Irresistible Peppermint Pinwheel Cookies: A Festive Swirled Delight for the Holidays

Prepare to enchant your taste buds and impress your guests with these exquisite melt-in-your-mouth peppermint pinwheel cookies. These aren’t just any sugar cookies; they are a celebration of flavor and visual artistry, featuring a captivating red and white swirl that’s as delightful to behold as it is to eat. Each bite delivers a burst of sweet minty freshness, making them an absolute must-have for the Christmas season and all your holiday festivities.

Why These Peppermint Pinwheel Cookies Are Your New Holiday Favorite

Our soft-baked peppermint sugar cookies, adorned with their signature festive red swirl, are more than just a treat; they are a holiday tradition waiting to happen. Just like beloved peppermint meltaway cookies, indulgent peppermint bark cookies, or classic homemade peppermint patties, these pinwheels bring a unique charm to any holiday table. They’re visually stunning, incredibly flavorful, and surprisingly simple to master.

Imagine whipping up a batch for your family to enjoy, bringing them to a lively Christmas cookie exchange, or gifting them in beautifully packaged baked goods boxes. These cookies are perfect for any occasion where a touch of homemade magic is appreciated. You’ll be delighted by how straightforward the process is, leading to truly professional-looking results that will have everyone asking for your secret!

If you’re looking for even more inspiration for your holiday baking, be sure to explore our extensive list of 50+ of the best Christmas cookie exchange recipes. There’s a festive treat for every taste!

Are Pinwheel Cookies Difficult to Make? Debunking the Myth

Despite their intricate and impressive appearance, these Christmas peppermint pinwheel cookies are actually quite simple to create. Don’t let the beautiful swirl intimidate you! The process involves basic cookie-making steps with a clever technique for achieving the signature design. It’s a fun and rewarding baking project that even novice bakers can confidently tackle.

The magic happens by simply mixing up a single batch of dough, dividing it, coloring one portion, and then layering and rolling. The detailed directions provided in our recipe card below will guide you through each step, ensuring you achieve that perfect, eye-catching swirl every time. It’s a fantastic way to elevate your baking without added complexity.

If you find yourself loving the refreshing taste of these peppermint swirl cookies, you might also enjoy exploring some of our other mint-infused dessert recipes. Consider trying our delightful peppermint patty cookies, the ever-popular Christmas peppermint bark, our surprisingly easy 2-ingredient Thin Mints, or the rich and creamy Andes mint fudge. Each offers a unique way to enjoy that beloved minty flavor.

Essential Ingredients for Your Peppermint Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Crafting these delectable pinwheel cookies requires a few standard pantry staples, along with the star ingredient for that festive minty kick. Here’s what you’ll need to gather:

Unsalted butter: Essential for a tender, rich cookie base. Ensure it’s at room temperature for proper creaming.
Granulated sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Egg: Acts as a binder and contributes to the cookie’s structure and richness. Room temperature eggs emulsify better.
Vanilla extract: A foundational flavor enhancer that complements the peppermint beautifully.
Peppermint extract: The key to that signature minty taste. Use good quality extract for the best flavor.
All-purpose flour: The structural backbone of your cookies. Measured correctly, it ensures the right consistency.
Baking powder: A leavening agent that gives the cookies a soft, slightly puffy texture.
Cream of tartar: Often used in conjunction with baking soda (though here with baking powder) to create a tender crumb and prevent crystallization, ensuring a softer cookie.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
Red food coloring: For that iconic festive red swirl. Gel food coloring provides more vibrant color without adding much liquid.

While this recipe specifically highlights peppermint for a classic holiday feel, don’t hesitate to get creative! You can easily customize the flavor profile by swapping out the peppermint extract. Consider almond, orange, lemon, or even a hint of rum extract to give these cookies a unique and fun layer of flavor. The possibilities are endless!

Your Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Peppermint Pinwheel Cookies

Creating these beautiful swirled cookies is a process that’s both enjoyable and rewarding. Follow these detailed steps to achieve perfect peppermint pinwheel cookies every time:

Mix the Batter: Begin by preparing a basic, yet incredibly delicious, cookie dough. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and pale in color. This usually takes about 2 minutes with an electric mixer. Next, beat in the room temperature egg, vanilla extract, and the star ingredient, peppermint extract, ensuring everything is well combined and smooth.
Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a separate, small bowl, whisk together your all-purpose flour, baking powder, cream of tartar, and salt. This ensures these dry ingredients are evenly distributed before adding them to your wet mixture.
Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, beating on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies. The dough should be soft but manageable.
Divide and Color Dough: Once your dough is ready, divide it precisely in half. Leave one half plain, maintaining its natural color. To the other half, add your red food coloring. Mix it in thoroughly until you achieve a vibrant, uniform red hue. Gel food coloring often works best for intense colors without altering dough consistency too much.
Roll Out Dough: Lightly flour a clean work surface. Take one portion of the dough (either the plain or colored) and roll it out into an even rectangle, aiming for approximately 1/4-inch thickness. Repeat this process with the second portion of dough. The goal is to have two rectangles of roughly the same size.
Layer and Roll for the Swirl: Carefully place one rectangle of dough on top of the other. For the classic red and white pinwheel, layer the red dough neatly on top of the uncolored dough, aligning the edges as best you can. Starting from one of the longer sides, tightly roll up the layered dough into a log form. This tight roll is crucial for a well-defined swirl.
Chill the Dough: Once rolled, wrap the dough log tightly in plastic wrap. This step is essential! Refrigerate the dough for at least one hour, or ideally, overnight. Chilling helps the dough firm up, making it much easier to slice and preventing the cookies from spreading too much during baking, thus preserving that beautiful pinwheel shape.
Slice and Bake: When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Remove the chilled dough log from the fridge and unwrap it. Using a sharp knife, slice the dough into 1/4-inch thick circles. Discard any uneven end pieces to ensure perfectly round pinwheels.
Bake and Cool: Place the sliced cookies onto your prepared cookie sheets, leaving a little space between each. Bake for 8-12 minutes, or until the edges are just slightly golden. Keep a close eye on them to prevent over-browning, which can make them dry. Once baked, transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool completely.
Serve and Enjoy: Once cooled, your stunning peppermint pinwheel cookies are ready to be served and enjoyed!

