Show your Valentine how much you love them with these Valentine’s Day-inspired Raspberry Pinwheel Cookies!
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner guys! It’s time to get your bake on for that special sweetheart in your life. ♥
So….Valentine’s Day. Seems you either love it or hate it. I would be in the “love” category. Always have been, always will be. Ever since that adorably decorated little Valentine box in grammar school, I’ve been hooked. There was just something magical about dropping in all my Valentine’s and hoping to get some in return. Maybe even one from a secret crush!
Now, don’t get me wrong, growing up there were many Valentine’s Days when my dear old Dad happily stood in as my Valentine. But it was still a special day filled with love, candy and delicious desserts! So that’s a win-win-win in my book.
This year I decided to give my favorite recipe for pinwheel cookies a little Valentine’s Day spin. I even put in the extra effort and made homemade raspberry puree to flavor and color the cookies. Nothing artificial about these beauties. It’s a layer of raspberry dough topped with a layer of vanilla tightly rolled in nonpareils. Totally festive, don’t you agree?? I’m not gonna lie, these cookies take a little more effort, but what a great way to show your Valentine (Dads included!) how much you love them right?!
And today at the BHK you get a little Valentine’s Day bonus! My friend Cathy from What Should I Make For… organized a fabulous group of eleven fellow bloggers who are sharing their favorite treats for the upcoming holiday! It’s an impressive list of goodies you don’t want to miss! Enjoy!
Meet the #vdaysweettreats bloggers…
What Should I Make For… | Raspberry Triple Chocolate Cheesecake in a Jar
The Sweet Nerd | Double Chocolate Naked Cake
The Road to Honey | Chocolate Tart with Champagne & Truffles
Beyond Mere Sustenance | Chocolate Dipped Candied Blood Oranges
Girl Heart Food | Lemon Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting, Raspberries and White Chocolate Drizzle
Seasonal Cravings | Chocolate Donut Holes with Pomegranate Cream Filling
No Spoon Necessary | Chocolate Velvet Skillet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Seasons and Suppers | Swedish Goey Chocolate Cake
Beer Girl Cooks | Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter No-Bake Cheesecake Cups
Ciao Chow Bambina | Roasted Strawberry Chocolate Hazelnut Panini
The Beach House Kitchen | Valentine’s Raspberry Pinwheel Cookies
Ingredients
- 10 oz. raspberries frozen
- 2 cups all-purpose flour plus 5 tablespoons
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/8 tsp. salt
- 1 cup 2 sticks unsalted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar plus 1 Tbsp.
- 2 large eggs separated
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups Valentine colored nonpareil decors
Instructions
- Cook raspberries and one tablespoon sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat until they are soft and release their juices, about 5-7 minutes. Puree in a food processor. Strain through a fine sieve to remove the seeds. Set aside to cool completely.
- Sift 2 cups flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and one cup sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks, one at a time, and vanilla until well blended, scraping down the bowl occasionally. Gradually add the flour mixture and beat until well blended and no longer crumbly. Remove half of the dough from the bowl and form into a small disk. Set aside. To the remainder of the dough in the bowl, add 3 tablespoons of the raspberry puree and the additional 5 tablespoons of flour. Beat until the dough is all the same color. Form dough into a disk.
- Roll out each disk of dough between two sheets of wax paper into roughly 14x8 rectangles and 1/8 inch thick. Slide the dough onto two large baking sheets and refrigerate for about 1 hour.
- Place nonpareil decors in a 9x13 pan. Set aside.
- Remove dough from refrigerator. Lay rectangles side by side with the long side closer to you and carefully peel away top layer of wax paper from both doughs. Brush the top of the raspberry dough very lightly with water. Place vanilla dough on top of raspberry dough paper side up. Roll over the top of the wax paper with your rolling pin very gently to seal the dough together. Carefully remove top sheet of wax paper from the vanilla dough. Trim up the edges of the dough to make a nice neat rectangle.
- Beginning with the long side, roll the layers into a nice tight cylinder. As you roll, peel off the bottom sheet of wax paper. Press at the seam to seal and trim the ends. Gently roll the log in the nonpareil decors until completely coated. Wrap tightly in wax paper and refrigerate for 3-4 hours or until firm enough to slice.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Slice the log into 1/4 inch slices and place on parchment lined baking sheets, one inch apart. Bake one sheet at a time for 12-14 minutes, or until tops are firm and bottoms are lightly browned. Let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes then remove to wire racks to cool completely. Can be stored in airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
These cookies are just gorgeous!
