Introduction

Magical Spiral Cookies are a delightful treat that combines colorful swirls with a perfect buttery texture. These visually stunning cookies bring fun and flavor together, making them a hit at any gathering. With just a bit of time and creativity, you can create these enchanting spirals in your own kitchen.

There are several round cookies on a white plate with a thin gold rim. Each cookie has about five visible layers, starting from a beige outer layer, followed by a purple layer, then a dark blue layer, another purple layer, and a final dark blue outline around a center filled with shiny, crushed purple sugar crystals that look like gems. One side of each cookie is decorated with small purple and black sprinkles. The plate sits on a purple cloth on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Instructions

Step 1: Beat the unsalted butter and powdered sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy.

Step 2: Add the eggs and milk, then mix until the batter is smooth and well combined.

Step 3: Incorporate the all-purpose flour, salt, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Mix until a smooth dough forms.

Step 4: Divide the dough into portions. Tint one half with purple gel food coloring. Divide the remaining half into black and white portions, coloring the black portion with black gel food coloring.

Step 5: Roll the black dough into a 6-by-12-inch rectangle.

Step 6: Roll the white dough to the same size and place it on top of the black layer. Roll lightly to ensure the layers adhere together.

Step 7: Roll the purple dough into the same size rectangle, sprinkle purple sprinkles evenly on top, and then carefully roll it into a log shape.

Step 8: Assemble the layers and roll them together to create the spiral effect, then slice into cookies and bake according to your preferred temperature and time (refer to the linked full recipe for detailed baking instructions).

Tips & Variations

Use gel food coloring to prevent the dough from becoming too soft, which helps maintain the cookie shape.

Chill the dough logs before slicing to get cleaner, more defined spirals.

Try different sprinkle colors or swap almond extract for lemon extract for a brighter flavor.

Work on a lightly floured surface to avoid sticking when rolling out the dough.

FAQs

Can I use food coloring other than gel?

Standard liquid food coloring can be used, but it may soften the dough more than gel coloring, potentially making it harder to roll and shape the cookies. Gel coloring is recommended to maintain dough consistency.

Do I need to chill the dough before baking?

Yes, chilling the dough logs before slicing helps the cookies hold their spiral shape and reduces spreading during baking, resulting in cleaner, more attractive cookies.