Peppermint Pinwheels

This was a new recipe I tried this year for one of my Christmas cookies. I have to say that they are pretty interesting to make having to roll the dough out between waxed paper. This crispy little cookie looks beautiful and had a nice minty taste and looks beautiful on a tray full of Christmas cookies.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup butter (no substitutions), softened

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg yolk

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp peppermint extract

1/4 tsp red liquid food coloring

Method:

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg yolk and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt, gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Divide dough in half; add extract and red food coloring to one portion.

On a work surface, roll out each portion of dough between waxed paper into a 16 inch x 10 inch rectangle.

Remove waxed paper. Place plain rectangle over the red rectangle; roll up tightly jelly-roll style, starting with a long side. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight or until firm.

Unwrap the dough and cut into 1/4 inch lices. Place 2 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheets. Bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes or until set. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks and to cool completely.

Yields: 3 1/2 to 4 dozen