Cranberry-Orange Pinwheel Cookies
A soft pinwheel cookie with a burst of festive color from the cranberry and pecan filling.
You might remember these from last year. They’re a tradition in this house. An absolute must. When I asked The Mr recently what his top 5 favorite cookies were, these were on the list. Of course he couldn’t even give me a list of 5 but that’s not the point. I’ve been making them for Christmas easily the last 6 years or more.
I like making these for the aromas. The orange zest and cranberries give off wonderful fragrances. How something smells is just as important as how it looks and tastes, to me anyway. And these smell incredible. They also have a nice light taste. You can eat cookie after cookie without having a heavy feeling in your stomach like certain other desserts can cause.
These require more work than the average cookie but the end result is worth it. Be sure to check out my tips below for an easier time making these.
Cranberry-Orange Pinwheel Cookies
Ingredients
Filling:
- 1 C fresh cranberries
- 1 C pecans
- 1/4 C light brown sugar
Cookie dough:
- 1 C unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 C granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp orange zest, or roughly 1 orange
- 3 C all purpose flour
Instructions
- In a food processor; add cranberries, pecans and brown sugar. Blend well until only small pieces remain. Set aside or cover and chill until needed.
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar. Add baking powder, salt, eggs and orange zest. Beat on low/medium for roughly 1 minute. Dough may be lumpy. Add flour by the spoonfuls, mixing on medium speed until ingredients have come together. Cover and chill for at least one hour.
- Divide dough in half. Place one half between two sheets of wax paper. Roll into a large rectangle roughly 1/4-inch thick. Remove top layer of wax paper. Evenly spread out half of the cranberry filling over dough to 1/2-inch from all sides.
- Begin rolling from one of the short ends. Dough may stick at first. Gently guide dough by pulling up on wax paper. Pinch to seal ends. Transfer rolled dough log to a clean sheet of waxed paper. Roll and tape shut. To prevent flat spots, place dough log in 2 large glasses or wrapped in cardboard paper towel insert.
- Chill at least 24 hours. After several hours, gently roll log to check for any flat spots.
- When ready to bake. Preheat oven to 375°F. Slice 1/4-inch thick slices. Space 1-2-inch apart on a baking sheet prepared with parchment paper or a silicone baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until bottoms are just turning golden. Let cookies rest on tray for 1-2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.
- Store in a covered container for up to a week. Remaining dough may be frozen. Label well with any instructions such as type of dough, baking temp, time, etc.
already follow you on twitter!
I now “like” you on Facebook!
I am having 22 people for the first night of Hannukah. Latkas, Kugel, Brisket, and sufganiyot(a fancy way of saying “doughnut”). That’s pretty much our tradition. And then chinese town for yum chinese on xmas day!
I tweeted your tweet and shared it on Facebook!
Love your FB articles. Making a few of your suggestions for our family Hanukkah party.
Since losing my husband this past July these holidays will be tough. I always look for one new cookie recipe a year and these look wonderful! I’ll be roasting the traditional turkey with all the fixin’s and these cookies will be the ‘lead-in’. Thank you for the recipe. I “like” you on Facebook.
I live in Chicago and I’m heading back home to Wisconsin to spend time with my family and god daughter. But before I leave, I’m making loads of cut-out cookies. : )
Will be staying home and cooking/baking.
Following on Twitter
Tweeted enter to win……………………
Liked on Fb
Shared on Fb,I think I have done all except for the RSS feed and I never really understood that :(
My husband & I will be home (alone) for the holidays for the first time in several years. Fortunately, the whole family was together in November for a wedding in Newport, RI. We are planning to visit the Frist Center for the Visual Arts and see the Egyptian exhibit. Weather permitting, get to get outside and walk the dogs – alot :) My husband will probably smoke a brisket and prepare the usual fixins’ (as per our Texas roots).
The cookies look beautiful and I think I’ll try to make these next week.
Best,
Lindsay
Tweeted to enter to win!
