An embossed rolling pin is used to create decorative patterns on cookies and other baked goods. Get the best, embossed cookie recipe here!
Today, I'm making Christmas cookies with an embossed rolling pin. It's such an easy way to create beautiful Christmas cookies in minutes! I'll also give you my tips and tricks for using, caring for and storing an embossed rolling pin so that it will serve you well for years to come.
This cookie dough and rolling pin are far too good to keep for Christmas though. Apart from my Reindeer patterned rolling pin, I bought a second rolling pin with a vintage pattern so that I can make embossed cookies all year round!
The cookie dough I used to make these embossed cookies was also used to make these fabulous Christmas cookies (with a slight variation).
Christmas cookie blog hop
I'm so excited to take part in this Christmas cookie blog hop. Thanks to my friend Jennifer of kitchenserf.com for organising.
You can find the links to view all my talented blogger friends' scrumptious cookie recipes below.
Table of contents
- Christmas cookie blog hop
- What is an embossed or patterned rolling pin?
- Where can you buy an embossed rolling Pin?
- Round and square cookie cutters
- Should you oil a wooden rolling pin?
- Christmas cookies with an embossed rolling pin
- How to use an embossed rolling pin
- Embossed rolling pin pattern tips
- How do you clean an embossed rolling pin?
- How to store an embossed rolling pin
- đ Recipe
- Follow the blog hop for more Christmas cookie recipes!
- These posts are good too!
What is an embossed or patterned rolling pin?
An embossed rolling pin is a wooden rolling pin that has a pattern cut into it. When you roll it over the cookie dough, it leaves a beautiful pattern that you can then cut out with regular cookie cutters.

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Where can you buy an embossed rolling Pin?
I bought my rolling pins from the lovely Karolina of 'Pastry Made'. Her embossed rolling pins are so popular that she has sold almost 2,000 of them since she's been on Etsy. She ships them all over the world too! I'm giving you fair warning that once you see her shop, you will want to buy everything in it â don't say I didn't warn you!
You can see the Reindeer embossed rolling pin here. (I bought the large size).
Karolina sends instructions with every rolling pin so that you will know how to get the best out of it.
It must be a very, busy period for Karolina with so many people purchasing Christmas gifts online this year and her embossed rolling pins are perfect for sending through the post. Despite this, my order was dealt with efficiently and quickly and Karolina answered my emails right away.
I knew this Christmas Cookie blog hop was coming up so I couldn't wait for my beautiful patterned rolling pins to arrive!
Here's how you should prepare a patterned rolling pin for use.

Round and square cookie cutters
Whether you're baking round or square cookies, these are some of the best cookie cutters for using with an embossed rolling pin. Both the round and square cookie cutters have a scalloped (fluted) edge which will make your cookies look even prettier.

You can find square cookie cutters with a scalloped edge here.

Find round cookie cutters with a scalloped edge here.
Should you oil a wooden rolling pin?
When you first receive your embossed rolling pin, the first thing you should do is oil it. Karolina recommends olive or vegetable oil. I use my homemade Calendula oil because it has antibacterial properties and besides, I have lots of it!
All you need to do is brush the oil onto the patterned rolling pin with a pastry brush. You will find that you will be able to get the oil into all the nooks and crannies with the brush.
TIP: I would oil your rolling pin at least a couple of hours before you intend to use it to give the oil a chance to soak into the wood. That way, you won't have an oily residue sitting on top of the wood when it comes time to make your Christmas cookies.
That's it! Your beautiful patterned rolling pin is prepared and ready to use!
Christmas cookies with an embossed rolling pin
Making Christmas cookie dough

You will find the full recipe and instructions in the recipe card below but here are a few tips for getting the best possible dough to use with your embossed rolling pin.
How to keep embossed rolling pins from sticking to the dough?
Chill the dough
Once all the ingredients are well combined, pull your dough together into a ball. Divide the dough in half, wrap each half or place in a covered glass bowl in the fridge for around 30 minutes.
However tempted you are (even if you are in a rush), don't skip this part. The dough must be cold when you start working with it because there is less of a chance that the dough will stick to the embossed rolling pin.
Any pastry left over once you've cut out your cookies should be placed back in the fridge to cool again for another twenty to thirty minutes. Then you can roll it out again to make another batch of cookies.
OK, if you want to cheat, you can put it in the freezer for ten minutes instead!
Flour the pastry, not the rolling pin
Once you've rolled out the dough with your usual rolling pin, give it a good sprinkling of flour and smooth it all over the dough.
I found that adding flour to the embossed rolling pin clogged up the pattern so that it wasn't as clear.
How to use an embossed rolling pin
Now that the dough is chilled and floured, roll over it once with the embossed rolling pin.

