Swirled Christmas Cookies
These swirled Christmas cookies combine festive colors with a soft, tender texture for a holiday treat that looks impressive without requiring hours in the kitchen. Perfect for busy families, they bake quickly and bring classic holiday charm to any cookie platter.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1.5 cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
- red gel food coloring as needed
- green gel food coloring as needed
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the softened butter and granulated sugar until smooth. Stir in the egg and vanilla extract. Add the flour and salt, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Divide the dough into three equal portions. Tint one portion with red gel food coloring and another with green gel food coloring. Leave the third portion plain.
- Wrap each dough portion in plastic wrap, flatten into discs, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Roll each chilled dough portion into a 1/4-inch-thick rectangle. Layer the colored doughs on top of the plain dough, lightly brushing with water between layers to help them stick.
- Starting from the long side, carefully roll the layered dough into a tight log. Wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, until firm.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice the chilled dough log into 1/4-inch rounds and arrange them on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 9–11 minutes, until the edges are just lightly golden. Cool briefly on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Chilling the dough thoroughly helps maintain clean, defined swirls. Use a sharp knife for neat slices, and refrigerate again if the dough becomes too soft while working.