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Published: | Last Updated: | Author: Lois

Vanilla Chocolate Swirl Cookies

Vanilla Chocolate Swirl Cookies – a fun slice and bake cookie in a pinwheel design. Another one of our 12 Days of Christmas Cookies I know you’re family is going to enjoy this holiday season. Let me show another of favorite easy cookie recipe with a fun swirl design.

Vanilla and Chocolate Swirl Cookies on baking rack Featured Photo from WOS

I hope you’re enjoying the new Christmas cookie recipes I’m sharing with you. Today continues with Vanilla Chocolate Swirl Cookies. Don’t let the swirl in these cookies make you think they’re difficult to make. 

vanilla chocolate swirl pinwheel cookies

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Ingredients

Exact measurements are listed below in the recipe card. Make sure you scroll down to print and save the recipe for later!

  • 1 1/2 cups butter softened
  • Confectioner’s sugar
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 3 cups flour
  • Salt
  • Baking powder
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder

Directions

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter until it’s smooth. Then add the sugars and blend until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Once the sugars are blended, add the vanilla extract and beat for another minute or until it is combined.  

Finally, add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture one third at a time, stirring well after each addition until the dough is evenly blended. Divide the dough in half, keeping one half of the dough in the mixer and setting the other half aside while you prepare the chocolate layer.

Cream together the butter and sugar in mixing bowl.

Add the unsweetened cocoa powder to the mixer and combine until it is fully incorporated.  This may take a few minutes, but take your time and make sure the cocoa powder is full incorporated into the vanilla dough so you get a true chocolate color. 

Add cocoa powder to vanilla cookie dough mixture.

How to Form the Two Layers

Remove the chocolate dough from the mixer and divide the chocolate dough into TWO pieces. Form each chocolate piece of dough into 1/2 inch thick squares and wrap them individually in plastic wrap.

Divide the vanilla dough into TWO pieces, form each vanilla piece of dough into 1/2 inch thick squares and wrap them individually in plastic wrap.

You should now have two squares of chocolate dough and two squares of vanilla dough all wrapped individually. Refrigerate all four squares of dough until firm; about one to two hours.

Vanilla and chocolate dough squares wrapped in plastic wrap.

How to Form the Vanilla and Chocolate Layers

Unwrap one piece of the chilled vanilla dough leaving it on top of the plastic wrap.

Cover it with a second piece of plastic wrap, then using a rolling pin, roll out the vanilla dough into a rectangle measuring about 9X12 inches. If the dough gets too soft and difficult to roll, simply slide it onto a baking sheet and refrigerate until it’s firm again; no longer than 10 minutes.

Unwrap one piece of the chilled chocolate dough, leaving it on top of the plastic wrap. Cover it with a second piece of plastic wrap, and roll it out into a 9X12 inch rectangle shape as well.

Remove the top pieces of plastic wrap from both the vanilla rolled dough and the chocolate rolled dough. Carefully invert the chocolate dough on top of the vanilla dough. Remove the top piece of plastic wrap from the chocolate dough. Gently roll over the top of both layers with a rolling pin to make the doughs slightly stick together.

Vanilla and Chocolate dough layers.

Starting at one end, lift the vanilla dough up by the plastic wrap underneath and roll up the doughs into one big log, pressing gently as you roll to help adhere both layers together and peeling the plastic wrap away as you roll.

Wrap the log in a fresh piece of plastic wrap and refrigerate for another 2 hours. Repeat this process with the remaining piece of vanilla and chocolate dough.

Baking Tip: You can place the cylinder of slice and bake cookie dough in the freezer for up to three months.

How to Slice and Bake the Cookies

Remove the logs from the refrigerator and remove the plastic wrap. Then lay the log on a cutting board and slice into 1/4 inch thick rounds.

Sliced Chocolate Swirl Cookies

Place the cookie slices onto a baking sheet that’s been lined with parchment paper. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 13 minutes. The cookies will still be a little soft to the touch and slightly brown on the edges. 

