Pin it
Every holiday season I get excited to make these Cream Cheese Jam Pinwheel Cookies. The way that buttery cream cheese dough swirls with bright raspberry jam creates such beautiful spirals. When they're dusted with powdered sugar they look like they're touched with fresh snow. These have become my signature holiday cookie the one everyone asks for as soon as December rolls around.
Why Everyone Loves These
What makes these cookies so wonderful is how simple yet impressive they are. You only need a handful of ingredients to create something that looks like it came from a fancy bakery. I love that you can use any seedless jam you like to make them your own. The tender cream cheese dough just melts in your mouth and that sweet jam adds the perfect fruity pop.
Everything You'll Need
- Cream Cheese: Make sure it's softened it makes everything blend together like silk.
- Butter: Room temperature for that perfect flaky texture.
- Flour: I always sift it makes such a difference in the texture.
- Salt: Just a pinch brings out all those wonderful flavors.
- Seedless Jam: Raspberry is my favorite but any smooth jam works beautifully.
Let's Make Some Magic
- Creating That Perfect Dough
- First I cream together the butter and cream cheese until they're so light and fluffy. When you add the flour and salt it comes together into this wonderfully soft dough. That first chill time is crucial it makes everything so much easier to work with.
- The Fun Part
- Rolling out the dough is like creating a blank canvas. I spread that beautiful jam all the way to the edges leaving just a tiny border. Then comes my favorite part rolling it into a log watching those swirls form is so satisfying.
- Getting Ready to Bake
- Here's my secret trick using dental floss or thread to slice the log gives you the cleanest cuts. The dough needs to be really firm so those swirls stay perfect.
- Into the Oven
- When they're baking the kitchen fills with this amazing buttery sweet aroma. They just need to get slightly golden around the edges. That final dusting of powdered sugar makes them look absolutely magical.
My Best Tips
After making these countless times I've learned some important tricks. Your cream cheese and butter really need to be soft but not melted. Don't skip those chilling steps they're what give you those perfect spirals. If your jam is too thick warm it just a bit it'll spread so much easier.
Keeping Them Fresh
These cookies stay perfect in an airtight container for about three days or up to a week in the fridge. I love that you can make the dough ahead and keep it chilled until you're ready to bake. It makes holiday baking so much more manageable when you can break it into steps.
Making Memories Together
These cookies are perfect for getting the whole family involved in holiday baking. My kids love helping spread the jam and watching the dough transform into those beautiful spirals. Even little ones can help dust them with powdered sugar at the end. There's something magical about seeing their proud faces when those perfect pinwheels come out of the oven.
What Makes These Extra Special
The beauty of these cookies is how they combine simple ingredients into something truly elegant. That cream cheese dough makes them so tender and rich while the jam adds just the right amount of sweetness. They're fancy enough for holiday parties but simple enough to make on a cozy afternoon. Every time I serve them people can't believe they're homemade.
Making Them Your Own
Over the years I've tried so many different variations. Sometimes I'll use apricot jam for a change or strawberry in springtime. A little cinnamon in the dough adds such a wonderful warm note. For my gluten-free friends I've had great success with cup-for-cup flour blends the texture is slightly different but still delicious.
Adding Extra Sparkle
Sometimes I like to make these cookies extra festive especially during the holidays. A drizzle of melted white chocolate looks like icicles across the top. For special occasions I'll sprinkle them with edible glitter it makes them shimmer so beautifully. My latest discovery was adding crushed freeze-dried raspberries on top it adds such a pretty pop of color and intensifies that berry flavor.
Perfect for Sharing
These cookies make the most wonderful gifts. I carefully arrange them in pretty holiday tins layered with parchment paper. Sometimes I'll include the recipe because people always ask for it. There's something so special about giving someone a box of homemade cookies especially ones this beautiful. The look on their faces when they open the tin is pure joy.
A Family Tradition
This recipe started with my grandmother's old cookbook but I've tweaked it over the years to make it simpler while keeping that same delicious taste. Every time I make them I think about all the generations of bakers who've shared similar recipes during the holidays. It's amazing how a simple cookie can carry so much tradition and love.
Perfect Pairings
I love serving these cookies alongside hot drinks the combination is just perfect. A mug of rich hot cocoa or spiced cider brings out all those wonderful flavors. For holiday parties I'll create a dessert board with these pinwheels as the centerpiece surrounded by other festive treats. They look so pretty next to gingerbread cookies and peppermint bark.
When Things Need Fixing
Let me share some solutions to common challenges. If your dough feels too sticky just add a tiny bit more flour or give it extra chill time. Clean cuts are all about patience make sure that log is really firm before slicing. And if your jam isn't spreading smoothly just warm it for a few seconds in the microwave it'll glide right on.
A Holiday Must-Have
These Cream Cheese Jam Pinwheel Cookies have become such a special part of our holiday celebrations. They're more than just cookies they're little works of art that bring joy to everyone who sees them. Whether you're an experienced baker or trying them for the first time they're sure to become part of your own holiday traditions. There's something magical about how these simple swirled cookies can make any moment feel festive.
Pin it
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Why use thread to cut the cookies?
Thread creates clean cuts without squishing the rolled dough like a knife might. Start from the ends and work toward the center for best results.
- → What kind of jam works best?
Use thick, seedless jam for best results. If your jam is too thin, you can microwave it to reduce and thicken it before spreading.
- → Why chill the dough twice?
The first chill makes the dough easier to roll out, while the second chill helps the rolled log hold its shape when cutting into slices.
- → Can I make these ahead?
Yes, you can prepare the dough log and keep it chilled for up to 24 hours before slicing and baking. Add powdered sugar just before serving.
- → Why keep flouring the surface while rolling?
The cream cheese dough can be sticky, so frequent flouring prevents sticking and helps achieve the proper thickness without tearing.
Conclusion
These delightful cream cheese jam pinwheel cookies are a festive treat perfect for holiday gatherings. Made with a buttery cream cheese dough and sweet raspberry jam, they create an elegant swirled pattern that's sure to impress.