Pinwheel Cookies

Sonatina's Note:

These were my favorite cookies growing up. I always requested my mother make them for my birthday. They look gorgeous - the mere sight of them filled me with excitement. Their other main appeal is that the dough tastes pastry-like. It's very delicious and I've never had another cookie that tastes anything like it.

• Total Time: 9 mins
• Prep Time: 0 mins
• Cook Time: 9 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 30

Yield: 30.0 Cookies

• ¾ cup margarine or ¾ cup butter , softened
• 8 ounces cream cheese , softened
• 1 egg , separated
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 30 wooden sticks
• candy sprinkles (I like having at least 2 different colors)
• 30 M&M's

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, beat margarine, cream cheese, and egg yolk until smooth.
2. Stir in flour and baking powder and mix until a stiff dough forms.
3. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Lightly beat egg white and set aside.
6. On lightly floured surface, roll dough (half at a time) into 15x9-inch rectangle.
7. Cut dough into 3-inch squares. Place 3 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
8. Brush the dough with egg white.
9. Lightly press about 1.5 inches of wooden stick into the bottom center of each dough square.
10. Cut diagonally through dough from each corner to within a half inch of the center of each square.
11. Sprinkle sprinkles onto the dough. (I like making each pinwheel have two alternating colors).
12. Fold alternate points of the sections of the square to the center to form the windmill, overlapping and pinching gently to seal in center.
13. Press one M&M in the center of each windmill.
14. Bake at 350 degrees F for 9-12 minutes or til set.
15. Using spatula, immediately remove from cookie sheets.