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Festive Swirl Treats

Category: Treats That Make Everything Better

With three colorful doughs twisted into eye-catching swirls, these cheerful cookies are worth the effort. They may take time to assemble, but they're bound to wow your holiday guests.

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Clare Recipes
Created By Lily Chen
Updated on Mon, 21 Apr 2025 17:23:16 GMT
Cheerful spiral cookies with red and green swirls, beautifully displayed on a holiday table. Save
Cheerful spiral cookies with red and green swirls, beautifully displayed on a holiday table. | lilicooks.com

Gotta tell you about my go-to holiday treat - Christmas Spiral Cookies! These colorful twists of red, green and white make any cookie tray pop. They're super tasty and always get folks smiling during festive get-togethers.

Why These Stand Out

These cookies really grab attention with their gorgeous swirl pattern. The sugar cookie base works so well for me because it's incredibly adaptable - I sometimes throw in some peppermint or almond extract to amp up the holiday vibes.

Ingredients You Need

  • For the Dough: Regular flour for the base, a tiny bit of baking powder, salt (just a dash), butter at room temp, white sugar, a fresh egg, and some pure vanilla.
  • For the Colors: Gel food coloring in red and green shades.

Baking Steps

Prep Your Mixture:
Blend dry stuff first then whip butter with sugar add egg and vanilla and mix everything together.
Make It Colorful:
Divide dough into three parts dye two of them keep one plain white.
Cool It Down:
Press into flat squares wrap them up stick them in the fridge to harden.
Form The Pattern:
Spread each color stack them together roll into a nice cylinder.
Finish Them Off:
Cut into rounds bake until edges firm let them cool on a wire rack.

Helpful Hints

Always grab gel coloring so your dough won't get soggy. Roll everything the same thickness for pretty patterns. And definitely don't rush the cooling time it's key for those nice clean swirls.

Storage Advice

These pretty treats stay good in a sealed container for around 5 days. Wanna prep early? They freeze really well for up to 2 months just let them thaw before you serve them.

A plate showing colorful spiral cookies with festive red and green swirls is presented. Save
A plate showing colorful spiral cookies with festive red and green swirls is presented. | lilicooks.com

Fun Variations

Experiment with different flavors like mint or almond for exciting taste changes. You can even switch up your color combos or make each layer taste unique for something really surprising.

Recipe FAQs

→ Why do my swirls look messy?

Keep the dough cool but pliable before rolling. Use parchment to guide your rolling, working steadily to avoid cracks.

→ Can I store them in the freezer?

Absolutely! You can freeze the dough logs or baked cookies. Chilled dough slices cleanly once defrosted.

→ Why aren't my colors standing out?

Start with small amounts of gel color and adjust until bold enough. Gel food coloring works way better than liquid.

→ What causes my cookies to spread?

Make sure the dough is chilled at every stage—especially before baking. Don’t skip chilling time; it prevents spreading.

→ Can I prep them early?

Yep! The dough lasts for days in the fridge and baked cookies freeze for a few months. Perfect for planning ahead.

Holiday Swirl Cookies

Bright and cheery swirls combine red, white, and green dough into impressive treats. A must-have for any holiday table.

Preparation Time
165 min
Cooking Time
15 min
Overall Time
180 min
Created By: Lily Chen

Category: Sweet Stuff

Skill Level: Challenging

Cuisine Type: American

Output: 16 Serves (16 cookies)

Dietary Options: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 12 tablespoons of soft, unsalted butter.
02 1 egg, room temperature.
03 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence.
04 3/4 cup of granulated sugar.
05 1/4 teaspoon of fine salt.
06 2 cups of plain flour, plus a little extra for dusting.
07 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder.
08 A teaspoon or less of green food gel.
09 A teaspoon or less of red food gel.

Steps

Step 01

Combine salt, baking powder, and flour in a single mix.

Step 02

Whisk the butter and sugar together until it turns fluffy and light.

Step 03

Mix in the egg, followed by the vanilla extract.

Step 04

Slowly fold in the dry mixture into the wet until combined.

Step 05

Separate the dough into 3 even chunks.

Step 06

Color one part red and another green, leaving the third plain.

Step 07

Flatten each piece into a square and wrap them in plastic wrap.

Step 08

Refrigerate the wrapped dough for about an hour.

Step 09

Roll out each dough piece between two parchment sheets to make 10-inch squares.

Step 10

Put the rolled-out sheets in the fridge for another half-hour.

Step 11

Stack the plain dough between the red and green ones.

Step 12

Cut away excess to create straight edges.

Step 13

Using the parchment as a guide, roll the dough stack into a log.

Step 14

Wrap up the log and refrigerate again for another hour.

Step 15

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Step 16

Cut the dough log into slices about 1/4 inch thick.

Step 17

Arrange slices on baking trays 2 inches apart.

Step 18

Bake the cookies for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they firm up.

Step 19

Leave them to cool for 5 minutes on the same tray.

Step 20

Transfer cookies to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Tips

  1. Gel coloring works well if you want bright and vibrant shades.
  2. You can freeze the dough log or already-baked cookies to save time!

Required Tools

  • Sheets of parchment.
  • A rolling pin.
  • Tray for baking.
  • Rack for cooling.

Allergy Information

Always check each ingredient for allergens, and consult a medical professional if unsure.
  • Contains dairy (butter).
  • Includes wheat (flour).
  • Made with eggs.

Nutritional Information (per serving)

These details are shared for general guidance and don’t replace professional advice.
  • Calories: 173
  • Fats: 9 g
  • Carbohydrates: 21 g
  • Proteins: 2 g