Valentine’s Day Pinwheel Cookie
A Festive and Fun Treat for Your Loved Ones
Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to get creative in the kitchen, and these Valentine’s Day Swirl Cookies are the ideal treat to share with your loved ones. These soft and chewy cookies feature a colorful swirl of red and pink dough, making them as beautiful as they are delicious. With a combination of sugar, butter, and a hint of vanilla, these cookies are both sweet and fun to make!
What You Will Love About These Cookies:
- Visually Stunning: The beautiful red and pink swirls make these cookies perfect for Valentine’s Day. They’ll look amazing on any dessert table or as a sweet gift.
- Soft and Chewy: The dough results in a soft, chewy cookie that melts in your mouth with each bite.
- Simple Ingredients: These cookies are easy to make with simple pantry staples, but they look and taste impressive.
- Fun to Make: The swirling process is fun and allows for creativity, making it a great activity for kids or anyone who enjoys a little kitchen creativity.
- Perfect for Gifting: Package these cookies in cute boxes or bags for a thoughtful, homemade Valentine’s Day gift.
Ingredients You Will Need:
- All-Purpose Flour: The base of the cookie dough that provides structure.
- Unsalted Butter (softened): Adds richness and a smooth texture to the dough.
- Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the dough for a simple and classic cookie flavor.
- Egg: Binds the ingredients together and contributes to the cookie’s soft texture.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds a warm, rich flavor that complements the sweetness of the cookies.
- Baking Powder: Helps the cookies rise and become soft and fluffy.
- Red Food Coloring: Creates the vibrant red swirl to give the cookies a festive Valentine’s Day look.
- Pink Food Coloring: Adds a second color to the swirl for a beautiful contrast.
- Valentine's Day Sprinkles
How I Made These Valentine's Day Pinwheel Cookies:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms.
- Divide the dough in half and place each portion in separate bowls. In one bowl, add a few drops of red food coloring and mix until you achieve the desired color. In the other bowl, add pink food coloring and mix.
- Roll out each dough color on a piece of wax paper into long logs. Once the logs are rolled, place them on top of each other and gently press them together. Twist them together to create a beautiful swirl pattern.
- Slice the dough into round cookie shapes and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are slightly golden and the centers are set but still soft.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Pro Tips:
- Don’t Overwork the Dough: When mixing in the food coloring, avoid overworking the dough. Gently fold the coloring into the dough to keep the texture light and airy.
- Chill the Dough: If you find the dough is too soft to handle or roll out, chill it in the fridge for about 30 minutes. This will help it firm up and make the swirling process easier.
- Perfect Swirl: For a more defined swirl, make sure to gently twist the dough when combining the colors. You don’t want to over-mix the two colors, as that will result in a less vibrant swirl.
- Use Wax Paper: Roll the dough on a piece of wax paper or parchment paper to avoid it sticking to your countertop. It also helps in rolling the dough into logs easily.
Storage:
To keep your Valentine’s Day Swirl Cookies fresh:
- Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: These cookies freeze well! Place them in a freezer-safe container and store for up to 3 months. For easy thawing, layer them with parchment paper.
- Cookie Dough: You can also freeze the dough logs before slicing. Wrap the logs tightly in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to bake, slice and bake directly from the freezer, adding a couple of extra minutes to the baking time.
Final Thoughts:
These Valentine’s Day Swirl Cookies are a delightful treat that combines a fun and festive look with a delicious flavor. Whether you're baking for a party, a special someone, or just because, these cookies are sure to bring a smile to anyone who tastes them. Soft, colorful, and sweet, they’re the perfect way to show your love this Valentine’s Day!
These Valentine’s Day Swirl Cookies are the perfect treat for celebrating the season of love. With vibrant swirls of red and pink dough, these cookies are as beautiful as they are delicious. Made with simple ingredients, they’re soft, chewy, and perfect for gifting or sharing with loved ones. Whether you're baking for a party, a special someone, or just for fun, these cookies will bring a festive and sweet touch to your Valentine’s Day celebrations!
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (you may need a few more tablespoons)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/4 cup unsalted butter in chunks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon red coloring coloring, or drops (you can use any color of your choice)
- 1 teaspoon strawberry extract (you can use any flavor of your choice.)
- 1 1/2 cup holiday sprinkles
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and sugars with the paddle attachment on medium until well blended. gradually add butter into mixture, then vanilla extract.
Continue mixing until dough forms a ball.
Remove all the dough and divide into two equal parts.
return one portion back into the mixing bowl and add food coloring and any extra extracts.
Mix until the color is spread out evenly
Roll out each portion of the dough, between two sheets of wax paper until reaches about 11 x 9 inches and is 1/4 inch thick.
Slide both onto a cookie sheet and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour
When firm, remove the top sheets of wax paperfrom both. Brush the uncolored vanilla dough lightly with water using a pastry brush. Then flip the colored dough onto the vanilla uncolored dough so they are stacked on top of each other and even.
Press the edges lightly with your fingertips to seal them together. Using a small knife, trim the edges of the dough to make a straight even lines
Be sure the dough is still cold, but flexible, Once it is ready begin rolling the long sides of the dough.
Pour out sprinkles onto a large platter and set aside. Now gently lift the dough log onto the sprinkles and roll on the sprinkles until completely covered. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for a few hours or you can freeze the dought for up to three months.
Slice the dough into 1/4 inch slices and bake on a parchment lined baking sheets. Bake in a preheated 350 degree bake for 15-17 mintues or until the edges are starting to turn golden brown.
Let the cookies rest on the baking sheets for 5 mintues before transferring to a cooling rack.
