These whimsical sugar plum pinwheel cookies are the perfect cookie recipe to help make your cookie tray or platter really stand out this holiday season. And since the cookie dough for this large-batch cookie recipe is very similar to pie dough and extremely easy to work with, why not spend a little extra time this year to impress your friends and family with these charming plum preserve-filled holiday cookies?
Sometimes you need to challenge yourself, throw caution to the wind, and step outside of your comfort zone. And if you should happen to use three sticks of butter, one block of cream cheese, and almost a whole jar of plum preserves in the process, well, I’d say that you’re probably on the right track. And heck, why not break out a rolling pin, pizza wheel, and ruler to make it even more fun? After all, what’s life without a few challenges?
Seriously though, these sugar plum pinwheel cookies aren’t really all that hard to make. Sure, they may take a little bit of time and patience, however, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at just how simple they truly are to make. I mean, really, doesn’t the little diagram I included above make you just want to run straight to your kitchen and start baking? Come on, if I can do it, you can certainly do it.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 Cups Unsalted Butter, Softened
- 1 (8-oz.) Package Cream Cheese, Softened
- 1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla
- 1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 3 Cups All-Purpose Flour (Additional for Rolling)
- Plum Preserves
- Cold Water
- White Sanding Sugar
Directions:
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, cream cheese, and granulated sugar together for 2 minutes on medium speed.
- Add the vanilla and salt; mix on medium speed for 1 minute.
- On low speed, add the flour to the mixing bowl one cup at a time. Mix the dough until all of the flour is just incorporated.
- Roll the dough into a ball, flatten it, and then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Divide the dough into 4 equal portions. Flour your hands, counter, and rolling pin. Roll a portion of the dough out onto the countertop like you would a pie crust. Use a ruler and pizza wheel to measure and cut the dough into 3×3 squares. Place 12 squares onto a Silpat or parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Use a pizza wheel to cut from all four corners of each square almost to the center of each square. Think of it as if you are cutting an X, only without the X actually connecting in the center. Place a dollop of plum preserves in the center of each square. For each square, going clockwise, fold the first corner of each cut section into the middle of the square, placing the corners on top of each other as you go. (See diagram above. Fold in order of 1, 2, 3, and then 4. Placing each corner on top of each other as you go.) Dip your finger in cold water and then use the water to press all of the corners together in the center. Immediately top the center of each pinwheel with a generous pinch of white sanding sugar.
- Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Repeat the rolling, cutting, filling, folding, decorating, and baking process for each portion of dough. Roll any excess scraps together and follow the same steps again.
- Allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes before removing them to a baking rack to finish cooling completely.
Suggestions:
- You will need to flour your hands, counter, and rolling pin well when making these pinwheel cookies.
- These cookies look best when you are as precise as possible with their dimensions. Use a ruler or template to cut the squares evenly.
- Wetting the center corners of the folded-in dough with water will help keep the dough together and give the sanding sugar something to adhere to.
- While one batch of cookies is baking, prepare the next batch of cookies on another Silpat or piece of parchment paper. These cookies take time to roll out, measure, cut, and form. Take your time and try not to rush the process. If you are in a hurry, chances are that you will end up with misshaped pinwheel cookies.
- This recipe will yield between 4 and 5 dozen pinwheel cookies. The number of cookies will be determined by how thin you roll out your dough and how small or large you cut your squares.
- Store these cookies in an airtight container between layers of wax paper.
Improvements:
- Instead of plum preserves, use your favorite type of jam or preserves to fill these pinwheel cookies.
- Place a few finely chopped pecans or almonds on top of the preserves before folding the corners into the middle.
- Use red or green sanding sugar instead of white.
- CLICK HERE to check out all of our past cookie recipes. Don’t forget to check out our Christmas cookies section.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 Cups Unsalted Butter, Softened
- 1 (8-oz.) Package Cream Cheese, Softened
- 1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla
- 1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 3 Cups All-Purpose Flour (Additional for Rolling)
- Plum Preserves
- Cold Water
- White Sanding Sugar
Directions:
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, cream cheese, and granulated sugar together for 2 minutes on medium speed.
- Add the vanilla and salt; mix on medium speed for 1 minute.
- On low speed, add the flour to the mixing bowl one cup at a time. Mix the dough until all of the flour is just incorporated.