Thanks Alida! Lots of fun making these! I hope you give them a try! The kids would love them!
These cookies are so cute Mary Ann! just lovely!
Thanks so much Gaila! So fun to make!
What a cool spin on the pinwheel cookie Mary Ann! I love the pink inside. I am so happy to be participating with you in this virtual Valentine’s Day party. Cheers to you girl!
These were so fun to make Karen! Yes, we all need to get together in person sometime soon! Have an awesome weekend! XO
I can’t stop looking at these photos! So pretty and romantic! Maybe one time we can bypass the virtual and all get together to share in the fun for real! Have a great weekend, my friend!
Yes, I totally agree with a get together Annie! So fun! Hope you have a wonderful weekend too!
i’m with you Mary Ann! love category all the way! and how could i not, looking at your gorgeous cookies?! i want to grab one of these beauties right off the screen. So fun collaborating with you ladies for our Valentine’s Day party!
Yay! I suspected you were a Valentine’s Day lover too Cathy! Thanks so much for organizing the Virtual Valentine’s Party! Can’t wait to try your cheesecakes. They’ll be a hit around here for sure!
As soon as I entered your site, my mouth opened….these looks spectacular, Mary Ann! How pretty??? Gee…I remember those Valentine boxes too….you took me right back! Memories, right :) ? So awesome that there is no artificial colour in these beauties and the sprinkles are a cute touch. I’ve never made pinwheel cookies before and these look like a great place to start. Pinned, of course. Cheers to a wonderful Valentine’s Day and fabulous weekend! XO
Thanks so much Dawn! These were so fun to make! I made them, along with chocolate checkerboard cookies with my aunt when I was a kid! I’ll never forget! Yes, that Valentine’s box! So fun! Hope you give these a go. Happy almost weekend!
I’m in the indifferent category for Valentine’s Day… while I did love it when I was little and we would find cards hiding in our desk at school, as I got older it just became another day. And well, as I got older I also developed an allergy to cocoa… so maybe that has something to do with it?! ;) Anyways, I LOVE your pinwheel cookies, so I’m thrilled you put a Valentine’s Day spin on them!! These are so pretty, Mary Ann! I love that you used homemade raspberry puree in these. And sprinkles! Can’t forget the sprinkles! I’m not sharing these with Boy. lol. Pinned! Cheers!
These are perfect for you Chey! I channeled my inner Chey when I decide to skip the food coloring and extract for the raspberry puree! Happy weekend! XO
These are so pretty and anyone would be lucky to receive such a gift! I still love Valentine’s Day and get all those cute cards from the kids at school! :)
Thanks Kathy! I’m a big sucker for Valentine’s Day! I may even have some old Valentine’s I got when I was a kid stuffed in boxes in the attic!
That’s SO sweet about your dad and his standing in as your Valentine. <3 What a treat Mary Ann! The raspberry dough sounds fabulous and something I know I'd love! These are totally festive and worth the extra effort to make for your Valentine :D
My Dad was always my best Valentine Traci! When I no longer lived at home, he’d always call me on Valentine’s Day and say…”will you be my Valentine?” The answer was always a big YES!! These are absolutely worth the extra effort Traci. My son Sean loved these. When I made them, I shipped them to Charleston for him!
Yes please! I’ll take a dozen :) So wonderful to share with friends and family on the day of love. There is no better way to to share the love than homemade cookies, especially when they are as pretty as these! Happy Valentine’s MaryAnn!
I love sharing homemade things on Valentine’s Day Jennifer! There’s no better gift in my book! Same to you Jennifer! Happy weekend too!
I think I fall into the “love” category now… When we decided to start staying in, cooking together, and enjoying a bottle of wine in the peace and quiet of home, I decided I love it again! Crowded restaurants just aren’t that appealing…
Your pinwheel cookies are so pretty, and I know that homemade raspberry puree makes them extra special! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Sounds like the perfect Valentine’s Day to me Tamara! Thank you so much. These are so fun to make.
These Valentine’s cookies are so fun Mary Ann!
Thanks Matt! So fun to make too!
I have a total crush on these cookies, Mary Ann, and it’s no secret! These are absolutely stunning! Pinned!
Awww, I’m glad you like them Rachelle! Thanks for pinning!
