Description
These festive Halloween Pinwheel Sugar Cookies feature vibrant swirls and sprinkles, making them a showstopping treat for parties. Soft, buttery, and easy to make, they’re perfect for both kids and adults during spooky season.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Food coloring gel (orange, purple, black)
- Halloween-themed sprinkles
- Optional: Edible glitter or luster dust
- Optional: 1 teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cream of tartar, and salt. Set aside.
- In a mixer bowl, beat softened butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add egg and vanilla extract. Beat on low until fully combined, scraping the bowl as needed.
- Gradually mix in the dry ingredients, about 1/3 at a time, until a soft dough forms. If crumbly, add 1 tablespoon milk.
- Divide dough evenly into three bowls. Add orange gel to one, purple to another, and black to the last. Knead each until color is smooth.
- Roll each colored dough into a rectangle (about 8×6 inches, 1/4 inch thick). Layer rectangles, pressing gently.
- Starting from the long side, roll dough into a tight log. Wrap in plastic and chill for 45 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Slice chilled dough log into 1/4-inch rounds. Dip edges in sprinkles if desired. Place cookies 2 inches apart on lined baking sheets.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes, until just set but not browned.
- Cool cookies on sheet for 3 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Chill dough thoroughly for sharp swirls. Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors. Clean knife between slices for crisp pinwheels. For gluten-free, use a 1:1 flour blend. Add orange zest for extra flavor. Cookies can be made ahead and stored airtight for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie (about 25g)
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 40
- Fat: 5
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Protein: 1
Keywords: Halloween cookies, pinwheel sugar cookies, festive treats, party cookies, easy sugar cookies, Halloween dessert, swirl cookies, kid-friendly cookies