Description
Swirled Christmas Cookies are a festive and visually stunning holiday treat featuring beautiful swirl patterns and a delicious blend of vanilla, chocolate, and warm festive spices. Easy to make with simple pantry ingredients, these cookies are perfect for gifting, sharing, and adding joy to your holiday celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Base
- 2 ½ cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 cup Unsalted Butter, softened
- ¾ cup Granulated Sugar
- ½ cup Brown Sugar, packed
- 2 large Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 teaspoons Baking Soda
- ½ teaspoon Salt
Chocolate Dough
- ⅓ cup Cocoa Powder
Optional Spices (for Spiced Swirl Variation)
- 1 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground Nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground Clove
Optional Add-ins and Toppings
- Crushed Candy Canes (for Chocolate Peppermint Swirl)
- Plant-Based Butter and Flax Eggs (for Vegan Version)
- Melted White Chocolate (for White Chocolate Swirl)
- Powdered Sugar (for dusting)
- Melted Dark or White Chocolate (for drizzling)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: Start by creaming together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and any optional spices you wish to include.
- Create the Two Doughs: Combine the wet and dry ingredients to form a smooth dough. Divide the dough into two equal parts. Leave one half plain vanilla, and mix cocoa powder thoroughly into the other half to create the chocolate dough. Chill both doughs for about 30 minutes until firm but pliable.
- Form the Swirls: Roll out both doughs into rectangles or logs of the same size. Carefully layer one dough on top of the other and gently roll them together to fuse the layers without blending them. Slice the combined dough into cookie shapes, revealing the distinctive swirl pattern.
- Bake to Perfection: Arrange the cookie slices on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden while the centers remain soft.
- Cool and Decorate: Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack. Optionally, enhance their festive appeal by drizzling melted white or dark chocolate over the cookies or dusting them with powdered sugar.
Notes
- Chill the dough thoroughly to maintain distinct and clean swirl patterns.
- Gently combine ingredients to avoid tough cookies caused by overmixing.
- Use parchment paper to prevent sticking and ease cleanup.
- Slice the dough with a sharp knife to preserve the swirl design.
- Adjust slice thickness for desired texture: thicker slices yield softer centers, thinner slices yield crispier cookies.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: holiday cookies, swirled cookies, Christmas treats, vanilla chocolate cookies, festive baking, gift cookies
