Pinwheel Cookies
Baking pink pinwheel cookies is a sweet swirl of fun and creativity, turning simple ingredients into whimsical treats that add a dash of delight to any day.
Equipment
- 1 Mixing bowl
Ingredients
Main ingredients
- ½ cup butter brought to room temperature
- ½ cup butter-flavored shortening
- 1 cup powdered sugar also called confectioners’ sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Pink food coloring
- Pink sprinkles for topping
Instructions
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) so it’s ready when you finish your dough work.
- In a big bowl, cream together the softened butter and butter-flavored shortening until smooth. It’s best if you use a mixer but handwork is fine too.
- Add the powdered sugar bit by bit mixing it in well so no lumps sneak through.
- Beat in the egg along with the vanilla extract until everything’s well-combined and creamy.
- Slowly toss in the flour and salt. Mix until you get a dough formation that’s soft but not sticky.
- Split that dough in half. Tint one half with your pink food coloring then roll each half flat between parchment paper until about ¼ inch thick.
- Layer the pink dough over the plain dough and roll it tightly into a log. Wrap it good with plastic and chill it in the fridge for at least 1 hour before slicing thin rounds.
- Sprinkle pink sprinkles on each slice and bake 10-12 minutes till edges are just lightly golden. Let cool a bit on the pan then move to a rack.
Notes
Ensuring the butter is at room temperature helps it to blend more smoothly with the shortening and sugar. Use a good quality butter-flavored shortening for the best results, as it gives the cookies a rich, buttery flavor. When adding the food coloring, start with a small amount and add more as needed to achieve the desired color. Rolling the dough tightly is key for achieving the signature pinwheel shape. Chilling the dough helps to prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking. These cookies are quite sweet on their own, but if you wish, you can also ice them with a simple glaze made from powdered sugar, milk, and a bit of vanilla extract.