Delicious jam filled raspberry pinwheel cookies are an old fashioned Christmas tradition! Raspberry jam and walnuts are rolled up inside a rich, buttery dough. The cookie log is then sliced and baked for a delicious and pretty raspberry swirl cookie.
Making cookies is fun, and not something that should happen just for the holidays. Nothing beats the taste of warm cookies, fresh out of the oven!
My family are all huge fans of chocolate cookies, like chocolate crinkle cookies and Andes Mint cookies, but sometimes it is nice to change things up and make cookies that aren’t chocolate.
These raspberry pinwheel cookies are a perfect choice, because they are old fashioned sugary cookies filled with jam.
Pretty & Easy to Make
One of my favorite things about these cookies is that it is easy to make them look good. There is no complicated decorating for these cookies.
You just roll them and slice them and they come out round with swirls of jam topped off with sparkling sugar. The only thing you need to make these cookies look good is some patience, because making them does involve some waiting while the dough chills.
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Ingredients
The ingredients for these cookies are fairly standard. The dough is made from:
- Flour
- Salt
- Cream cheese
- Butter
The combination of the butter and cream cheese makes the dough rich and flakey. This dough is less sticky and easier to work with than the dough in my colorful pinwheel cookies recipe.
The cookies are finished with:
- Jam
- Walnuts
- Sparkling sugar
Sparkling Sugar
There is no sugar this cookie dough. The sweetness in the recipe comes from the jam and the sparkling sugar that is sprinkled on the cookies. Because of this you probably don’t want to skip the sugar on top.
Sparkling sugar is very pretty and makes the cookies look more decorative. The crystals are larger than standard sugar and it really does sparkle in the light. I like to sprinkle it on my pie crusts too, so they look extra elegant.
But if you don’t have sparkling sugar just use regular sugar! Multiple readers of this recipe have done that since I first published this recipe 5 years ago and it works fine and the cookies are still delicious.
How to Make Pinwheel Cookies
1. Make the Dough
This dough will come together best if you let the cream cheese and butter come to room temperature before making it. So about an hour before you want to make the cookies get the butter and cream cheese out and put them on the counter.
I have always made this dough in a food processor. I think a stand mixer would work though, although it would be even more important to have room temperature ingredients if using a stand mixer.
Start by putting the flour and salt in the food processor and pulse it a few times to mix it. Then add the butter and cream cheese.
Process the dough until it forms into a ball. The dough ball should incorporate almost all the ingredients and leave only crumbs behind. Then take the ball of dough out of the food processor and wrap it in plastic wrap.
2. Chill the Dough
Put the dough in the refrigerator and chill it for at least 2 hours. This is where the patience becomes important!
If you don’t chill the dough it will be too sticky to roll out and work with. If you want to make this ahead of time you can chill the dough for up to 2-3 days before making the cookies.
3. Roll out the Dough
You need a lightly floured surface for rolling out the dough. A cutting board or marble counter works well, and so does the kitchen table.
Spread a small amount (1/4 cup) of flour over the surface. If the dough starts sticking add more flour as you roll.
Then put the ball of dough on the surface and use a rolling pin to roll it out into a rectangle about 1/4 inches thick and 14 x 12 inches. If you prefer you can also roll the dough on lightly floured parchment paper.
Once the dough is rolled out cut the edges to make them straight, so you have a rectangle shape. This makes rolling up the filling much easier.
4. Roll up the Filling
Once you have a nice rectangle shape spread the jam on top of the dough, leaving about 1/4 inch jam free on each side.
Then take the finely chopped walnuts and spread them on top of the jam. I like to use the food processor to get the walnuts nice and small. You really want them reduced almost to a fine paste for these cookies.
Roll the dough up on the longer side to create the raspberry swirls. It should be rolled tightly, but you also don’t want jam squishing out from everywhere. Use firm consistent pressure as you roll.
5. Slice and Bake
Now you have a nice log of cookie dough. I always proceed immediately to slicing and baking the cookies.