After using my embossed rolling pin on numerous batches of Christmas cookies, I find it works best if I place my hands on the rolling pin and not the handles on either side. I manage to achieve more consistent pressure that way. I had to take my hands away in the picture above so that I could take the photograph!
Embossed rolling pin pattern tips
Use confectionerâs sugar
Use confectioner's sugar/icing sugar instead of granular sugar. I don't usually use confectioner's sugar when baking cookies or biscuits but I find that granular sugar tends to make the cookies expand too much during baking. The more the cookies expand, the less chance there is of the pattern staying clear.
Don't be worried about the cookies turning out too sweet if you use confectioner's sugar, they won't.
Chill the cookies before baking
After cutting out the cookies, place them in the fridge for another thirty minutes. You could also place them in a freezer for around ten minutes instead if you have enough space for the cookies to lay flat. (This is what I did).
Pre-heat the oven to 200C/392F.
Take the cookies straight out of the fridge/freezer and pop them into the oven to bake for around 6-7 minutes.
The aim is to make sure the cookie dough does not lift or spread too much while baking so that the pattern of the embossed rolling pin, can still be seen once the cookies have been baked. I think I managed it quite nicely with my Christmas cookie dough recipe but I'll let you be the judge of that.

How do you clean an embossed rolling pin?
Between you and me, I thought these embossed rolling pins would be a bit of a pain to clean afterward but they arenât at all.
The trick is to use one of these scrubbing brushes, they work like a charm! Karolina sells these too so you can buy one at the same time as you buy your pin(s).
I find it best to go over the patterned rolling pin with a dry brush first to get as many of the pastry bits out of the pattern. You should find that there is hardly any pastry stuck to the rolling pin. With the Reindeer rolling pin, I found some pastry residue in some of the tiny dots but I managed to remove them with the round scrubbing brush. Then, I wet the scrubbing brush, add some washing-up liquid and go over it again.
Lastly, I hold the patterned rolling pin under a running tap to remove the detergent.
You should never immerse a patterned rolling pin in water completely nor should you put it in the dishwasher.
Wipe the rolling pin with a clean, dry tea towel and leave it out of the sun for a few hours to dry completely.

How to store an embossed rolling pin
Once the rolling pin is clean and dry, use your pastry brush to brush it with oil again.
Store your embossed rolling pin somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight. I wrap each of my rolling pins in a sheet of baking parchment and store them in a bottom drawer in my kitchen.
I hope you liked my tutorial for making Christmas cookies with an embossed rolling pin. Will you give it a try do you think?
If you do, say hi to Carolina from me and tell her I sent you her way. I told her I'm doing this blog hop so she knows you all might be popping over. I can't wait for you to try her beautifully made rolling pins for yourself.
Happy Christmas cookie baking!


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đ Recipe

Embossed rolling pin cookie recipe
Yield: 25-30
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes 7 seconds
Additional Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 38 minutes 7 seconds
This is the absolute best recipe for making cookie dough for use with embossed rolling pins. It will not stick to your rolling pin and the biscuits are super delicious!
Ingredients
- 200g // 7oz Unsalted butter
- 150G // 5oz Confectionerâs (icing) sugar
- 1 Egg (at room temperature)
- A pinch of salt
- 400g // 14oz Fine Wheat flour (All-purpose).
- 1 Tablespoon Spekulatius spice mixture
- or
- œ Teaspoon mixed spice, œ Teaspoon cinnamon.
Instructions
- Pre -heat the oven to 200C // 392F
- Cream the butter with the sugar until
pale and creamy. - Add the egg and mix well.
- Sift together the flour, salt and
spices, add to wet mixture until well incorporated. - Once the mixture has formed a dough,
flatten it with your hands, cut in half and chill in the fridge for
30 minutes. - On a lightly floured surface, roll out
one of the pastry halves with you a rolling pin (not the embossed
pin) to around 1cm/10mm thick. - Roll over the dough with the embossed
rolling pin once. - Use cookie cutters to cut the cookies
into shapes. - Bake cookies at 200C // 392F for 7-8
minutes. - Allow to cool completely before storing
in an airtight container. - Enjoy while fresh.
Notes
Depending on your oven, your cookies may bake more quickly/slowly than mine did. Keep a close eye on them and remove when they start to go slightly brown on the edges.
Exchange the spices for vanailla esscence or any other essence of choice to enjoy these cookies all year round.
Recommended Products
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Follow the blog hop for more Christmas cookie recipes!

