Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Cookies:

1. Add butter and sugar to a large bowl.
2. With an electric mixer cream the two together for five minutes.
3. Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the bowl. Beat to combine.
4. In a second bowl, whisk the dry ingredients together.
5. Add the butter mixture in with the dry ingredients. Mix well.
6. Divide the cookie dough in half.
7. Put one-half of the dough in a separate bowl.
8. Add several drops of red food coloring to one bowl.
9. Use your hands to blend the color throughout the dough.
10. Add several drops of green food coloring to the second bowl.
11. With your hands work to blend the green food coloring throughout this bowl of cookie dough.
12. Cut four sheets of parchment paper about 13 in x 11 in.
13. Lay one side of parchment paper on the counter.
14. Put the red colored ball of cookie dough on the center of the parchment paper.
15. Cover with another piece of parchment paper.
16. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out to 11 in x 9 in about 1⁄4 inches thick.
17. Transfer the parchment paper-covered cookie dough onto a cookie sheet.
18. Repeat this process for the green cookie dough.
19. Transfer each cookie sheet of cookie dough to the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes.
20. Remove the top layer of parchment paper from the cookie dough.
21. Lightly sprinkle each top layer with water.
22. Place one layer on top of the other layer.
23. Gently press the two layers together.
24. Cut the layers into straight edges on all four sides.
25. Remove the top sheet of parchment paper.
26. With the bottom layer of parchment paper begin to roll it up.
27. Use the parchment paper to pull the dough tight.
28. If the dough tears just squeeze the dough together.
29. Pour the sprinkles onto a platter.
30. Roll the cookie log onto the sprinkles.
31. Use your hands to press the sprinkles into the log.
32. Move the log into the refrigerator, leaving it to chill there for at least 15 minutes.
33. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
34. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
35. Slice the log into 1⁄4 inch slices.
36. Place the slices on the parchment paper-lined cookie sheets.
37. Bake at 325 degrees for 10-15 minutes.
38. Allow cooling slightly on the cookie sheets.
39. Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely.