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Perfect Red White and Blue Pinwheel Sugar Cookies Easy Patriotic Icing Recipe

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These festive red, white, and blue pinwheel sugar cookies feature a tender, buttery base with smooth, vibrant patriotic icing, perfect for holiday celebrations like the Fourth of July.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • Red, white, and blue gel food coloring
  • 2 cups (240 g) powdered sugar
  • 2–3 tablespoons (30–45 ml) whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Red and blue gel food coloring for icing

Instructions

  1. Mix dry ingredients: whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
  2. Cream butter and sugar: beat softened butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  3. Add egg and vanilla: beat in egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated and smooth.
  4. Combine wet and dry ingredients: gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture on low speed until just combined; avoid overmixing.
  5. Divide and color dough: split dough into three equal parts; leave one plain, add red gel coloring to second, blue gel coloring to third; knead gently until colors are even.
  6. Chill dough: wrap each colored dough ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
  7. Roll and layer dough: roll each dough ball into 8×8 inch squares about ¼ inch thick; stack red, white, and blue layers, pressing lightly to adhere.
  8. Form pinwheels: roll stacked layers into an 8×4 inch rectangle, then roll from long edge to form a log; wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
  9. Slice and bake: preheat oven to 350°F (175°C); slice dough log into ¼ inch thick rounds; place on parchment-lined baking sheets 2 inches apart; bake 10-12 minutes until edges are golden.
  10. Cool completely: transfer cookies to wire racks to cool before icing.
  11. Prepare icing: whisk powdered sugar, milk, corn syrup, and vanilla until smooth; divide into three bowls and tint two with red and blue gel coloring, leaving one white.
  12. Decorate: fill piping bags or squeeze bottles with each icing color; pipe desired patterns; let icing set at room temperature for at least 1 hour before serving or storing.

Notes

Chill dough thoroughly to prevent colors from bleeding and to make rolling easier. Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors without thinning dough or icing. Avoid over-kneading colored dough to keep layers distinct. Adjust icing consistency by adding powdered sugar if too runny or milk if too thick. Use a sharp, non-serrated knife to slice pinwheels cleanly. Dough can be prepared ahead and chilled or frozen; bake from frozen adding a minute or two to baking time.

Nutrition

Keywords: red white and blue cookies, pinwheel sugar cookies, patriotic cookies, Fourth of July dessert, sugar cookies with icing, holiday cookies, easy sugar cookies

Find it online: https://forkmila.com/perfect-red-white-and-blue-pinwheel-sugar-cookies-easy-patriotic-icing-recipe/