Maurice Lenell Pinwheel Cookies
Maurice Lenell Pinwheel Cookies were iconic spiral cookies from a famous Chicago bakery. They had a tender, buttery dough with precise layers of jam or cinnamon-nut filling artfully swirled in a hypnotic pinwheel design.
Maurice Lenell Pinwheel Cookies
Alright folks, gather 'round because I've got a story to tell you about one of the most delightfully nostalgic cookies to ever grace the bakery scene - the Maurice Lenell Pinwheel Cookie.
Now, I know what you're thinking - "A pinwheel cookie? What's so special about that?" But let me tell you, these babies were the crème de la crème of spiral-shaped treats back in their heyday. Hailing from the iconic Chicago bakery, Maurice Lenell's pinwheels were the stuff of childhood dreams and adult cravings alike.
I still vividly remember the first time I sank my teeth into one of those buttery, flaky rounds with their mesmerizing swirls of jam or cinnamon sugar filling. It was like taking a bite out of a kaleidoscope of flavors that danced across your tongue. Each tender layer unfurled new bursts of sweetness, leaving you craving just one more nibble...and then another...and another still.
Tragically, the original Maurice Lenell bakery closed its doors years ago, leaving a pinwheel-shaped hole in the hearts (and stomachs) of cookie aficionados everywhere. But fear not, my friends! This culinary journalist has taken it upon herself to recreate those legendary treats from scratch.
Now, I won't lie to you - nailing down an authentic Maurice Lenell pinwheel recipe was no easy feat. I scoured recipe boxes, perused ancient church cookbooks, and may have even bribed a former bakery employee or two. But at long last, I've concocted what I believe to be the closest homemade version of these iconic cookies.
The dough is a dreamy combination of creamy butter and tangy cream cheese, sturdy enough to hold its spiral shape but with a melt-in-your-mouth richness. Then comes the all-important filling - a choice between sweet-tart raspberry preserves or a sumptuous cinnamon-brown sugar blend, both studded with the crunch of finely chopped walnuts or pecans.
Rolling out the dough into a perfect rectangle and evenly spreading that tantalizing filling is an art form in itself. But once you've mastered the pinwheel roll and delicately sliced those hypnotic swirls, the real magic happens in the oven. Fifteen minutes later, you're rewarded with dizzying circles of caramelized, flaky perfection.
I should disclaimer that while my recipe is a valiant effort, it will never quite replicate the original Maurice Lenell experience. There's just something about a small-batch, locally-made delicacy that can't be fully captured in a home kitchen. But I'd argue these pinwheels come pretty darn close to invoking those nostalgic flavor memories.
So whether you're a Chicago native pining for a taste of your roots, or just someone with a hankering for unique, impressively swirled cookies, I implore you to give this Maurice Lenell pinwheel recipe a try. One bite, and you'll be transported back to the cozy bakeries and carefree days of your youth. And if that doesn't convince you, well, I've got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you too!
Maurice Lenell Pinwheel Cookies (Copycat Recipe)
prep time with cook time.
Serves 24 and contains approximately 190 calories per cookie.
Ingredients
Dough:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
Raspberry Walnut Filling:
- 1 cup raspberry preserves
- 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Directions
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and salt.
- Gradually mix in the flour until a dough forms. Shape into a disc, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- In a small bowl, stir together the raspberry preserves, chopped walnuts and cinnamon until well combined.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough into a 10x12 inch rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick.
- Spread the raspberry walnut filling evenly over the dough.
- Starting from a long side, carefully roll up the dough jelly-roll style into a log, pinching the seam to seal.
- Wrap the log in plastic and refrigerate for at least 2 hours until very firm.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Remove plastic and slice the log into 1/2 inch pinwheels with a sharp knife.
- Arrange pinwheels on prepared baking sheets, spaced about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes until lightly golden on the edges. Allow to cool on the baking sheet.
The buttery cream cheese dough with raspberry preserves, cinnamon and walnut filling aims to recreate that classic pinwheel cookie flavor. Let me know if you try this recipe! I tried to make it unique while staying true to what Maurice Lenell's treats may have tasted like.
Roll the dough into a rectangle and spread with your desired filling. Carefully roll it up jelly-roll style into a tight log. Chill this filled log for at least 2 hours until very firm before slicing into pinwheels. Baking the sliced pinwheels allows the dough to turn flaky and caramelized around the gooey filling centers.
Rated 4.9 by 27 reviewers.
Recipe Tags: Maurice Lenell Pinwheel Cookies, Maurice Lenell Pinwheel Cookies Recipe
Published by: Dish Dupes
Maurice Lenell Pinwheel Cookies Recipe FAQ
What is the history behind Maurice Lenell Pinwheel Cookies? Maurice Lenell was a beloved Chicago bakery founded in the 1940s that became famous for their pinwheel cookies - buttery spiral rounds with jam or nut fillings. Though the original bakery closed in 2008, the cookies held a special nostalgia for Chicagoans who grew up enjoying them.
What made the original Maurice Lenell pinwheels so special? The pinwheels had an incredibly tender, flaky dough made with real butter and cream cheese. The fillings were high-quality jams or a rich cinnamon-nut blend. But it was the intricate pinwheel design with precise layers of dough and filling that made them visually stunning.
What happened to the original Maurice Lenell company? After filing for bankruptcy in 2008, the brand was briefly purchased by an Ohio baking company. However, they discontinued production a few years later and put the Maurice Lenell name/equipment up for sale with no buyers, leaving the iconic cookies in limbo.
Are the pinwheels still available to purchase anywhere? Unfortunately, no. The original Maurice Lenell bakery is closed, and the Ohio company is no longer producing the cookies. A store called the Chicago Cookie Store tried selling their own copycat version for years, but they recently stopped as well.
What are typical ingredients in a Maurice Lenell-style pinwheel cookie? The dough is made from butter, cream cheese, sugar, eggs, vanilla and flour. Fillings can include raspberry, apricot or strawberry preserves, or a blend of brown sugar, cinnamon and finely chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans.
How do you make pinwheel cookies at home?
You make a sweet dough, roll it out, spread with filling, then carefully roll it up into a log. After chilling, you slice the log into rounds to reveal the pinwheel design before baking.What special equipment is needed? While not 100% necessary, having a sturdy rolling pin, sharp knife or pizza cutter, and patience for tightly rolling the dough log will help create clean pinwheel layers.
How do you prevent the filling from leaking out? Chilling the filled dough log for at least 2 hours until very firm before slicing is crucial. Also, avoiding over-stuffing with too much filling helps maintain the shape.
How long do the cookies last? Stored in an airtight container, the baked pinwheels will last up to 1 week at room temperature. You can also freeze the unbaked dough log for a couple months.
Can you make them ahead or ship them? The baked cookies don't ship very well, as the delicate pinwheel shape can get damaged. But you can make the dough log ahead and refrigerate for up to 3 days before slicing and baking. Or freeze the log to bake fresh later.
Contents including Recipe © Dish Dupes. Do not copy and paste elsewhere without explicit permission. All rights reserved.
Transparency Notice: It is important to disclose that some links within posts may be affiliated with providers of goods or services discussed. This could potentially result in compensation for me if you make a purchase through one of those affiliate links.
However, you are under no obligation whatsoever to make any purchases. My intention is simply to provide recipes and information for your benefit.
Before acquiring any products or services, whether online or in-person, I advise conducting thorough research to ensure they meet your needs and standards. Your decisions should be based on your own sound judgment after careful consideration.
