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Valentine’s Day Swirl Cookies Recipe

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4.2 from 10 reviews

Delight your Valentine with these charming Valentine’s Day Swirl Cookies featuring a beautiful colored swirl, festive sprinkles, and a buttery vanilla base. Perfect for gifting or celebrating, these cookies combine a soft, tender texture with a visually stunning presentation.

  • Author: Chef
  • Prep Time: 45 minutes
  • Cook Time: 17 minutes
  • Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
  • Yield: About 4 servings (approximately 16 to 20 cookies depending on slice thickness)
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (plus a few extra tablespoons if needed)
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Sugars

  • 2/3 cup unsifted powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar

Wet Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, cut into chunks
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon food coloring of your choice
  • 1/2 teaspoon additional extracts (optional, to complement the food coloring flavor)

Decoration

  • 1 1/2 cups holiday sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Mix Dry Ingredients: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, powdered sugar, and granulated sugar on medium speed until the mixture is well blended.
  2. Add Butter and Vanilla: Gradually add the butter chunks into the mixer while mixing continues. Then add the vanilla extract to the mixture to start forming the dough.
  3. Form Dough Ball: Continue mixing until the dough combines thoroughly and forms a cohesive ball.
  4. Divide Dough: Take all the dough out and divide it into two equal portions.
  5. Color One Portion: Place one portion back into the stand mixer and add the food coloring and any additional extracts you desire. Mix until the color is evenly distributed throughout the dough.
  6. Roll Out Dough: Roll each portion of dough between two sheets of wax paper, shaping each into an approximately 11 x 9 inch rectangle at about 1/4 inch thickness.
  7. Chill Dough: Place both rolled-out dough sheets onto a cookie sheet and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour until firm.
  8. Assemble Dough Layers: Once firm, remove the wax paper from the top of each sheet. Lightly brush water onto the uncolored vanilla dough with a pastry brush. Flip the colored dough on top of the vanilla dough so they’re stacked evenly.
  9. Seal and Trim Edges: Press gently along the edges with your fingertips to seal. Use a small knife to trim edges to create straight, even lines.
  10. Roll Dough Log: Ensure the dough is cold but flexible. Starting from the long side, roll the dough into a swirl, jelly-roll style, forming a log.
  11. Coat with Sprinkles and Chill: Pour holiday sprinkles onto a large platter. Gently roll the dough log in the sprinkles to coat the outside. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for several hours or freeze for up to three months.
  12. Slice and Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Slice the dough log into 1/4 inch thick slices and place them on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes, or until edges begin to turn golden brown.
  13. Cool Cookies: Allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes after baking, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing.

Notes

  • Make sure the dough remains cold but pliable when rolling it into the swirl to prevent cracking.
  • You can substitute different extract flavors to complement your choice of food coloring for unique variations.
  • Chilling the dough before slicing is essential to maintain shape and make slicing easier.
  • These cookies can be frozen at the dough stage for up to three months for make-ahead convenience.
  • Be careful not to overbake; cookies should be just turning golden around the edges.