Lay Chocolate Swirl Cookies on Baking Tray lined with parchment paper from WOS

Let cool slightly on a baking rack before enjoying!  Together with a glass of milk or a hot cup of hot chocolate, these Vanilla Chocolate Swirl Cookies are the perfect treat. 

Vanilla and Chocolate Swirl Cookies on baking rack.

Tips for Making Vanilla Chocolate Swirl Cookies: 

Please don’t let the lengthy instructions for this recipe scare you away.  It’s really an easy recipe to prepare!

  • Make sure you allow the cocoa powder to mix completely with the vanilla dough so it does not have a marbled look. 
  • Allow the dough to chill the recommended time.  When you try to roll out the layers and the dough is warm dough, you will have a mess. 
  • If the dough starts to crack while you are rolling the layers together, don’t worry!  Just pinch the dough together and keep rolling.  
  • Allow the dough to chill a second time before slicing.  

Freezing Tips for Slice and Bake Cookies

  • Once the dough has been rolled up into log shapes, wrap it in plastic wrap and then add the logs to a freezer safe plastic bag.
  • You can freeze it for up to three months.
  • When you’re ready to bake, remove the logs from the freezer and allow to sit on the counter for about 10 to 15 minutes or until you’re able to slice them. 
  • Bake according to the directions above. You may need to add on a few extra minutes if the dough is still a little frozen when adding the trays to the oven. 
Vanilla and Chocolate Swirl Cookies on parchment paper served with milk from WOS

These cookie recipes will be great for hosting a cookie exchange, give away cookies as gifts or just bake for your own family. Check out my Amazon Christmas Shop for ideas on how to package food gifts.

Tried this recipe? Let me know in the comments and don’t forget to rate it!

Vanilla and Chocolate Swirl Cookies stacked and on baking rack.
Vanilla and Chocolate Swirl Cookies

Vanilla and Chocolate Swirl Cookies

Yield: 4 dozen cookies
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 13 minutes
Chilling Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 43 minutes

Vanilla and Chocolate Swirl Cookies are a fun pinwheel cookie that your family and friends are going to love! Freezing tips included to help you prep-ahead so you can have cookies anytime you want!

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups butter; softened
  • 1 cup confectioner's sugar
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Instructions

  1. In a medium sized bowl, combine the flour, salt and baking powder together.
  2. Set aside.
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter until it's smooth.
  4.  Add the sugars and blend until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
  5. Then add the vanilla extract and beat for another minute or until it is combined. 
  6. Now add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture one third at a time, stirring well after each addition until the dough is evenly blended.
  7. Divide the dough in half, keeping one half of the dough in the mixer and setting the other half aside while you prepare the chocolate layer.

How to Prepare the Chocolate Layer:

  1. Add the unsweetened cocoa powder to the mixer and combine until it is fully incorporated. This may take a few minutes.
  2. Remove the chocolate dough from the mixer and divide the chocolate dough into TWO pieces.
  3. Form each chocolate piece of dough into 1/2 inch thick squares and wrap them individually in plastic wrap.
  4. Divide the vanilla dough into TWO pieces, form each vanilla piece of dough into 1/2 inch thick squares and wrap them individually in plastic wrap.
  5. You should now have two squares of chocolate dough and two squares of vanilla dough all wrapped individually.
  6. Refrigerate all four squares of dough until firm; about one to two hours.

How to Roll Out the Cookies:

  1. Unwrap one piece of the chilled vanilla dough leaving it on top of the plastic wrap.
  2. Cover it with a second piece of plastic wrap, then using a rolling pin, roll out the vanilla dough into a rectangle measuring about 9X12 inches.
  3. If the dough gets too soft and difficult to roll, simply slide it onto a baking sheet and refrigerate until it's firm again; no longer than 10 minutes.
  4. Unwrap one piece of the chilled chocolate dough, leaving it on top of the plastic wrap.
  5. Cover it with a second piece of plastic wrap, and roll it out into a 9X12 inch rectangle shape as well.
  6. Again, if the dough gets too soft and difficult to roll, simply slide it onto a baking sheet and refrigerate until it's firm again.