But if the dough seems sticky or it took you a while to get a good rectangle shape you can chill the log of dough before cutting. So if the outside of the dough log seems sticky wrap it in plastic wrap and chill it for another hour.
Once you are ready to slice and bake the cookies use a sharp knife to cut the log into 1/2 thick slices. I find a steak knife works well.
Take each slice as it is cut and dip it in a bowl of sparkling sugar, then place it on a cookie sheet, with the sugar side up. An ungreased cookie sheet is fine for these cookies.
Some of the cookies will have gaps between the layers, but the dough will expand during baking and fill those in. Similarly my cookies always look more round after baking, so don’t worry if they look a little squished at this point.
Bake them for about 15-20 minutes in a preheated 375 oven, until they are just a little bit brown on the edges. Then let cool on a wire rack or eat them warm!
Storing the Cookies
This recipe makes only about 20 cookies. So if I am making it for a party or big family gathering I will make two batches.
You can store the cookies in a plastic container or bag at room temperature for 2-3 days. The dough is very flaky and it will soften as they are stored. But with only 20 cookies and a family of five they don’t last that long anyway!
Can I Make These Ahead?
These are great cookies for making ahead of time. You can store the dough in the refrigerator for 2-3 days after making it.
Or you can store the rolled cookie logs in the refrigerator for 2-3 days after rolling them and slice and bake them another time. I wouldn’t store the dough for more than 2-3 days total though, so if you store it before rolling don’t also store it after rolling!
You can also freeze the logs of dough for 2-3 months. When you are ready to make the cookies let the dough thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then slice and bake.
The cookies themselves don’t freeze that well. They will still be edible, but the texture of the cookies will be better if you freeze them before baking.
Variations
You could easily use a different type of jam in these cookies. Strawberry or blackberry jam would be equally delicious.
Just make sure you actually use jam! A few years ago I tried to make these with strawberry jelly and it was a mess, with jelly running out all over the cookie sheets.
You need to use something with the same consistency as jam, so not jelly and not preserves. You can also substitute pecans or almonds for the nuts, or leave the nuts out entirely if you prefer.
Cookies Make the Perfect Gift
I love to share homemade cookies with my friends and family! Food is a great way to bring people together during the holiday season, either in person or from a distance.
Why not bake some cookies this year and put together a cookie gift box for your friends? Here are some cookie recipe ideas for gift giving!
Raspberry Pinwheel Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/4 cup raspberry jam
- 1/2 cup walnuts finely chopped
- 1/4 cup sparkling sugar
Instructions
- Combine the flour and salt in a food processor and pulse a few times to mix.1 1/2 cup flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Add the butter and cream cheese and process until a ball a dough forms. It will form fine crumbs first, and then as you continue to process it will clump together into a ball.4 ounces cream cheese, 1/2 cup butter
- Chill the dough for 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 375 F.
- Roll the dough out onto a lightly floured surface into a rectangle about 14 x 12 inches. I cut the edges off my rectangle to make it straight.
- Spread the jam on the dough, and then spread the walnuts on top.1/4 cup raspberry jam, 1/2 cup walnuts
- Roll up from the long side and cut into 1/2 inch thick slices.
- Dip one side of each slice in coarse sugar.1/4 cup sparkling sugar
- Bake sugar side up for 15 – 20 minutes, until the cookies are lightly browned.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
I love raspberries! These look so tasty and would make a nice addition to a cup of coffee 🙂
I love anything pinwheels. They always look so pretty and yummy!!
I’ve never tried those. They look yummy!
Visiting from Skip the Housework link party. Love this type of cookie, this variation looks lovely. I co-host Sweet and Savoury Sunday and would love for you to stop by and share this and other recipes with us. Have a great day!
How easy! I made a SUPER easy variation of this a few times, using packaged cookie dough and jam, but I never thought about adding nuts.
These look delicious! And so much easier than I would have thought!
Don’t have food processor can I use mixer?
Oh yummmmmm. As soon as my broken ankle heals, I’m going to make these.
I have OODLES of raspberry jam. What I fabulous use for it! Pinning!