Here's where you can view the scrumptious cookie recipes from all the bloggers who are taking part in this Christmas cookie blog hop.
Click on the Links Below to Follow the Tour!
Just Jillâ 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
Back Porch Blissâ Wait Until You See These mug Cookies
A Loverly Lifeâ Chocolate Chai Tea Cakes
MTB Home Livingâ Snow On Plowed Ground Cookies
Everyday Editsâ 5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge
My Home And Travelsâ Chewy Gingersnap Cookies
Bricks âN Bloomsâ Easy Christmas Cookies
Shop At Bluâ Holiday Cookie Recipes
Hammers N Hugsâ Christmas Pudding Cookies
JDub By Designâ Butter Pecan Cookies
Now Choose Life- Fritos Trail Mix
B4 And Aftersâ Best Cookie Cutter Cookies
Cottage on Bunker Hillâ Nanaâs Italian Cookies
American School Of Charmâ Christmas Recipe For Salt Dough
These posts are good too!


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FAQs
How do you use an embossed cookie rolling pin? âș
Using our embossed rolling pins is easy and fun! Roll your dough out using a regular (flat) rolling pin. Once that is done, roll the embossed rolling pin once over your dough with medium pressure. The indentations in the rolling pin will create a beautiful pattern on your dough.
Do embossed rolling pins really work? âșChristmas trees and reindeer pattern imprinted into cookie dough by Christmas Rolling Pin. But I've always wondered do embossed rolling pins really work? After some trial and error, I'm happy to report that they absolutely do! Unbaked embossed cookies.
How to make cookie dough rollable? âșPlace two equal-sized sheets of parchment paper underneath and above the dough, making a kind of dough sandwich. Then roll out with your rolling pin, keeping the dough sandwiched between the two parchment sheets. Once it has been rolled to the thickness you're going for, chill the dough for the requisite time.
Should I oil my embossed rolling pin? âșHere are some of the simple tips to keep yours in great condition. Do not wash in a dishwasher and try to avoid prolonged contact with water. Dry it thoroughly and apply a layer of vegetable oil or olive oil (Keep away from direct sunlight). Before using, brush it with vegetable oil or olive oil.
What is the best embossed rolling pin? âșWe chose the Pottery Avenue pin as the best embossed rolling pin because of its delightful selection of laser-cut patterns and high quality craftsmanship. The rolling pin is also fun and easy to use with kids, since you can quickly create an entire batch of cookies.
What should be added to a surface before rolling dough? âșSome bakers use pastry cloths or roll dough between sheets of parchment paper, and sometimes we will employ these methods, but the basic technique just uses your work surface, a bit of flour and a rolling pin. The key is to use just enough flour to keep your pastry or dough from sticking, and not any more.
What oil do you use on embossed rolling pins? âșWondering on how to clean this beautiful rolling pins? đȘ Before using, brush it with vegetable oil or olive oil. water and dry well before using again!
What is a ridged rolling pin used for? âșThe grooves assist to evenly distribute the butter throughout the dough as the layers become thinly rolled and increase in number for the pastry.
Should you chill cookie dough before rolling? âșRefrigerating the dough allows the flour to fully hydrate and helps to make the cookie dough firmer. Firm dough prevents the cookies from spreading too much, which is why chilling the dough is a crucial step for cut-out and rolled cookies.
What is the best method for rolling out cookie dough? âșPlace slightly chilled cookie dough between the two pieces of parchment paper and form the dough into rectangle using your hands. Using a rolling pin, start at the center and begin to roll the dough away from your body, rotating the dough 90 degrees every few rolls to ensure even thickness.
Can you use olive oil to season a rolling pin? âș
The best tip here is: DO NOT use vegetable or olive oil to season a wooden rolling pin. These oils can turn stale (rancid). This can add unwanted flavors to your baking. Also, avoid using other oils that are not certified as food-grade.
Are you supposed to wash rolling pin? âșAll the rolling pin needs is to be wiped with a damp cloth and then dried with a clean towel. You can wash it with a little warm soapy water if you like, but make sure to immediately and thoroughly dry it.
How do you get flour to stick to a rolling pin? âșA damp cloth.
The dampness makes the flour stick, not the dough. You can do the same thing to the rolling pin. Wipe it down with a damp rag, and roll it in flour.
Embossing tends to be better than debossing for paper products as it supports finer design details. Peaks are easier to see than troughs!
