Christmas Butter Swirl Cookies

Featured in Sweet Treats and Baked Delights.

These Christmas Butter Swirl Cookies transform classic butter cookies into festive holiday treats with their distinctive red and green swirls. Made with a rich butter cookie base, these cookies combine simple ingredients like flour, butter, sugar, and vanilla to create a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture. The dough is divided and tinted with holiday colors, then rolled together to create beautiful spirals. Ready in just 45 minutes, they're perfect for cookie exchanges, holiday parties, or leaving out for Santa. Their eye-catching appearance makes them stand out on any cookie platter, while their buttery flavor keeps everyone coming back for more.
Home Delicious Recipes
Updated on Thu, 06 Feb 2025 09:55:29 GMT
Christmas Butter Swirl Cookies Pin it
Christmas Butter Swirl Cookies | homedeliciousrecipes.com

These festive butter swirl cookies transform simple ingredients into stunning holiday treats. Each cookie showcases mesmerizing swirls of red and green, wrapped in a rich, buttery dough that melts in your mouth. After perfecting this recipe through many Christmas seasons, I've discovered the secrets to achieving those perfect spirals.

Last Christmas, watching my nieces' eyes light up as they helped swirl the colorful dough became one of my favorite holiday memories.

Essential Ingredients Guide

  • European-style butter: Higher fat content creates superior texture
  • Room temperature eggs: Essential for proper incorporation
  • Pure vanilla extract: Enhances the buttery flavor
  • Quality food coloring: Creates vibrant, lasting colors
  • Fresh baking powder: Ensures proper rise

Creating Your Masterpiece

Prepare The Base:
Cream butter and sugar until truly light and fluffy - this crucial step takes a full 5 minutes of beating for perfect texture.
Create The Swirls:
Roll each colored dough to exactly 1/4-inch thickness. Stack layers carefully, pressing gently to remove air bubbles.
Form The Log:
Roll filled dough tightly, keeping consistent pressure to avoid gaps. Wrap in parchment and chill until firm.
Slice With Precision:
Cut cookies with sharp knife in one clean motion to maintain swirl pattern.

My first attempt at these cookies taught me that patience during rolling is crucial - rushing creates uneven swirls that don't showcase the beautiful colors.

Perfect Your Presentation

Create stunning cookie platters by:

  • Arranging cookies in a spiral pattern
  • Alternating different swirl patterns
  • Adding complementary solid-colored cookies
  • Using metallic serving plates for extra sparkle
Christmas Butter Swirl Cookies Recipe Pin it
Christmas Butter Swirl Cookies Recipe | homedeliciousrecipes.com

Creative Variations

Transform these cookies by:

  • Using blue and white for winter themes
  • Creating autumn colors for Thanksgiving
  • Making pastels for Easter
  • Adding edible glitter for extra shimmer

Storage Solutions

Maintain freshness by:

  • Storing between wax paper layers
  • Keeping in airtight containers
  • Freezing unbaked logs up to 3 months
  • Bringing to room temperature before serving

Expert Tips

  • Roll dough between parchment paper
  • Chill between each major step
  • Use sharp knife dipped in hot water
  • Rotate logs while chilling for round shape

Temperature Control Mastery

Perfect your swirls through:

  • Maintaining dough at 40°F before rolling
  • Working in a cool room (68-72°F)
  • Chilling logs for exactly 2 hours
  • Letting sliced cookies rest 10 minutes before baking

Color Science

Achieve vibrant, lasting colors by:

  • Using gel food coloring instead of liquid
  • Adding color gradually to prevent oversaturation
  • Testing small portions for accurate color matching
  • Understanding how baking affects color intensity

Rolling Techniques

Master the perfect spiral:

  • Apply even pressure during rolling
  • Use guide sticks for uniform thickness
  • Roll from center outward
  • Trim edges for clean lines

Production Line Efficiency

For large batches:

  • Prepare multiple dough colors simultaneously
  • Set up assembly line style workspace
  • Use multiple pieces of parchment paper
  • Rotate chilling and baking times
Easy Christmas Butter Swirl Cookies Recipe Pin it
Easy Christmas Butter Swirl Cookies Recipe | homedeliciousrecipes.com

Pattern Variations

Create unique designs through:

  • Marbling techniques for abstract patterns
  • Checkerboard effects with careful stacking
  • Pinwheel variations by rolling differently
  • Heart shapes inside classic swirls

The art of these cookies lies in understanding how temperature, timing, and technique work together. Each batch teaches something new about the delicate balance required for perfect swirls. Whether making them for a cookie exchange or family gathering, these festive treats bring color and joy to any holiday celebration.

Remember, creating beautiful swirl cookies isn't just about following steps - it's about developing a feel for the dough and understanding how each element contributes to the final design.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes, the dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
→ Why did my swirls blend together?
The dough might have been too warm. Try chilling it between steps.
→ Can I use different colors?
Absolutely! Use any food coloring to match your holiday theme.
→ How do I store these cookies?
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
→ Can I freeze baked cookies?
Yes, they freeze well for up to 3 months in an airtight container.

Christmas Butter Swirl Cookies

Festive butter cookies with beautiful red and green swirls, perfect for holiday cookie trays and Christmas celebrations.

Prep Time
30 Minutes
Cook Time
15 Minutes
Total Time
45 Minutes

Category: Desserts & Baking

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 24 Servings (24 cookies)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

→ Dry Ingredients

01 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
03 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

04 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 3/4 cup granulated sugar
06 1 large egg
07 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Decorative

08 Red and green food coloring
09 Sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

Step 01

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 02

Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.

Step 03

Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.

Step 04

Gradually mix dry ingredients into wet mixture until just combined.

Step 05

Divide dough into three portions. Leave one plain, color one red, and one green. Roll each into rectangles, stack, and roll into a log.

Step 06

Slice log into cookies and bake 10-12 minutes until edges start to golden. Cool on sheet briefly before transferring to wire rack.

Notes

  1. Chill dough if too soft to handle
  2. Roll dough layers evenly for consistent swirls

Tools You'll Need

  • Baking sheets
  • Parchment paper
  • Mixing bowls
  • Electric mixer
  • Wire cooling rack

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains wheat (flour)
  • Contains dairy (butter)
  • Contains eggs

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 110
  • Total Fat: ~
  • Total Carbohydrate: ~
  • Protein: ~