Twelve Days of Christmas Cookies: Cinnamon Swirl Cookies

Cinnamon Swirl Filling:
4 Tbs butter, softened
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 ½ Tbs flour
2 ½ tsp cinnamon
Pinch of salt

Cookie Dough:
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/3 cups sugar
1 egg + 1 egg yolk
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 ¾ cups flour, lightly scooped
1 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with silicone mats or parchment paper.

Prepare Cinnamon Swirl Filling: In a small bowl, mix together all Cinnamon Swirl Filling ingredients. Freeze for 10 minutes.

Prepare Cookie Dough: In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Slowly beat in flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt.

Remove half of the dough from the mixing bowl and set aside. Remove cinnamon mixture from the freezer. Use a small spoon to place teaspoon sized chunks of cinnamon mixture around the dough in the mixing bowl. Use half of the cinnamon mixture. Return the remaining dough to the mixing bowl, spreading it over the dough and cinnamon chunks. Top this layer of dough with chunks of the remaining cinnamon mixture.

Use a rubber spatula to gently fold and mix dough. Do not overmix. You want to still have chunks of cinnamon throughout the dough.

Using a level medium cookie scoop, scoop dough onto prepared baking sheets. Lightly cover baking sheets with plastic wrap and freeze dough balls for 10 minutes. (If necessary, cookies can be placed close together on baking sheets while being chilled, then spaced further apart just before baking).

Remove dough balls from freezer. Place dough 2” apart on prepared baking sheets. Place any dough you are not immediately baking into the refrigerator, not back into the freezer. Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes.

If the cookies are misshapen from the melted cinnamon sugar: Place an upside-down drinking glass over the cookie and gently swirl the glass until the cookie is round. **This must be done while the cookies are hot, just out of the oven.

Cool cookies completely on baking sheets before moving to wire racks or storage containers.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies

adapted from Allison at Celebrating Sweets

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