Scallion Sesame Pinwheels Recipes

CINNAMON PINWHEELS

Steps:

• Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla until incorporated. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add the flour mixture and beat until just combined. Remove half of the dough and wrap in plastic wrap. Add the cinnamon extract, cocoa powder and food coloring to the remaining dough and beat until incorporated; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate both pieces of dough until firm, about 1 hour.
• Dust the dough with flour and roll out each piece on parchment paper into a 10-by-11-inch rectangle. Flip the red dough on top of the plain dough; remove the top piece of parchment and trim the edges. Sprinkle the ground cinnamon and sanding sugar on top. Starting from a short end, tightly roll up the dough, using the parchment to help; roll the log in sanding sugar. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 3 hours or overnight.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Slice the log crosswise 1/4 inch thick; arrange the slices about 1 1/2 inches apart on the baking sheets. Bake, switching the position of the pans halfway through, until slightly puffed and lightly golden on the bottom, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to racks to cool.

PEPPERMINT PINWHEELS

Steps:

• Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and peppermint extracts and beat until combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in the flour mixture, then increase the speed to medium high and beat until well combined.
• Divide the dough into 3 pieces. Return 1 piece to the bowl; beat in the red food coloring with the mixer until the color is fully incorporated. Beat the green food coloring into another piece of dough. Leave the last piece of dough plain. Place each piece of dough on a separate sheet of plastic wrap and pat into a 4-inch square. Wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Lightly flour 1 piece of dough; roll out between 2 sheets of parchment paper into a 9-by-12-inch rectangle. Repeat with the remaining dough. Refrigerate the dough rectangles until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Carefully remove the top piece of parchment from each piece of dough. Flip the plain dough on top of the red dough; remove the parchment. Flip the green dough on top of the plain dough; remove the parchment. Cut the stack in half crosswise. Roll up each half lengthwise into a tight log, using the parchment to help you. Transfer to a baking sheet, cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Trim the ends of each log; slice into 1/4-inch-thick rounds and divide between the prepared baking sheets. Sprinkle with coarse sugar. (If the dough is too soft to slice, refrigerate until firm, 15 to 30 minutes.) Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies are just firm, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to racks to cool completely.

CAPPUCCINO PINWHEELS

Steps:

• Beat the butter in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add the granulated sugar and beat until pale and thick, about 5 minutes. Whisk the egg yolks, vanilla and corn syrup in a bowl, then add to the butter mixture and beat until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Turn off the mixer and add the flour; pulse, turning the mixer on and off, until just combined. Transfer half of the dough (about 2 packed cups) to a sheet of parchment paper.
• Mix the coffee liqueur and espresso in a small bowl, then add to the remaining dough in the mixer along with the chocolate, pulsing until combined. Transfer the chocolate dough to another sheet of parchment paper. Pat each portion of dough into a 10-by-6-inch rectangle and cover with another sheet of parchment paper. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• Roll out each portion of dough between the parchment sheets into a 12-by-8-inch rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick. Peel off the top parchment sheets and carefully invert the lighter dough onto the darker dough. Run a rolling pin over the dough to press it together. Refrigerate until firm, at least 30 minutes.
• Roll over the dough a few more times to make it slightly thinner, then peel off the top sheet of parchment paper and trim the dough into an even rectangle. Position the dough with a long side facing you and roll it away from you into a tight spiral, using the parchment paper to help. (The dough should be just soft enough to roll; chill or let stand at room temperature as needed.) Wrap the log with the parchment paper and freeze until firm, at least 1 hour. (The dough will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months.)
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Slice the log of dough into 1/4-inch-thick rounds; place about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Sprinkle with the raw sugar, if desired. Bake until the cookies are firm and lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool 2 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to a rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container up to 4 days.

KIDS CAN MAKE: HAM AND SCALLION CREAM CHEESE PINWHEEL SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Carefully wash and dry the 4 largest outer romaine leaves, trying not to tear them. Cut the leaves at the base, where they were connected to the root; the leaves should be about 9 inches long. Using a vegetable peeler, shave the center rib so the leaves roll up more easily. Set aside.
• Stir the cream cheese, scallions, mustard, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a medium bowl to combine.
• Lay 1 of the tortillas on a clean work surface, and place 1 of the romaine leaves neatly on top. Place 2 slices of the ham next to each other to fit neatly on top of the lettuce. Spread 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture over the ham, then line up a quarter of the roasted pepper strips along one edge. Line up 1/4 cup of the shredded carrots on top of the peppers. Roll up the wrap tightly, starting from the edge with the peppers and carrots, so the wrap holds together with the peppers and carrots in the middle. Place the wrap seam-side down. Repeat with the remaining tortillas, peppers, carrots, ham and cream cheese mixture. Cut the wraps into 1-inch pieces, then skewer each piece from the top through the seam side with a toothpick or skewer.

RED AND GREEN HOLIDAY PINWHEELS

Steps:

• Cut cookie dough in half. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of the flour onto work surface. Roll out half of dough to 12x7-inch rectangle. Repeat with remaining half of dough and 1/4 cup flour. Sprinkle 1 rectangle evenly with red sugar; sprinkle green sugar evenly over second rectangle.
• Starting with shortest side, roll up each rectangle jelly-roll fashion. Wrap rolls in waxed paper; refrigerate at least 1 hour for easier handling.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Cut each roll into 16 slices. On ungreased cookie sheets, place slices 1 inch apart. Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 1 minute. Remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks.

SMOKED SALMON PINWHEELS

Steps:

• Combine the cream cheese, lemon juice, red onion, and basil in a bowl until completely blended.
• On a piece of waxed paper, arrange the smoked salmon slices in a rectangle about 3 inches wide and 12 inches long, slightly overlapping each piece. (If the salmon slices are cut irregularly, simply piece them together like a puzzle.)
• Spread a thin layer of the cream cheese mixture on the salmon, sprinkle with the capers, and roll up like a jellyroll.
• Refrigerate for 1 hour to firm, then cut into 1/2-inch slices. Place each pinwheel atop a cucumber round to serve.