Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies

Ingredients

• Butter - 150 g
• Sugar - 3/4 cup
• Egg - 1 whole
• Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
• All-purpose flour or maida - 1 3/4 cup
• Baking powder - 1/4 tsp
• Salt - 1/4 tsp
• Almond flour - 1/3 cup
• Cocoa powder - 1/4 cup

Instructions

1. 1Gently melt the butter in the microwave for 5 seconds until just softened.
2. 2In a bowl, add the sugar to the butter and beat until the mixture is light and creamy.
3. 3Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat until the batter is smooth and homogeneous.
4. 4Sift the all-purpose flour together with the baking powder, then add the salt and combine into the butter mixture to form a dough. Lightly knead by hand until it comes together, then divide the dough into two equal halves.
5. 5Stir the almond flour into one half until evenly incorporated to make the vanilla dough, then stir the cocoa powder into the other half until it forms a uniform chocolate dough.
6. 6On a sheet of waxed paper, roll out the vanilla dough into a rectangle roughly 7 inches by 8 inches and do the same with the chocolate dough.
7. 7Place both rectangles in the refrigerator and chill for 30 minutes so they are easier to handle.
8. 8Remove the dough from the refrigerator and place the vanilla layer on top of the chocolate layer, aligning the edges carefully.
9. 9Lightly press the layers together by running a rolling pin over the surface to remove any air pockets and ensure they adhere. Starting with the short end facing you, roll the dough tightly into a log; if the outer dough cracks, let it soften for a few minutes and then continue rolling.
10. 10Wrap the log tightly in baking paper and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours or overnight so the log becomes firm.
11. 11When the log is firm, slightly thaw it so you can slice it cleanly, then cut the log into 1/2 inch thick slices using a sharp knife.
12. 12Arrange the slices on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving space between each cookie so they can expand.
13. 13Preheat the oven to 350°F and bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes, until the edges are set and the centers look just cooked.
14. 14Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
15. 15Optional: dust with a little powdered sugar or serve with a glass of cold milk for a festive finish.