Springtime Pinwheel Cookies + Video

Springtime pinwheel cookies are soft, chewy sugar cookies with a colorful swirl center. Make this simple recipe for a sweet Easter treat!

Our Christmas pinwheel cookies have been a favorite for years. After sharing them on Facebook in February, we realized we needed another version for this time of the year.

We are super excited to share this easy spring cookie recipe for you to make and enjoy for Easter.

They also make an adorable sweet treat for a baby shower or graduation party. You could even get the kids involved in making a batch of pinwheel cookies for Mom or Grandma for Mother's Day!

Pinwheel Cookies

Pinwheel cookies are made by rolling 2 colors of cookie dough together. To make two colors of dough, separate it into two equal portions and add food coloring to one half.

Then, roll each dough ball out into a rectangle and lay one on top of the other.

After the pieces are laid out, roll the dough up into a log shape. Decorate it with nonpareil sprinkles, jimmies, or colored sugar, if desired. Then, simply slice and bake - it couldn't be any simpler!

Be sure to watch our video for helpful cookie baking tips!

Ingredient notes and substitutions

A big bonus is that you don’t need any expensive ingredients to make this easy cookie recipe. Just a simple batch of sugar cookie dough to get started!

• sugar cookie dough - Use our easy recipe, or make your favorite. To make things really simple, even store-bought refrigerated cookie dough will work.
  
• pastel nonpareils - Round sugar sprinkles add the perfect touch to the spring cookies. We used pastel colors that we found at Michael's, however you can use any color.
  
  Or, as we just mentioned, you can substitute the nonpareils with colored sugar, jimmies, or other types of sprinkles if you prefer.
  
• Pink gel coloring - gel coloring is much easier to work with, and you don't need as much as you do with liquid food coloring.
  
  Plus, liquids can change the consistency of the dough. But, if you don't have gel coloring, you can substitute regular liquid food coloring to make your pinwheel cookie dough.

What you’ll need to make pinwheel cookies

• Baking sheet- If you have a traditional cookie sheet, definitely use it. Because it's completely flat, heat is able to circulate all around the pan, which helps with even baking. Rimmed sheet pans are fine, too.
• Rolling pin - I bought a rolling pin with removable rings for my daughter to learn how to roll out dough. I like the way it makes rolling so effortless. Now, I use it more than she does!

Storage Instructions Store your baked cookies in an airtight container, at room temperature, for up to 5 days. Or, for longer storage (up to 6 months!) you can freeze the spring cookies, baked OR unbaked.

Freezing Unbaked Pinwheel Cookies

Freezing unbaked cookie dough is a fantastic way to bake ahead for the busy holiday season! We do it all year long with peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies.

By freezing the cookie dough rather than the baked cookies, you can bake off as many or as few as you need at a time.

Freezing Baked Cookies

Place baked cookies in a zip-top freezer bag, being sure to press out the air as you seal it. The baked pinwheel cookies keep well in the freezer for about 6 months.

Swirly Springtime Cookies FAQ

• How do you roll pinwheel cookies?

Rolling the dough up perfectly can be a little tricky, but keep in mind that it really doesn't have to be absolutely perfect. Just take your time.

TIP: After you place one sheet of dough on top of the other, use your fingers to gently press the edges together. That helps keep the pieces together as you roll them up.

• Can I add flavoring to the sugar cookie dough? 

Absolutely! You could use almond or lemon extract to fit the theme of the spring cookies, or if you want to make a batch of pinwheel cookies for St. Patrick's Day, use mint extract and green gel coloring!

Enjoy!

With love from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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MORE SPRING DESSERT RECIPES

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Easy lemon Bars


Dump Cake with Peach

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Author: Donna Elick

Spring Pinwheel Cookies

These pinwheel cookies are soft, chewy, and incredibly easy to make. Enjoy slice and bake treats with a gorgeous swirl patter in the center!

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 10 MinTotal time: 20 Min

Ingredients

• Best Ever Sugar Cookie Dough (or your favorite)
• pink food coloring (gel is best)
• nonpareil sprinkles (they are the little balls)

Instructions

1. Separate dough into 2 halves. Add pink food coloring to one half. Add 1/2 of your cookie dough to a stand mixer and add pink food coloring until your mixture reaches your desired color. You can also knead food coloring into dough until completely combined if you do not have a stand mixer. I recommend wearing gloves for this.
2. Place the pink cookie dough on parchment paper. Roll the pink cookie dough to about 1/4 inch thick rectangle. Set aside.
3. Place plain cookie dough on parchment paper (or wax paper). Roll the plain cookie dough out to about 1/4 inch thick rectangle. Stack cookie dough sheets on top of one another with the parchment on the outside.
4. Remove the top parchment and roll over the dough gently with a rolling pin (to help the 2 doughs become one). Begin on one end and roll the cookie dough into a log (removing the remaining paper as you go). If the dough is too soft to work with, refrigerate for 30 minutes and then try again.
5. Once the dough is formed into a log, use your hands to shape the log thinner at the top and rounded at the bottom, so when it is sliced it will look like an egg shape. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
6. Meanwhile: pour sprinkles into a cookie sheet. Unwrap dough and roll into sprinkles. Rewrap and refrigerate 1 hour to overnight.
7. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
8. Slice cookies and place on cookie sheet covered with parchment paper or with a silpat mat about 1 inch apart. Bake according to your sugar cookie directions or until the cookies feel set.
9. Allow to cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

DONNA

1. I highly recommend using our Best Ever Sugar Cookie Dough recipe here

https://www.theslowroasteditalian.com/2020/04/easter-pinwheel-cookies.html

Recipe developed by Donna Elick for The Slow Roasted Italian
Copyright ©2020 The Slow Roasted Italian – All rights reserved.

Originally published April 2020, updated and republished February 2022

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