- Roll the dough into a ball, flatten it, and then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Divide the dough into 4 equal portions. Flour your hands, counter, and rolling pin. Roll a portion of the dough out onto the countertop like you would a pie crust. Use a ruler and pizza wheel to measure and cut the dough into 3x3 squares. Place 12 squares onto a Silpat or parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Use a pizza wheel to cut from all four corners of each square almost to the center of each square. Think of it as if you are cutting an X, only without the X actually connecting in the center. Place a dollop of plum preserves in the center of each square. For each square, going clockwise, fold the first corner of each cut section into the middle of the square, placing the corners on top of each other as you go. (See diagram above. Fold in order of 1, 2, 3, and then 4. Placing each corner on top of each other as you go.) Dip your finger in cold water and then use the water to press all of the corners together in the center. Immediately top the center of each pinwheel with a generous pinch of white sanding sugar.
- Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Repeat the rolling, cutting, filling, folding, decorating, and baking process for each portion of dough. Roll any excess scraps together and follow the same steps again.
- Allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes before removing them to a baking rack to finish cooling completely.
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5 Christmas Cookies – 1 Batch of Cookie Dough
Reindeer Molasses Spice Cookies
Salted Honey Pecan Thumbprint Cookies
Christmas is a time for family, friends, and delicious holiday cookies. From classic butter cookies to iced gingerbread cookies, this list of ultimate Christmas cookie recipes has something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for festive colors, unique seasonal ingredients, or just a cookie that’s super easy to make, these Christmas cookie recipes will help you find the perfect cookie for the season. CLICK HERE for the recipes.
This will be the 6th year Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck has participated in this particular Christmas Cookies Week event. Below you can find links to all of the recipes we have contributed throughout the years, however, you can also CLICK HERE to find an entire list of our past cookie recipes. Don’t be afraid to let a non-traditional cookie recipe play a role in your holiday baking this year because when it comes to Christmas cookies, variety is always a good thing. Happy baking y’all.
2022
Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Toffee Cookies
Chocolate Fudge Brownie Oatmeal M&M Cookies
Lemon Iced Gingerbread Cookies
2021
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies with Grape Nuts
Cappuccino Swirl Butter Cookies
Dark Rum Cherry Almond Thumbprint Cookies
Chocolate Chip Cocoa Powder Cookies
Old-Fashioned Jubilee Jumbles Cookies
2020
Cinnamon Chip Holiday Spice Cake Mix Cookies
Peppermint Cream Cheese Crushed Oreo Cookies
Cran-Raisin Oatmeal Cookies with Grape Nuts
Sadie’s Double Pecan Butter Cookies
2019
Cream Cheese Red Velvet Thumbprint Cookies
Chocolate Hazelnut Winter Wonderland Cookies
Coconut Grinchy Christmas Breakfast Cookies
Soft Cinnamon Apple Pecan Cookies
Chocolate-Dipped Christmas Butter Cookies
2018
Chocolate Espresso Brown Sugar Cookies
White Christmas Peppermint Holiday Cookies
Chocolate Chip Vanilla Cookies
No-Bake Peanut Butter Cup Cereal Cookies
Whoville Christmas Wreath Sugar Cookies
2017
Crystallized Gingerbread Chocolate Chip Cookies
Mexican Chocolate Chip Crinkle Cookies
Welcome to #ChristmasCookies Week! That time of year when we soften the butter, fire up the oven, and make cookie trays for family, friends, and neighbors. This year more than 20 top-notch bloggers are sharing their very favorite creations for all to make and enjoy. Join us for a week’s worth of Christmas cookie deliciousness.
- Caramel Tassies by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
- Chocolate Caramel Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies by Red Cottage Chronicles
- Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Chocolate Thumbprints by Hostess At Heart
- Christmas Shortbread Cookie Bars by Kathryn’s Kitchen Blog
- Date Sugar Walnut Cookies by Magical Ingredients
- Earl Grey Snickerdoodles by The Spiffy Cookie
- Easy Cake Mix Biscotti by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies by Best Cookie Recipes
- Gingerbread Penuche Sandwich Cookies by That Recipe
- Ginger Molasses Cookies with Caramelized Ginger by Family Around the Table
- Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Blossoms by Frugal & Fit
- Hot Chocolate Cookies by Blogghetti
- Iced Gingerbread Bars by Art of Natural Living
- Maple Doodles by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Mini M&M Cookies by Palatable Pastime
- Oatmeal Shortbread Cookies by Shockingly Delicious
- Orange Ginger Refrigerator Cookies by An Affair from the Heart
- Peppermint Meringues by Cheese Curd in Paradise
- Peppermint Mocha Cookies by Sweet Beginnings
- Reese’s Macaron by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Sugar Plum Pinwheel Cookies by Faith, Hope, Love, and Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
- Texas Sheet Cake Cookies by Jen Around the World