My plans for the holidays are to go to my friend’s parent’s house to spend the night and celebrate on Christmas Day. I don’t have any local family and they’ve always been very welcoming to me.
Followed you on Twitter – “Spookeriffic”! :) Happy Holidays!
Staying home this year and roasting a fine duck!
and I subscribed via rss!
this christmas I’m planning on driving down to AZ(9hrs) to visit with the fam for a few days. I’m sure lots of red velvet cake and cornbread will be consumed.
your tweet complete.
I already follow you via twitter-that’s how I found out about this wonderful giveaway.
your blog post has been shared.
I currently like you on facebook.
now I’m following you via rss
Love the recipe & looking forward to trying it. My mom and I just finished our annual Xmas cookie weekend…153 dozen or 1,835 total cookies – gifts for family & friends. My sister & kids are coming for a week the day after Christmas so we’ll have a delayed celebration. Happy holidays!
My first holiday since my job ended and I moved across the country b/c of cancer…there will be wonderful services for my new congregation and lots of yummy food, some I’m making for the first time, then time with dearly loved and comfy friends and a big scrumptious dinner, then a couple days later to the most wonderful part of my family imaginable – very nice to be included :)!! And MORE cooking and eating :)
Holidays? I am traveling to visit family. My grandmother is traveling 900 miles to also visit family and I get to see her! I am sooo happy!
We’re renting a cabin in the mountains with the inlaws and kids
Its my first Christmas as an ’empty nester’… Last of the kids got married this summer. I imagine I’ll spend the day creating new traditions…
I liked you on FB
..and then I shared the post
but I don’t know how to twitter, can I have a entry for trying? LOL!
We’ll be travelling to my mother-in-laws to help her prepare a huge feast. We’ll eat and talk until the patience of the children is stretched and then open gifts.
I have one of those mini grinders…awesome giveaway :) Love the cookies.
Hi Rachel, As I write my pinwheel dough is chillin in the refrigerator. I don’t have any family in the US, but my friend invited me for a christmas dinner at her place, so that’s where I’ll be, maybe treating them to another batch of pinwheel cookies if the first one is a success :)
BTW, I started following u on twitter and also tweeted as per ur instruction.
I will be traveling to visit family and spend the holidays with them.
BTW it is still 12/17 on the west coast (California) :)
I ’Like’ Baked by Rachel on Facebook.
I follow you on twitter as @zumbamamacita
I tweeted “Enter to win a Cuisinart Elite 4 Cup Chopper/Grinder from Baked by Rachel @rachelcurrier http://tinyurl.com/ca3yw4z #giveaway Ends 12/17″
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Doing a “ravioli-thon” on Christmas eve. Lots of friends, lots of fillings, lots of fun.
Traditional Christmas dinner topped off with steamed pudding and hard sauce.
visiting my family in buffalo for the holidays
Have you tried frozen cranberries for this?
I haven’t used frozen, only fresh or thawed. I don’t think you’d get the same results for the filling using frozen cranberries.
It does not specify if cranberries are fresh, frozen or dried, Does it matter?
I would recommend using fresh or frozen. I recall another reader using cranberries and though it can be done, it does change the overall consistency of the filling.
Could I use canned cranberries? If so how would I change the substance into something that I could use? More sugar, gelatin?
No, canned cranberries will be too soft and have too much liquid in them. You want to use fresh or frozen whole berries only for this recipe.
When do u add the cranberry mixture it doeant say im confused?
The orange goes into the dough and the cranberry is used as filling for the swirl, all specified in the directions. Enjoy!
Thanks for this recipe, Rachel. The Orange-Cranberry Pinwheel Cookies are wonderful. I made them and added the recipe to my own blog, with a link back to your post.
So glad you enjoyed them!
for this recipie so you use fresh cranberries or dried cranberries
Fresh cranberries are used. Enjoy! :)
Perfect thank you so much I can’t wait to make them