Patriotic Pinwheel Cookies

These Patriotic Pinwheel Cookies are the perfect festive treat for your summer celebrations! With swirls of red, white, and blue, these eye-catching spiral sugar cookies will be the star of your dessert table at any 4th of July gathering, Memorial Day barbecue, or patriotic celebration.

I’ll never forget the first time I made these for my family. David couldn’t stop reaching for “just one more,” while Sophia and James were absolutely mesmerized by the colorful swirls.

The kids helped me roll the dough and add the sprinkles, turning our baking session into a fun family activity that created memories beyond the delicious cookies themselves.

If you’re looking for another festive treat for your celebrations, check out my Fireworks Blondies for another crowd-pleasing dessert!

Why You’ll Love These Patriotic Pinwheel Cookies

Eye-catching presentation: These colorful swirled cookies look impressive but are surprisingly easy to make

Kid-approved recipe: Children love the bright colors and fun sprinkles, making these a hit with the whole family

Make-ahead friendly: The dough can be prepared in advance and refrigerated until you’re ready to bake

Ingredients for Patriotic Pinwheel Cookies

Here’s everything you’ll need to make these festive treats:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup butter at room temperature
• 1½ cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp red gel food coloring
• 1 tsp blue gel food coloring
• Patriotic sprinkles (optional)

A Note About Food Coloring

For these red white and blue cookies, I strongly recommend using gel food coloring rather than liquid.

Gel colors create more vibrant shades without adding excess moisture to your dough, which could affect the texture of your cookies.

I used super red and navy blue gel colors for the richest patriotic hues.

How to Make Patriotic Pinwheel Cookies

Prepare the Dough

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
3. Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Beat until well combined and smooth.
4. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

Color the Dough

1. Divide the dough into three equal portions.
2. Leave one portion plain for the white layer.
3. Add red gel food coloring to one portion and blue to the other. Mix each until the color is evenly distributed.
4. Make sure to wash your mixing tools between colors to avoid unwanted mixing!
5. Shape each colored dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for about 1-2 hours until firm.

Create the Swirl

1. Once chilled, roll each portion of dough between two pieces of parchment paper into rectangles of equal size, about ⅛ to ¼ inch thick.
2. Stack the dough layers on top of each other (I did red on the bottom, white in the middle, and blue on top).
3. Trim the edges with a pizza cutter to create even sides.
4. Starting from one of the longer sides, carefully roll the dough into a tight log.
5. If desired, brush the outside of the log lightly with water and press patriotic sprinkles onto the surface.
6. Wrap the log in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.

Bake the Cookies

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Using a sharp knife, cut the log into ¼ to ½ inch slices.
3. Place the slices about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
4. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are just set and the tops are no longer shiny.
5. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips for Perfect Patriotic Pinwheel Cookies

Chill thoroughly: Don’t rush the chilling steps! Cold dough is easier to work with and helps the cookies maintain their shape and distinctive swirl pattern.

Use a thin, sharp knife: When cutting your cookie dough log, a thin, sharp blade will give you the cleanest slices without squishing the dough.

Don’t overbake: These cookies are best when they’re just set. Overbaking can make them dry and cause the colors to fade.

Add sprinkles creatively: For an extra patriotic touch, you can also add sprinkles to the top of each cookie before baking instead of (or in addition to) the edges.

Variations for Patriotic Pinwheel Cookies

Add flavors: Enhance your 4th of July cookies with a bit of almond extract for a unique flavor twist.

Make them sparkle: Roll the edges in white sparkling sugar instead of sprinkles for an elegant shimmer.

Try different shapes: Cut the dough log in half and shape each half into a heart or star shape before slicing and baking for themed patriotic desserts.

Go mini: Make thinner logs and smaller slices for bite-sized treats perfect for party platters.

What to Serve With Patriotic Pinwheel Cookies

These festive cookies pair perfectly with:

• Berry Croissant Bake Recipe for a patriotic-themed brunch
• Pineapple Ginger Lemonade Punch for a refreshing beverage
• Strawberry Crunch Salad for a light, festive side dish

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

Storing baked cookies: Store your American flag cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.

Freezing baked cookies: These cookies freeze beautifully for up to 2 months in an airtight container with parchment paper between layers.

Make-ahead dough: The rolled dough log can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

If frozen, thaw overnight in the refrigerator before slicing and baking.

FAQs

These easy patriotic cookies are sure to be the highlight of your Memorial Day desserts spread or 4th of July celebration.

The vibrant swirls and festive colors make them as beautiful as they are delicious!

I hope you enjoy making these Patriotic Pinwheel Cookies as much as my family does. If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comments below!

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