Today is a day that’s definitely worthy of a special dessert – Shane is celebrating a birthday!! I wont spill the beans on his age but it doesn’t really matter because at heart he’s still a big kid. He loves to laugh and be silly, and if you peeked into his “man cave” in our basement, you’d find toys and video games galore. He’s laid back and calm, in stark contrast to my stressed Type A personality; he’s talked me off the ledge more times than I’d like to admit. It’s our ninth year (!!) celebrating his birthday together, and I hope there are many, many more ahead 🙂
A big layer cake might have been more appropriate for a birthday celebration, but with just two of us, we decided to go in a different direction. I’ve had these Nutella pinwheels bookmarked for a while, so when my friend Jeannette suggested we bake them together recently, I jumped at the chance. The pinwheel cookies are not only fun and festive, but they’re super simple to throw together. The dough can be made ahead of time too, and once you do bake the cookies they are good for about a week, so they’d be a great addition to your holiday baking plans this year. The pinwheels are buttery and crisp and pack a surprising Nutella punch, given the relatively small amount in each cookie. Shane took them to work to share today. If you have to work on your birthday, cookies definitely make things a little easier!
Nutella Pinwheels
adapted from The Purple Foodie (via The Galley Gourmet)
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large egg yolks
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup Nutella, divided
Whisk the flour and salt together in a small bowl. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Beat in the egg yolks and vanilla until well combined. With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture, beating until a soft dough comes together. Turn the dough onto your work surface and shape into a square. Divide the dough in half and wrap each piece in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Working with one half of the dough at a time, unwrap and place on a lightly floured sheet of parchment paper. Place a piece of plastic wrap on top and roll the dough into a rectangle measuring about 10×8-inches – the dough should be approximately 1/4-inch thick. Remove the plastic wrap and use an offset spatula to spread 1/4 cup of the Nutella in a thin layer over the dough, leaving just a tiny border around the edge.
With a long side of the rectangle facing you, use the parchment paper to help you roll the dough into a tight log (my dough cracked slightly at first, but once I got it going, it was fine). Wrap the log in plastic wrap and freeze for 15-20 minutes. Repeat with the second half of the dough.
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Unwrap the logs and slice them into 1/4-1/3-inch rounds. Place the rounds on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 14-15 minutes, or until golden around the edges and set in the center. Transfer the baking sheet to a wire rack and cool the cookies for a few minutes before using a spatula to remove them to the rack to cool completely. Repeat with remaining rounds (be sure to cool the baking sheet between batches). Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Makes about 4 dozen cookies
First off, Happy Birthday Shane!
These cookies look yummy, I do love Nutella. My grandkids love it too. Next time one visits we will make these.
Have a great day.
Happy birthday to Shane!! 🙂
I love pinwheel cookies! They look so fancy and like you spent a ton of time on them. Would you believe that I’ve never had nutella though?! I think I need to pick up a jar and make these soon!
Happy birthday Shane, what a cute treat for the day.
Oh, happy 9. birthdey together 🙂 Nutella can’t ne bad, this looks yammi 🙂
Happy Birthday to Shane! I love these cookies–such a gorgeous, yummy treat from ingredients that aren’t all that complicated. Can’t wait to try it myself. 🙂
Happy birthday Shane! These look amazing! I love Nutella.
happy birthday to Shane! Love the Nutella swirl in the cookie.
Happy Birthday to Shane, Tracey. Definitely a fortunate guy to have such lovely birthday cookies made for him.
These look awesome. Nutella makes me soooo happy!
The only reason I’m not hopping out of my chair to whip up a batch of these is I’d eat them all myself. I have bookmarked them to make, though…and soon.
Aw, happy birthday to Shane! What a neat dessert to celebrate with! Can’t go wrong with Nutella!
Happy Birthday to Shane 🙂 I can understand not wanting a huge birthday cake between two people. That’s like having half a cake all to yourself. And the idea may seem awesome, but your stomach probably wouldn’t be thanking you afterwards. These cookies look so cute. Yet another nutella recipe I will have to put into my “To Bake” list.
Oh these sound good, although I don’t think mine would be as pretty. I just sent my husband to work with his birthday treat, but it was a few days late. Whoops!
Happy (belated) birthday to Shane! Lucky guy to get these cookies – I’d have to pick something else for my husband. Would you believe that he eats fruits and vegetables – but doesn’t really care for Nutella? Insanity!
Yum! I love this recipe!
Purple Foodie has been one of my favorite bloggers for a while now, and this recipe of her’s still reins as one of my favorites.
So so good.
My children are quite fond of Nutella, so I think I’ll have to make these for them. =)
Happy Birthday to Shane. Love the cookies they look fantastic. Plus I’m totally in for anything with nutella. 🙂
Happy birthday to Shane! And wow do these cookies look good. Bookmarked them!
I am adding these to my Christmas baking list! Thanks!