Wow! These sound wonderful! I’d like to invite you to stop by my weekly link party and link this up.
Can these be frozen once baked?
These look marvelous! Great for all the jam I’m plotting to make too!
YUM one of my favorite fruits in my favorite type of cookie 🙂
Mmmm, these look a lot like the rugelach I made last year, but with raspberry jam, my favorite! And I like your pinwheel shape lots better than my awkward little rolls. They’re lovely! Pinning for this holiday season 🙂
~April
(visiting from Foodie Friday)
These cookies look beyond amazing, and I really wish I had one right now to enjoy with my coffee! PINNED because I just have to make these sweet things! Saying hello from super Saturday link party!
Cathy
Very little flavor in the cookie itself, have had much better ones in the past with almond or pecans, ground into the dough, unfortunately, this dough is dense and flavorless.
These cookies look delicious, I love the raspberry/walnut combo. Of course, anything covered in coarse sugar has to be good, right?
These look great. Question: does the butter and cream cheese need to be at room temperature before adding to the food processor ?
Can pillsbury ready made pie crust be used instead? I’m not good at rolling out anything. Thought maybe to spread thin layer of cream cheese over dough for missing cream cheese in regular dough recipe? Thanks
Using that dough would take away the awesome taste of the recipe dough that has cream cheese incorporated into the dough that gives it the buttery taste. Sure you can use Pillsbury dough but you will not get the same taste as what the recipe is about.
Can Pillsbury pie crust be subbed for the dough? If so how do you incorporate the cream cheese?
What could you use if you don’t have a food processor? I have a mixer will that work?
I don’t have a food processor can I use my mixer?
I made these for my family Christmas party yesterday. EVERYONE raved about them. They were super easy to make. I chilled my dough overnight due to time restraints, so had to let the dough warm up awhile before I could roll it. They came out perfect – pretty and delicious. Will keep this in my holiday collection!
Made these to add into my Christmas cookie trays this year….. they were my favorite in the whole tray!! More tedious cookie recipe but sooo much fun!
I’m not good at rolling out anything. but I wanna try it. these sound wonderful! I’d like to invite you to stop by my weekly link party and link this up. I made a SUPER easy variation of this a few times, using packaged cookie dough and jam. I love anything pinwheels. They always look so pretty and yummy.
Just made these and they turned out beautifully. The second time! The second time I put the dough in the fridge AND used a dough scraper/cutter/chopper to cut them and they sliced without effort and so clean! Plus, I didn’t forget the nuts the second time, as I did in the first batch along with the prepared baking sheet!
Thanks for the recipe it’s so easy and yummy!
I do not have a food processor can I use a stand mixer instead. Thank you
I’m not good at rolling out anything. Thought maybe to spread thin layer of cream cheese over dough for missing cream cheese in regular dough recipe?
ottoisrael
I would like to invite you to stop and link through my weekly link party. I made it yesterday for my family’s Christmas party. Everyone made fun of him. They were very easy to make. These cookies look delicious, I like the raspberry/walnut combo. I made it last year, but with raspberry jam, my favorite! And I think your pinwheel shape is much better than my weird little rolls.
Can the logs be wrapped and refrigerated or frozen a few days ahead then cut and baked?
It would be really nice if you would provide answers to questions that people have especially if they would like to try your recipe.
Yes. Especially if using a stand mixer you will want these ingredients at room temp for an hour before mixing together.
Read above the recipe. It has all the info people ask about. Yes you can freeze the dough log and bake closer to event. Just don’t freeze more than 2 months.
Refrigerate up to 2-3 days total.
Can you use store bought dough?
Why are there no reply’s to all these questions?????
Not sure who thinks this recipe is easy… TOO much jam for the dough. You might as well just roll it and freeze it again bc there is no way to cut it without making a mess. Waste of a day trying to make these.
yummy how taste these cookies are well done well said we should promote this type of content nice worketha work
nice work man i see your effort that you put into this thing great work etha unbiased news america
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It looks so easy and yummy
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