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Sunday, December 12, 2010

Christmas Cookies

I've been busy this weekend....buckeyes, danish wedding cakes, snickerdoodles, and this year Peppermint Pinwheels. Every year I try to do a new cookie and this one looked good. The Peppermint Pinwheels are probably going to make it to the favorite's list!

What you'll need:

2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon mint extract
Red food coloring
 

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with sugar until creamy. Beat in egg yolk and vanilla. In a smaller bowl stir together flour, baking powder and salt. Blend flour mixture into butter mixture to make a smooth dough. If dough is too dry, add water teaspoon at a time. Divide dough into two equal portions. Set aside one half. 

To the other half add the peppermint extract and enough red food coloring to tint the dough a dark pink. Use gel food coloring, or the Wilton's coloring for best results.

Roll out each color dough to a 16x10 inch rectangle, between sheets of wax paper. 

Remove top sheet of wax paper from the pink dough; place dough on top side down on top of plain dough; peel off paper. Roll up dough tightly, jelly-roll fashion. Wrap in wax paper and chill several hours until very firm. Pre-heat oven to 350 F. Unwrap dough and cut into 1/4-inch thick slices with a sharp knife;

place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 10 minutes or until cookies are firm, but not browned.

Remove from cookie sheets to wire racks; cool completely. These are so tasty! Next time, I'm going to split the dough into thirds, and add a layer of chocolate!!

By the way, the stand mixer died yesterday. Well, it works, but only one beater stays in . The other one won't lock in anymore. If Santa were to make a visit to my house with a new stand mixer, I promise to make the "Nice" list every year for the rest of my life ;)

17 comments:

highheeledlife said...

Thanks for sharing this recipe and the step by step photos!! they look yummy!! HHL

Shawn said...

Oh that cookie looks yummy..thanks for sharing!

Shawn

Closer to Lucy said...

I alsway wondered how to get the swirl..duh! Lol, you make it seem so easy!
Thanks for the share. I'm out for a lil hop, hope you'll hop back http://closertolucy.blogspot.com

Audrey Keating said...

yummy! Bring me some, please. And I love you.

Unknown said...

@Audrey...I don't deliver! Come get them yourself!

Audrey Keating said...

I don't drive in snow.

ann said...

They sure look good It takes a lot of time to do all the baking but it is also fun and everyone want to eat them

Unknown said...

I thought about trying these this year - they look good so I will take your word for it and give it a go! Thanks

The Baby Store Plus said...

Oooh those look Yummy! I remember making them with my daughters when they were young.

I am stopping by from the Cornucopia of Blog Hops! I am your newest follower! Just wanted to say HI and invite you to stop by my blogs if you get a chance...I have two:
http://thebabystoreplus.blogspot.com
http://IamNannyAnna.blogspot.com

Anna

Miz Helen said...

Those pinwheels looks awesome. Thank you for sharing and you have a great week!

Unknown said...

These look great! I'm a new follower!

Samantha
http://thegiveawayqueen.blogspot.com/

Cranberry Morning said...

I love Christmas cookies that are unique - like this. Thanks for the recipe. These are so cute! And if I were you, I'd ask Santa for a KitchenAid commercial mixer. That's what I have and I love it! We did get it at Sam's Club, which helped, price-wise.

April said...

hi there! i'm following from the cornucopia of blog hops :) i would love if you would follow me back!

best,
april

www.marineparents.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

This looks like a lot of fun. We will bake next week, and I will keep this one in mind!

Jeannie said...

Amazing Jen! You are an artist!

Ott, A. said...

I can vogue that they taste delish!!!

Grace Matthews said...

These look great...maybe I will try them. The last cookie tutorial I found online ended up a little rough.LOL

Fellow Blog Hopper:)