Valentine’s Day Swirl Cookies Recipe

Introduction

Valentine’s Day Swirl Cookies are a delightful treat that combines vibrant colors and festive sprinkles in a tender, buttery cookie. Perfect for gifting or sharing at your holiday celebrations, these cookies bring a fun twist to a classic sugar cookie.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour, plus a few more tablespoons if needed
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ⅔ cup unsifted powdered sugar
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 2 ½ sticks unsalted butter, cut into chunks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon food coloring of your choice and/or ½ teaspoon of any desired extra extracts
• 1 ½ cups holiday sprinkles

Instructions

1. Step 1: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, powdered sugar, and granulated sugar. Mix on medium speed until well blended.
2. Step 2: Gradually add the butter chunks to the mixture and continue mixing. Then add the vanilla extract and mix until the dough forms a ball.
3. Step 3: Remove the dough and divide it into two equal portions. Return one portion to the mixer bowl and add the food coloring and any extra extracts. Mix until the color is evenly distributed.
4. Step 4: Roll out each portion of dough between two sheets of wax paper until it measures about 11 x 9 inches and is ¼ inch thick.
5. Step 5: Place both rolled dough sheets on a cookie sheet and chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour until firm.
6. Step 6: Once chilled, remove the top sheets of wax paper. Lightly brush the surface of the uncolored dough with water using a pastry brush. Flip the colored dough onto the uncolored dough, stacking them evenly.
7. Step 7: Press the edges gently to seal the two layers together. Trim the edges with a small knife to create straight, even lines.
8. Step 8: Keeping the dough cold but flexible, begin rolling the long side of the dough into a swirl, jelly-roll style.
9. Step 9: Pour the holiday sprinkles onto a large plate. Carefully lift your dough log and roll it in the sprinkles to coat evenly. Wrap the log in plastic wrap and chill for a few hours, or freeze for up to three months.
10. Step 10: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Slice the chilled dough into ¼ inch slices and arrange them on parchment-lined baking sheets.
11. Step 11: Bake for 15 to 17 minutes, until the edges begin to turn golden brown. Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips & Variations

• Use different food coloring or extracts like almond or peppermint to customize flavors.
• For a more intense color, add a few extra drops of food coloring gradually.
• If dough is too sticky while rolling, chill it a bit longer to make handling easier.
• Swap holiday sprinkles with chocolate chips or crushed candy canes for a seasonal twist.

Storage

Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. To keep them fresh longer, freeze the baked cookies for up to three months. Reheat briefly in a low oven to restore softness.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, after rolling and coating the dough log in sprinkles, you can wrap it tightly and chill it for a few hours or freeze it for up to three months before slicing and baking.

What if I don’t have a stand mixer?

You can mix the ingredients by hand using a sturdy spoon or a pastry cutter to blend the butter into the flour mixture until it forms a dough ball. It may require a bit more effort but will still work well.

Valentine’s Day Swirl Cookies Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.7 from 52 reviews

Delight in these festive Valentine’s Day Swirl Cookies, featuring a beautiful two-tone dough rolled into a swirl and covered with holiday sprinkles. They are perfectly buttery, sweet, and visually stunning, making them ideal for celebrating love and special occasions. These cookies are easy to prepare with basic ingredients and chilled to maintain a firm texture before baking to golden perfection.

• Author: Isla
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes (including chilling time)
• Yield: Approximately 24 cookies 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

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Dry Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour (plus a few extra tablespoons if needed)
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ⅔ cup unsifted powdered sugar
• ¼ cup granulated sugar

Wet Ingredients

• 2 ½ sticks (about 280g) unsalted butter, cut in chunks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon food coloring of your choice
• ½ teaspoon any desired extra extracts (optional)

For Decoration

• 1 ½ cup holiday sprinkles

Instructions

1. Mix Dry Ingredients: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, powdered sugar, and granulated sugar. Mix on medium speed until well blended.
2. Add Butter and Vanilla: Gradually add the butter chunks to the dry mixture while continuing to mix. Then add the vanilla extract. Continue mixing until the dough forms a cohesive ball.
3. Divide Dough: Remove the dough from the mixer bowl and divide it evenly into two portions.
4. Color One Portion: Return one portion of the dough to the mixer. Add the food coloring and optional extra extracts. Mix until the color is evenly distributed throughout the dough.
5. Roll Out the Dough: Roll out each portion of dough separately between two sheets of wax paper until it measures approximately 11 by 9 inches and is about ¼ inch thick.
6. Chill Dough Layers: Place both rolled-out dough sheets on a cookie sheet and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour until firm.
7. Assemble Layers: Once firm, remove the top sheets of wax paper from both doughs. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush water onto the uncolored dough. Flip the colored dough onto the uncolored dough so they align evenly, then gently press the edges together to seal. Trim edges to create straight, even lines.
8. Form Swirl Log: Ensure the dough is cold but pliable. Roll the long side of the dough sheet jelly-roll style into a swirl log shape.
9. Add Sprinkles Coating: Spread holiday sprinkles on a large platter. Gently roll the dough log over the sprinkles so they stick to the outside. Wrap the log tightly in plastic wrap and chill for several hours or freeze for up to three months.
10. Slice and Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Slice the chilled dough log into ¼ inch thick slices. Arrange the slices on parchment-lined baking sheets, about 1 inch apart.
11. Baking: Bake for 15 to 17 minutes, or until the cookie edges begin to turn golden brown.
12. Cooling: Allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Notes

• Make sure the dough is cold when rolling into the swirl log to prevent cracking and ensure even slices.
• You can experiment with different food coloring and extracts to customize the flavor and appearance.
• If the dough is too sticky while rolling, chill it longer to make it easier to handle.
• Cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to one week or frozen after baking for longer storage.
• Use parchment paper for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking during baking.

Keywords: Valentine’s Day cookies, swirl cookies, holiday cookies, sprinkle cookies, festive desserts, butter cookies