Swirl Cookies

These cookies are worth every minute they take to make! I first saw these a few years ago on The Sporadic Cook. I made them first with red, yellow, blue and green. This time around I am ready to look forward. Away from the holiday season and I am already looking forward to this month being over. I dislike the cold, snow, ice, wind, etc. Today was one of those very cold and windy days where we just stayed indoors. Although these are time consuming, they are so worth it. I love the taste of these cookies and may even use this dough for some cut out cookies. I love what the cream cheese adds to the flavor. I decided to try a Valentine's day theme. I wanted a red, white, and light pink. I used some Wilton color gel to try and get the pink, and after two attempts with this color I think I am done. Both times I have used this I get more of a mauve then a pink shade. I will now stick with the Ameri Color gels. I didn't want to waste any dough so you will see the mauve color and then a few of the pink that I managed to get out of some of the white dough. I used a white gel color as well to try and obtain a bright white color for the cookies.

I doubled the original recipe, figured if I am going through all the work I want to get a decent batch of cookies. Begin by mixing your butter and cream cheese, add the sugar and mix till fluffy. Add in the eggs and vanilla, and mix till combined. In a separate bowl, measure out the flour, salt, and baking powder. Gradually add flour mixture into the dough and mix till combined. Separate the dough into 3 or 4 balls. Depends on what color combinations you decide to use.

Add the gel or food coloring to each section of dough and wrap each in plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator to chill for about 2 hours. Once it is chilled you will need take each color and roll into small balls, I had my handy assistant help with this, she was more than willing and up for the task.

Once you have all the small balls, take 4 small balls and roll into one large ball. Do this till you use up all the small balls.

Next, roll out the ball into a 12 inch long snake and then roll to make the cookie. Place on parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Let rest on cookie sheet for 1-2 minutes then remove to cooling rack.

Next time I will stay clear of the mauve color and stick to the electric pink, deep red, and bright white Ameri color gels colors. For fourth of July I would switch the pink for blue and that will make a very festive cookie as well!

Swirl Color Sugar Cookies

from The Sporadic Cook

1 1/2 cups butter (3 sticks)

6 oz. cream cheese

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

5 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

Assorted colors of food coloring or gel. (Gel has a much bolder color and a little goes a long way)

Set butter and cream cheese on counter for 10 minutes. Place in mixer and combine, add sugar and mix till fluffy. Add in eggs and vanilla, mixing well to incorporate. In a separate bowl add flour, salt, and baking powder, stir. Add slowly to mixture until all combined.

Divide dough into the amount of colors you are going to use and add gel/food coloring to each section and combine. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.

When dough is ready, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove and roll each color into small balls. Once all balls are made take 3-4 of the balls and roll into one large ball, roll out into 12 inch snake and then starting at one end, roll into coil.

Place on parchment paper and bake 8-10 minutes, remove and let sit on baking sheet for 1-2 minutes, remove to cooling rack.

Enjoy!

I linked this recipe up at the following sites;

Mandy's recipe box for Totally Tasty Tuesdays

Family Ever After

Too Much Time on my Hands