For something unique to try at home this holiday season, Festival Red and Green Swirl Cookies are as beautiful as they look. Here’s how to make this recipe in your own kitchen in a simple way.
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Festival Red and Green Swirl Cookies – A Perfect Holiday Treat
If you’re looking for something to make this holiday treat that’s both amazing and delicious, Festival Red and Green Swirl Cookies are a great choice.
The vibrant spiral pattern and buttery sweet flavor make these a great addition to a Christmas cookie plate, cookie exchange, or gift box to give to someone to eat.
This recipe is great because it’s so easy to make with just the basic ingredients and a little patience.
With step-by-step instructions on how to make this amazing recipe, from making the dough to creating the perfect swirls, you’ll be able to bake like a pro.
Reasons why Perfect Swirl Cookies are so popular:-
Festive – This recipe looks amazing and makes a great addition to a Christmas party.
With a buttery taste, melt-in-your-mouth texture and a wonderful texture, everyone loves it, from kids to adults.
You can choose the colour to suit any occasion.
It can be made in advance as well and the dough can be frozen a week in advance, making it a favourite.
Ingredients:-
All the ingredients required are mentioned here. The recipe here makes 25 to 30 cookies. You can make more or less of them depending on the ingredients you have.
Cookie Dough Ingredients:-
- 300 grams, 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup, 200 grams granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract, plus more to taste, optional
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter
- 170 grams softened kelp
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Colors, decorations:-
- Green gel food coloring
- Red gel food coloring (do not use liquid coloring for best results).
- Plastic wrap, for rolling out dough logs
- Holiday sprinkles or sifted sugar to garnish, optional
All Directions:-
1. Prep the Dry Ingredients
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and baking powder. Set the powder and salt aside. Pop this into the butter mixture later.
2. Using the Butter and Sugar
- Take a large bowl or use a stand mixer. Add the butter, unsalted sugar and granulated sugar. Beat on medium speed for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Make sure it is fluffy.
- When combined evenly, scrape around the sides of the bowl to combine.
3. Using the Wet Ingredients
If you want to use all of these ingredients, add the vanilla extract, egg and almond extract and beat well.
4. Mixing the Wet and Dry
- Add all the dry ingredients to the prepared butter mixture and mix slowly.
- Be sure to mix on low speed until your dough is well combined.
- After mixing, do not mix too much so that the cookies remain soft.
5. Dividing and Coloring the Dough
- First divide the dough into two equal parts.
- Add red gel food coloring to one part of the dough and knead well until all the colors are even.
- Add green gel food coloring to the other part of the dough and mix, and knead until all the colors are even.
- Note:- While kneading the red or green colored dough, wear gloves on your hands so that your hands do not get stained.
6. Rolling the Dough into Sheets
- First take the red colored dough and place it between two sheets of parchment paper and then roll the dough into a 1/4 inch thick rectangle.
- Do the same process with the green colored dough.
- Make sure to shape both doughs into the same rectangle so that the shape is neat and curved and looks nice.
7. Forming and Rolling the Layers Into a Log
- Take the green dough first and carefully place the red dough on top of it. Then peel off the parchment paper and remove it well.
- Trim the edges to show clean lines.
- Now start from the long side and tightly roll the dough into a log that forms a spiral pattern.
- Wrap the log tightly in plastic wrap then refrigerate for about 2 hours to firm up, if not overnight.
8. Slicing and Baking
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C), then line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Open up the log of dough and carefully cut each one into 1/4 inch thick slices with a sharp knife.
- Place the cookies on a baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
- Bake, without overbreading, until the edges are browned, 10 to 11 minutes, so the Festive Red and Green Swirl Cookies look evenly browned.
9. Cool then serve
Let your recipe cool on the baking sheet for 5 to 7 minutes then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
You can serve this as is or use the festive wrapping tin to give as a gift.
Optional Variations:-
For a Shiny Edge- If you want to add extra sparkle to your recipe, just coat the dough log in festive sprinkles or sanding sugar before cutting and then cut. This will make your Festive Red and Green Swirl Cookies sparkle.
For a Peppermint Twist:-
You can add 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract to the dough first to get a candy cane flavor.
Festival:- You can use different colors for festivals which makes these Festive Red and Green Swirl Cookies perfect for parties like Easter, or choose pink or purple. For the 4th of July, you can use blue and red.
Storing Festive Red and Green Swirl Cookies:
After baking your recipe, store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 6 to 8 days.
To freeze longer, refrigerate the wrapped dough log for up to 2 months, then thaw in the refrigerator before cutting and baking.
Refrigerate the baked cookies:
Frozen in a single layer and store in a freezer bag for up to 2 months.
Baking Tips for Making Perfect Swirls:
- Chilling the dough first helps to prevent it from spreading and helps the swirls stay firm and sharp.
- If you don’t want to use too much moisture, you can use gel food coloring for a darker color.
- Never roll out your swirls evenly, so you can keep your dough even and balanced.
- After shaping the swirls into perfect shapes, always use a sharp knife for cutting so that you can avoid crushing them.
FAQ, Festival Red and Green Swirl Cookies
Q. Why does the dough crack when rolling?
This can also happen because the dough is too cold. Before rolling, always refrigerate the dough and let it rest at room temperature for 5 to 8 minutes.
Q. Can Festival Red and Green Swirl Cookies be made gluten free?
Absolutely! You can use gluten free flour cup by cup but be aware that the texture may be slightly different.
Q. Can you prevent the colors from mixing?
First of all, make sure to chill the dough before rolling and then before cutting it. This will make the colors clear and prevent them from mixing.
Q. Can Festival Red and Green Swirl Cookies be doubled?
Yes! These cookies are great for parties, gatherings, anything, so you can double them.
Final Thoughts
Festive Red and Green Swirl Cookies are not just a feast for the taste, they are a feast for the eyes as they unfold a beautiful swirl design and a classic buttery sweetness.
These are sure to be a family favorite during the holidays. If you want to bake a cookie exchange, holiday party, or just want to have some cozy nights by the fire on a cold winter day, these Festive Red and Green Swirl Cookies are the perfect thing to try.
These can be paired with your favorite Christmas playlist, so get your oven preheated and start baking and bring the magic of holiday baking home in just a swirl.