Creative Variations & Customizations for Your Pinwheel Cookies

While the classic red and white peppermint pinwheel is undeniably festive, these cookies offer a fantastic canvas for your creativity. Here are some exciting variations to try:

Color Play: Don’t limit yourself to red! Use a different food coloring to match other holiday themes or events. For an extra festive Christmas look, consider using both red and green food coloring, layering three strips of dough (white, green, red) for a vibrant, multi-colored swirl.
Flavor Swaps: As mentioned, the peppermint extract can be easily substituted. Explore other delightful extracts like orange extract for a citrusy twist, rich rum extract for a sophisticated note, or classic almond extract for a nutty undertone. Lemon, coconut, or even a hint of espresso extract could also be delicious.
Sweet Finishes: For added texture and sparkle, dust the tops of your cookies with granulated sugar, sanding sugar, or even edible glitter before baking.
Elegant Glaze: Drizzle a simple powdered sugar glaze over the cooled cookies for an extra layer of sweetness and a touch of elegance. A basic glaze can be made with powdered sugar and a touch of milk or water, optionally flavored with a drop of extract.
Chocolate Drizzle: Dip half of each cooled cookie in melted white or dark chocolate, then sprinkle with crushed candy canes or holiday sprinkles for an even more decadent treat.

Storing Your Baked Peppermint Pinwheel Cookies

These festive cookies are undoubtedly at their peak when enjoyed freshly baked, still slightly warm from the oven. However, they also store wonderfully, allowing you to prepare them in advance for holiday gatherings or to simply savor them over several days.

Room Temperature Storage: Once completely cooled, store your peppermint pinwheel cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will remain fresh and delicious for up to 5 days, maintaining their soft texture and vibrant flavor.
Refrigeration: For extended freshness, you can store the cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. When ready to enjoy, simply remove them from the fridge and allow them to come back to room temperature for the best taste and texture.
Freezing Baked Cookies: For long-term storage, baked and completely cooled cookies can be frozen. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to flash freeze for about 30 minutes, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container, separating layers with parchment paper. They will keep well for up to 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

Preparing Ahead: Freezing Dough for Slice-and-Bake Cookies

One of the fantastic features of this recipe is its adaptability for make-ahead convenience. You can prepare your dough log ahead of time and freeze it, ensuring you have quick and easy slice-and-bake cookies ready to go whenever a craving strikes or unexpected guests arrive!

To freeze the dough log:

After rolling the layered dough into a log, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, ensuring no air pockets remain.
For an extra layer of protection against freezer burn, wrap the plastic-wrapped log tightly in aluminum foil.
Label the foil with the date and place it in the freezer. The dough can be frozen for up to 2-3 months.
When you’re ready to bake, simply remove the dough log from the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for 15-30 minutes, or until it’s just soft enough to slice with a sharp knife. Then, proceed with slicing and baking as directed in the recipe.

This method is a lifesaver during the busy holiday season, allowing you to enjoy warm, freshly baked cookies with minimal effort!

If you’ve enjoyed this recipe, we highly recommend trying some of our other delightful cookie creations: our cheerful Christmas sprinkle sugar cookies, rustic cornflake cookies, charming Christmas pudding cookies with sprinkles, and the uniquely flavored anise cookies. Happy baking!

Recipe

Recipe

Average Rating: 4.58 from 19 votes

Peppermint Pinwheel Cookies

Author: Jaclyn

Prep:
20 mins

Cook:
10 mins

Chill Time:
1 hr

Total:
1 hr 30 mins

Melt-in-your-mouth peppermint pinwheel cookies are swirled red and white cookies that are loaded with sweet minty flavor.

Servings:
24

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Ingredients

3/4 cup unsalted butter room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract optional
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour plus more for rolling
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon salt
red food coloring

Instructions

In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract until combined.
In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cream of tartar, and salt.
Beat the flour mixture into the butter mixture until just combined.
Divide dough in half and dye half red with the food dye.
On a clean, floured surface, roll each dough out into a rectangle approximately 1/4” thick, and then layer the red dough on top of the uncolored dough.
Roll the doughs up tightly in a log form and then wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour (or overnight).
Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C) and line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
Remove the dough from the fridge and cut the cookies in 1/4” thick circles. (Discard the uneven ends.)
Place the cut cookies on the prepared cookie sheets and bake for 8-12 minutes, until just slightly golden. Transfer to wire racks to cool.

Notes

Not a fan of peppermint? You can omit the peppermint extract or swap it out for orange, rum, or almond extract.

Store cookies at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days or in the fridge for up to 1 week.

For easy slice and bake cookies prepare your dough ahead of time then freeze the dough log by wrapping it in plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g

|

Calories: 122kcal

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Remember to save this fantastic recipe for your next baking adventure. These peppermint swirl sugar cookies are perfect for making any occasion extra special, especially during the festive holiday season. Pin it now so you can easily find it whenever you’re ready to bake a batch of these beautiful and delicious treats!