How to Form the Cookie Dough into a Log Shape:

  1. Remove the top pieces of plastic wrap from both the vanilla rolled dough and the chocolate rolled dough.
  2. Carefully invert the chocolate dough on top of the vanilla dough.
  3. Remove the top piece of plastic wrap from the chocolate dough.
  4. Gently roll over the top of both layers with a rolling pin to make the doughs slightly stick together.
  5. Starting at one end, lift the vanilla dough up by the plastic wrap underneath and roll up the doughs into one big log, pressing gently as you roll to help adhere both layers together and peeling the plastic wrap away as you roll.
  6. Wrap the log in a fresh piece of plastic wrap and refrigerate for another 2 hours.
  7. Repeat this process with the remaining piece of vanilla and chocolate dough.

How to Bake the Cookies:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Remove the logs from the refrigerator and remove the plastic wrap.
  3. Lay the log on a cutting board and slice into 1/4 inch thick rounds.
  4. Place the slices onto a baking sheet that's been lined with parchment paper.
  5. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 13 minutes.
  6. The cookies will still be a little soft to the touch and slightly brown on the edges. 
  7. Let cool slightly before enjoying.

Notes

Once the dough has been rolled up into log shapes, you can freeze it for up to three months.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 48 Serving Size: 1 cookie
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 101Total Fat: 5.9gSaturated Fat: 3.7gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 52mgCarbohydrates: 11.6gFiber: 0.4gSugar: 5.3gProtein: 1g
© Lois
Cuisine: American / Category: Desserts

This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2011 with new photos and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them! 

About Lois

Originally from Queens, NY, Lois now calls northeastern PA home. You can find her blogging over at Walking on Sunshine where she shares a little of her life, but more importantly what’s for dinner at her house tonight.

Comments

  2. Lee-Ann says

    Hi Lois!

    found your great recipe through Wined Down Wednesday. Beautiful step-by-step photos, really helpful! And can taste the cookies now!

    Reply

  4. mary says

    these are so cute, and they dont sound hard at all! need all the cookie recipes I can get with my daughter on a baking roll thanks to high school foods class! thanks for sharing

    Reply

  6. Kendra | www.joyinourhome.com says

    These look so delicious Lois! I’m putting them on our cookie list this season! Thanks so much for joining me this week… was wonderful to have you!

    Reply

  13. Linda Neely says

    These cookies are the best of both worlds! I especially want to try the chicken recipe. Thanks for sharing & for participating in the give-away.

    Reply

  16. CoCo says

    Lois these chocolate swirl cookies look amazing! I’ve always wanted to make swirl cookies but the recipes seemed kind of complicated so I’m excited to try all your tips and tricks. Thanks so much for the recipe and the easy to follow instructions. Hugs, CoCo

    Reply

    • Lois says

      Thank you! I always thought they were hard to make as well until I finally decided to try them and was so happy I did. Thanks for visiting!

      Reply

  27. Debbie says

    The cookies look just WONDERFUL, and actually don't seem to hard to make. And good way of making the zucchini. It looks like how mine comes out so I kind of thought you did it the same way. I heat just a little bit of olive oil in a big wok pan, slice the zucchini and sprinkle it with Mrs. Dash's herb and garlic seasoning and toss it around for around 5 or 6 minutes…soo yummy. I need to try your way. ENJOY your week-end Lois! HUGS

    Reply

  30. LDH says

    Good morning, Lois!

    What a pretty cookie! It has the best of both worlds swirled into a tempting cookie. Thanks for sharing this recipe.

    Reply

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