my dough tears when I roll it?

That can happen if the dough is too warm or dry. Try chilling it longer to firm it up, and dust your surface lightly with flour to avoid sticking. Also, roll gently and evenly to keep the dough pliable.

How many cookies does this recipe make?

You can expect about 3 to 4 dozen cookies depending on how thinly you slice your dough log and how tightly you roll it. Usually, a quarter-inch slice works perfectly.

Can I make these cookies vegan?

You can try substituting vegan butter and using a flax or chia egg substitute, but because this recipe relies on the egg for structure and moisture, the texture might be slightly different. Still worth experimenting if you want a vegan twist!

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe has become a holiday tradition in my kitchen — the colors, the buttery texture, the simple joy of rolling up the dough, all wrapped up in a delicious bite. I can’t recommend it enough if you want to add some fun and flair to your cookie plate this season. Trust me, once you try these, they’ll be your go-to festive cookie too.