You always have the most darling treats, Mary Ann! I love Valentine’s Day too and was always so excited to decorate my valentine ‘mailbox’. :) These pinwheels are adorable!
Thanks Tessa! Hope you have a great weekend!
These are adorable, Mary Ann! I have actually never made pinwheel cookies, but they are on my list to try. Love the Valentine’s Day touches!
Thanks Liz! I love making pinwheel cookies. I make a chocolate/vanilla pinwheel that’s always a hit around here too! Happy weekend!
I LOVE these cookies!!!! I have always loved Valentine’s Day too! Now, I love making little gifts for my kids. . these photos are beautiful! that one shot of the roll before you sliced. . WOW!!! Stunning!
Thanks Alice! The girls would love to make them! And eat them!
These are so adorable and beautiful at the same time! I never really get “into” Valentine’s Day but you’re making me rethink that with these cute treats!
Yay Gina! Thanks so much!
These not only sound fantastic, but the colors and how they look are just fantastic. I saw this over on IG and finally had some time to check it out. WOW! Mary Ann, we really need to do something about this not being neighbors so I can accidentally drop by for a cookie thing. Pinned!
You’re so sweet Kevin! Thank you so much. I would love it if we lived closer!
I’m a Valentine’s lover and I love these cookies too. They’re gorgeous and who wouldn’t love a buttery raspberry cookie? They’d make such fun gifts!
I’m so glad Chris! I’m sure your grandkids would love them!
I love pinwheel cookies and these are so festively perfect for Valentine’s Day! :)
Thanks Laura! They’re so fun to make! Lots of different flavor options!
These are precious…. wow and homemade preserves – YUM! Pinwheel cookies are so fun and I am in the camp that loves Valentine’s Day. Now we celebrate with four, but that just makes it all the more special.
Thanks so much Cindy! They are so fun to make!
I had to come back again just to show Dave. These are so beautiful!
Awwww, thanks so much for stopping back Kevin!
These are absolutely delightful! I’ve never made pinwheel cookies, but they look like a fun project. My feelings towards Valentine’s Day have varied over the years, but I’ve always loved the themed desserts :)
Thanks Mara! They really are fun to make. They require a bit of extra effort but the end result is totally worth it! Thanks so much for dropping by to leave a comment!
These are the cutest!! Love the swirls! :)
Thanks Tieghan!
These are just so HAPPY. When I was younger (middle school age) I had a valentine’s day party every year and this is exactly the type of thing we would make. How painfully cute, right? Thanks for the happy memory <3
So glad they brought back memories Jessie! The colors make me happy too!
Obsessed with the outer coating of sprinkles!
Ha! So fun, aren’t they?!
These are so awesome and pretty and cute, Mary Ann – just love them. Happy Valentine’s Day to you!
Thanks so much Geraldine! I had fun making these and doing the photos!
These cookies are so cute! Love the colors you used for them!
Thanks Bethany! The colored them with the raspberry puree! No artificial coloring in these!
Well. . .I’m never going to turn down the opportunity for flowers and Valentines Day is the perfect day for that. As a matter of fact I’m still thinking about the epic bouquet that the Mr. sent me last year (I needed a crane to get it up to my apartment). Of course these cookies also would make a nice compliment to those flowers. They are so full of fun and whimsy. And I love how you added that raspberry swirl. Too good.
That Mr. of yours sounds like quite a guy Lynn!! Hope he spoils you this Valentine’s Day too!
These are so cute! I just love them. :)
Thanks Natasha!
Love how these look and also love raspberry so I’m looking forward to making them. Where do you purchase the nonpareils? Would other sprinkles work?
I picked those up at Michael’s Craft store. You could probably get them at any craft store. Yes, you can use any type of sprinkles. I hope you enjoy them!
These cookies are so pretty, Mary Ann! Perfect for Valentine’s Day :) That raspberry layer sounds amazing!
Thanks Jessica! So fun to make!
Hi there! Just wondering how many cute cookies does this batch make?
Hi Shelly. I just updated the recipe. It makes about 44 cookies. Enjoy!
I just made them for my hubby for today 2/14 but I noticed the recipe says baking powder, which I used and the directions say soda. I hope I didn’t mess them up by using baking powder. I’m only in the refrigeration part so I guess we will see after baking them. They are so beautiful I really hope they turn out.
It’s baking powder. Sorry Rose, I just corrected. Enjoy!