What is the difference between embossed and raised ink? âșWhereas embossing pushes the paper up to create a wonderful texture, thermography builds texture with a special type of ink. Also called âRaised-Ink,â thermography results in a shiny and raised style of printing. Unlike with embossing, when you look at the back of the paper, it is smooth.
Does thickness of a rolling pin matter? âșAll this emphasis on getting a sense for thickness and evenness really does matter. A too-thick tart case can leave you with a dense and underbaked pastry. A dough that is beefy in some spots and thin in others can mean uneven baking or even burning.
How do you emboss a cookie? âșAs far as process, you simply flood the cookie, or area of the cookie, you'd like to emboss. Then, while still wet, you are going to apply the parchment paper. The website suggests applying it by starting at one edge and pushing the paper down onto the icing as you move across the cookie to the other edge.
What do you seal a rolling pin with? âșIt is often recommended that wooden rolling pins be wiped with food grade mineral oil to create a waterproof seal, to keep pastry from sticking to it, and to keep the wood from drying out.
What makes dough fluffier? âșCarbon dioxide is responsible for all the bubbles that make holes in bread, making it lighter and fluffier. Because gas is created as a result of yeast growth, the more the yeast grows, the more gas in the dough and the more light and airy your bread loaf will be.
Can you let roll dough rise too long? âșâIf the dough has risen too long, it's going to feel fragile and might even collapse as you poke it,â says Maggie. If this is the case, there's a chance you can save your dough by giving it a quick re-shape. Learn more about this fix in our blog on saving overproofed dough.
What adds richness to dough? âș
Butter adds the most flavor and richness to your baked goods. Butter is the most common fat used in baking as it lends a wonderful flavor and texture to cakes, cookies, pie crusts and fillings, frostings, brownies and more.
How long should dough rest before rolling? âșNext, shape the dough into a ball and let it rest, covered in plastic wrap or an inverted bowl, for about 10-15 minutes before proceeding. This will relax the gluten and the dough's elasticity, making it easier to roll out the dough and shape the knots.
What are four rules to follow when rolling pastry? âșIntroduce as much air as possible during making. Allow to relax after making to allow the fat to harden. Handle the pastry as little as possible. Roll lightly with short, quick firm strokes.
What is the best surface to mix dough? âșA large, smooth work surface is necessary for kneading bread dough. The work surface can be a wood board, a marble slab, or even a smooth countertop or table. Make sure that the work surface is clean before kneading the dough.
What makes embossing powder stick? âșDid you know paper can have static? This static makes the powder stick in non-inked places, leaving little specks of embossing powder where you don't want it. To eliminate static, there are a few tools you can use. Run a used dryer sheet over your paper several times to lessen the static.
How smooth should a rolling pin? âșA good pin shouldn't be so so heavy that it cracks a flaky piecrust, or so light that you have to lean your whole weight into it to get any work done. It should roll smoothly and turn easily to roll out a circle. It won't conduct the heat from your hands and melt buttery pastry.
What are the 3 types of rolling pin? âșThere are three main types of rolling pins: tapered rolling pins, straight (cylindrical) rolling pins and rolling pins with handles.
Why use a rolling pin on your legs? âșNot only is this massage boosting your lymphatic drainage, but it's also multitasking on your fasciaâthe connective tissue that connects and stabilizes your muscles at the same time, which helps with muscle soreness.
What are the 2 types of rolling pin? âșTwo styles of rolling pin are found: rollers and rods. Roller types consists of a thick cylinder with small handles at each end; rod type rolling pins are usually thin tapered batons.
What makes cookie dough flatten out? âșIf you use too much butter, the cookies will end up flat and greasy. And if you use too little flour, the amount of butter and sugar will be proportionally too high, meaning the cookies will spread for the aforementioned reasons.
How do you roll cookie dough without cracking it? âș
Instead of rolling the cookie dough post-chilling, Dorie suggests rolling it out pre-chilling, but between two sheets of parchment paper instead of on a floured work surface. Sandwiched by parchment, your very-pliable dough has no chance of latching onto your rolling pin or your kitchen counter.
What type of cookie is stiff dough that needs to be flattened with a rolling pin? âșsugar cookies, are made by using a rolling pin to flatten a stiff dough, which is then cut into interesting shapes with sharp cookie cutters, a knife, or a pastry wheel.
