Vanilla And Chocolate Shortbread Pinwheels Recipes

VANILLA-AND-CHOCOLATE SHORTBREAD SWIRLS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and salt.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Stop mixer and add flour mixture; mix on low speed until just combined. Remove half the dough; divide into two equal pieces, wrap in plastic, and set aside while you make the chocolate dough.
• In a small bowl, stir together cocoa, espresso, and 2 tablespoons hot water. Add cocoa mixture to remaining cookie dough and mix on low speed until color is uniform, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
• Place half the chocolate dough on a sheet of parchment and cover with a sheet of plastic wrap. Roll dough into a 14-by-10-inch rectangle (dough will be very thin but can be easily patched if it tears). Set aside, still covered with plastic. Repeat rolling process with remaining chocolate dough and both pieces of vanilla dough.
• Place one sheet of chocolate dough on work surface and remove plastic. Remove plastic from one sheet of vanilla dough and invert, still attached to its parchment backing, onto chocolate dough, pressing gently with the palm of your hand to adhere. Gently peel back parchment paper to remove. Continue layering with remaining chocolate and vanilla doughs. Position dough with one short side parallel to edge of work surface, then roll dough into a tight spiral. Wrap log in parchment and place in a cardboard paper-towel tube that has been cut open from end to end (this will help retain the round shape of the log of dough). Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment. Trim ends from dough. Slice dough 1/4 inch thick. Roll each cookie between sheets of parchment into an oblong disk about 3 inches long and 1/8 inch thick; transfer to prepared sheets. Bake until crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer sheets to wire racks and let cool completely. Working with one cookie at a time, dip an edge in melted chocolate and coat with pistachios. Transfer to fresh parchment-lined baking sheets and let stand until chocolate is set, 45 to 60 minutes.

VANILLA AND CHOCOLATE SHORTBREAD PINWHEELS

Steps:

• For the vanilla shortbread, put all the ingredients in a mixing bowl with a pinch of salt and 1 tbsp cold water. Beat with a wooden spoon until combined. Tip out onto a work surface, shape into a rough rectangle, then wrap in cling film and chill for 1 hour.
• Repeat this process for the chocolate shortbread, adding 1-2 tbsp extra cold water to give the mixture the same consistency as the vanilla dough. Shape into a rough rectangle, wrap in cling film and chill for 1 hour.
• Heat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4. Unwrap both types of dough, leaving them on the cling film, then lightly dust with flour. Roll each out to a rough 30cm x 20cm rectangle. Brush the top of the vanilla shortbread with a little milk and carefully but quickly flip the chocolate dough on top. Leave the cling film on and lightly roll over with a rolling pin to press the two doughs together.
• Remove the top layer of cling film and, using a sharp knife, trim the edges to make one large, even piece of dough.
• Using the bottom piece of cling film to help you, roll up the dough into a tight spiral and smooth with your hands to secure. Chill for 30 minutes (see Make Ahead).
• Remove the cling film and brush the outside of the rolled dough with a little more milk. Scatter the work surface with the barista sugar, then roll the dough over the crystals to fully coat it. Slice the dough into 22-25 x 1cm-thick circles. Lay each on its side on the baking sheets, spacing them out, then bake for 15-18 minutes until lightly golden. Transfer the pinwheels to a wire rack to cool completely.

BASIC CHOCOLATE PINWHEEL COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. , Divide dough in half; add cocoa to one portion. Divide each portion in half. On a baking sheet, roll out each portion between waxed paper into a 12x10-in. rectangle. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. , Remove waxed paper. Place one chocolate rectangle over a plain rectangle. Roll up tightly, jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; wrap in plastic. Repeat with remaining dough. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm. Unwrap and cut into 1/4-in. slices. , Place 2 in. apart on lightly greased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks to cool.