Description
These Halloween Pinwheel Cookies are festive, colorful treats perfect for the spooky season. Featuring vibrant swirls of green and purple dough, they combine soft, buttery flavor with a delightful visual twist. Easy to prepare and fun to eat, these cookies make a charming addition to any Halloween party or holiday bake sale.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Gel food coloring (green and purple, recommended)
Instructions
- Make the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract until evenly incorporated.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to ensure even distribution of the leavening agent and salt.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until a cohesive dough forms. Be careful not to overmix to keep the cookies tender.
- Divide and Color the Dough: Split the dough evenly into two separate portions. Add green gel food coloring to one portion and purple gel food coloring to the other. Knead each portion gently until the color is fully and evenly blended throughout the dough.
- Chill the Dough: Wrap each colored dough ball tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up, making it easier to handle and shape.
- Roll the Dough: On a clean, lightly floured surface, roll out the purple dough into a rectangular shape. Carefully layer the green dough on top of the purple dough. Lightly press and roll them together to adhere the layers.
- Form the Log: Trim the edges to create neat rectangles, then roll the layered dough into a tight log shape. Wrap the log in plastic wrap and refrigerate for another hour to firm up and maintain shape during baking.
- Slice the Cookies: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the dough log from the fridge and slice it into 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick slices. Place the slices evenly spaced on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 13-15 minutes, or until they are set but not browned. Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- You can substitute different gel food coloring colors for different festive themes.
- Make sure the butter is softened but not melted for best creaming results.
- Refrigeration is key to ensure the dough firms up for easy rolling and shaping.
- Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- For extra flavor, you can add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the dry ingredients.