What happens if you don't chill cookie dough before baking? âșPopping your dough in the fridge allows the fats to cool. As a result, the cookies will expand more slowly, holding onto their texture. If you skip the chilling step, you're more likely to wind up with flat, sad disks instead of lovely, chewy cookies. Cookies made from chilled dough are also much more flavorful.
How long should cookie dough rest? âșLet it sit for long enoughâthe famous Jacques Torres chocolate chip cookie, published in the New York Times, mandates a rest of at least 24 hours and up to 72âand the starches and proteins in the flour begin to break down, leading to more browning and caramelization.
Should I put my sugar cookie dough in the fridge or freezer before rolling out? âșâ Follow this tip: Chill sugar cookie dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or in the freezer for 15 minutes. The dough will be so much easier to work with! It will roll out nicely, and if you're making cut-outs, chilled dough will help you get clean, sharp edges.
What does leaving cookie dough overnight do? âșChilling cookie dough controls spread.
Chilling cookie dough before baking solidifies the fat in the cookies. As the cookies bake, the fat in the chilled cookie dough takes longer to melt than room-temperature fat.
The ideal thickness to roll out your sugar cookie dough is about 1/4"--that way, they'll be tough enough to be handled and decorated, but thin enough to stay a little crunchy.
How long to chill cookie dough before rolling? âșQ: HOW LONG SHOULD I CHILL THE DOUGH? Anywhere from 24 to 72 hours. The longer you chill the dough, the more flavor will develop. The flour will also absorb more of the moisture so the thicker and chewier the final texture will be.
Why won't my cookie dough roll out? âșThe most obvious and easiest fix is to add more liquid. Very slowly, teaspoon by teaspoon, add a liquid that you've already included to your dough. Mix after each teaspoonâyou don't want to over-saturate it and risk gooey dough. Don't overmix, because this might lead to the problem you're trying to fix!
What is the guide for rolling out dough? âșUse dowels as guides to roll doughs evenly. Just place your dough on a piece of plastic wrap or waxed paper. Top it with a second piece, and place the dowels on either side of the dough. Roll out the dough while resting the rolling pin on the dowels.
What is textured rolling pin? âș
Textured: some specialized rolling pins have textured surfaces that mark and indents the dough surfaces for special breads and pancakes. They may even be embossed with writing.
What are patterned rolling pins used for? âșAn embossed rolling pin is used to create decorative patterns on cookies and other baked goods. Get the best, embossed cookie recipe here! Today, I'm making Christmas cookies with an embossed rolling pin. It's such an easy way to create beautiful Christmas cookies in minutes!
What do you use a marble rolling pin for? âșMarble rolling pins are for the aesthetically aware and the laminated dough enthusiasts. These rolling pins are rather heavy in weight but it can be chilled before rolling, making it a great tool for cool-sensitive doughs like puff pastry.
What paper is best for embossing? âșEmbossing. For embossing, you want to use card that's sturdy enough to hold the shape of your design, particularly if you want to do some 3D embossing. Thin paper just won't have enough body and could even get damaged, so we recommend using cardstock between 220GSM â 280GSM (80lbs â 110lbs cover weight).
What is the advantage of embossed? âșThe benefits of embossing your products include: Creating a 3D effect that stands out and is eye-catching. It's easier to apply foil printing over the raised material. It can transfer the finer details of a die pattern.
What foods can a rolling pin make? âșA rolling pin is one of several essential kitchen tools. They are used to roll out dough for things like bread, pastry, pasta, cookies, and other baked goods, and sturdier ones can even be used to tenderize meat.
What is a French rolling pin? âșUnlike traditional American rolling pins (a.k.a. handled pins or ball-bearing pins), which have a center cylinder that rolls between two handles, French-style rolling pins consist of a wood dowel and nothing else. No internal ball bearings, no handles.
What type of rolling pin is best for pastry? âșTapered pins (known as bionical, French, or Italian rolling pins) are loved by pastry chefs and found in many professional kitchens. Their clever shape makes them very easy to roll and they work with all types of pastry, including cookie dough. They are also the go-to for rolling yeasted doughs, especially pizza.
What is a patisserie rolling pin? âșThe tradition continues by adding the Patisserie Rolling Pins, designed for professional bakers. It is produced with precision steel ball bearings, a smooth waxed hardwood barrel, and finely crafted handles. This is the perfect pin for people who are passionate about baking. 12" x 2-3/4" with handles.