Name: Viennese Whirls Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 14 min
Total time: 1 h 7 min
Cuisine: European
Ingredients: 225 g unsalted butter, very soft (8 oz / 1 cup / 2 sticks); 100 g caster sugar (superfine sugar) (½ cup / 3 ½ oz); 3-5 teaspoons milk; 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla flavoring; 225 g plain flour (all-purpose flour) (1 ¾ cups / 8 oz); 70 g cornflour (US cornstarch) (½ cup / 2 ½ oz); ¼ cup raspberry jam (60 ml); 100 g unsalted butter (3 ½ oz); 170 g icing sugar (powdered sugar) (6 oz / 1 ⅓ cup); 1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring; Pinch of salt

Jump to Recipe· 3.8 from 3 reviews

If you have a sweet tooth and adore delicate, melt-in-your-mouth biscuits, you’re in for a treat with this classic Viennese Whirls Recipe. These charming, buttery delights are characterized by their light, crumbly texture encasing a luscious swirl of buttercream and a touch of raspberry jam. It’s the perfect blend of rich and fruity flavors, making them a timeless favorite for teatime or any occasion that calls for a special homemade touch. Once you make these, you’ll wonder how you ever enjoyed biscuits without them!

Ingredients You’ll Need

The image shows several ingredients arranged neatly on a white marbled surface. At the center right is a white saucepan filled with white flour, featuring a wooden handle extending to the top right. Around the saucepan, there are six glass bowls: one with white powdered sugar at the bottom right, one with brown liquid maple syrup at the bottom center, one with red jam filled with seeds just above the syrup, one with white granulated sugar above the jam, one with a clear liquid just below the sugar, and one small bowl with salt near the top right. On the left side is a dark stone plate holding a thick rectangular slab of pale yellow butter. The overall setup is bright and clean, with textures that emphasize the ingredients’ raw forms. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Gathering the right ingredients is key to nailing the Viennese Whirls Recipe. Each component plays a crucial role: buttery richness, tender crumbly texture, and the classic balance of sweet and tangy in the filling. Don’t worry, these ingredients are pantry-friendly and super straightforward.

Unsalted butter (225 g): Very soft butter ensures the dough is creamy and pipes smoothly for those iconic swirls.

Caster sugar (100 g): This superfine sugar sweetens without graininess, contributing to a delicate crumb.
Milk (3-5 tsp): Adds just enough moisture to help bind without making the dough too soft.
Vanilla flavoring (1 ½ tsp): Infuses a warm, fragrant note that elevates both the dough and the buttercream.

Plain flour (225 g): The core structure of the biscuits, providing the base for the tender crumb.
Cornflour (70 g): Also known as cornstarch, it’s essential for that melt-in-your-mouth softness.
Raspberry jam (¼ cup): Adds a delightful fruity tartness that perfectly balances the sweet buttercream.

Unsalted butter for buttercream (100 g): Softened for a luxuriously smooth filling.
Icing sugar (170 g): Powdered sugar sweetens the buttercream while keeping it silky smooth.
Salt (pinch): Enhances all the flavors, preventing the sweetness from becoming one-dimensional.

How to Make Viennese Whirls Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Oven and Dry Ingredients

Start by preheating your oven to 180C (160C fan) or 350F and lining two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Next, whisk together your plain flour and cornflour in a bowl until evenly mixed. This dry mixture is absolutely key for yielding that signature crumbly, tender texture.

Step 2: Cream Butter, Sugar, and Milk

Using your stand mixer or handheld beater fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the very soft butter, caster sugar, and a splash of milk until the mixture turns pale and incredibly creamy. Scrape down the bowl a couple of times to make sure everything is evenly blended. This step is where the magic starts, as the butter’s airiness sets the stage for the whisked dough.

Step 3: Add Vanilla and Flour Mix

Beat in the vanilla extract so the aroma infuses the batter. Then, slowly add your flour and cornflour mix on low speed, just pulsing at first to avoid a cloud of flour flying everywhere. When fully combined, your dough will be ready to pipe.

Step 4: Pipe Your Swirls

Transfer the dough to a large piping bag fitted with a large open star tip. Pipe rosettes roughly 4 cm wide onto the baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. The dough will be on the firm side, so use a consistent, firm pressure. If piping feels too tough, add 2 teaspoons more milk and mix briefly to soften.

Step 5: Chill and Bake

Pop the piped biscuits into the fridge for 30 minutes to chill—which helps retain their perfect shape while baking. Then bake for 12-14 minutes until the edges just begin to brown. Cool them slightly on the tray before carefully transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 6: Make the Buttercream Filling

While your biscuit bases cool, blend softened butter with icing sugar until fluffy and light using a handheld mixer. Add the vanilla and a pinch of salt, then beat again. This luscious buttercream will be the creamy heart of your Viennese Whirls Recipe.

Step 7: Assemble Your Whirls

Pipe generous swirls of buttercream on the flat side of half your biscuits. On the other half, spread a little raspberry jam, then sandwich the jam-side biscuits on top of the buttercream ones. The result is a beautiful, indulgent treat that’s irresistibly inviting.

How to Serve Viennese Whirls Recipe

The image shows small sandwich cookies with two light beige, swirled and ridged layers on the top and bottom. Between these layers, there is a smooth white cream and a shiny, dark red jam layer. The cookies are placed on a light-colored surface, with some on a metal cooling rack to the right. There is also a white bowl filled with dark red jam near the top left corner. A soft, cream-colored knitted cloth is partially visible in the bottom left corner. The overall colors are light beige, white, and dark red, all set on a white marbled texture background photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

To make these treats look extra special, scatter a few fresh raspberries around the serving plate, or dust the tops lightly with icing sugar. A tiny mint leaf on top of each swirl adds a beautiful pop of color and freshness that complements the buttery sweetness.

Side Dishes

Viennese whirls pair wonderfully with a hot cup of tea or coffee, making any afternoon feel like a luxurious little celebration. For a more indulgent spread, serve alongside fresh fruit salad or a simple bowl of whipped cream for dipping.

Creative Ways to Present

Consider arranging your Viennese Whirls Recipe on a tiered cake stand for a charming afternoon tea display, or present them in cute gift boxes lined with parchment paper as homemade gifts. Layering them in glass jars with ribbons creates an eye-catching centerpiece that invites everyone to help themselves.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Your Viennese whirls will stay fresh for up to 3 days when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. To keep those buttery biscuits crisp and the buttercream soft, avoid refrigeration unless necessary.

Freezing

You can freeze the baked biscuits separately—once completely cooled, wrap them well in cling film and place in a freezer-safe container or bag. Freeze for up to a month. Freeze the buttercream separately in an airtight container. Thaw both completely before assembling.

Reheating

Since these are delicate buttery biscuits, reheating is not recommended. Instead, enjoy them straight from storage or freezer after thawing—they’re just as delightful at room temperature as fresh.

FAQs

Can I substitute the raspberry jam with another flavor?

Absolutely! Apricot, strawberry, or blackcurrant jams all work brilliantly with the buttery biscuit and cream. Feel free to experiment to find your favorite combo in the Viennese Whirls Recipe.

What if I don’t have cornflour or cornstarch?

Cornflour is essential here to create the melt-in-your-mouth texture. If unavailable, you could try substituting with an equivalent amount of more fine flour, but keep in mind the texture may be slightly less tender.

Can I make these gluten-free?

Yes, but you’ll need a good gluten-free flour blend and perhaps a bit of extra cornflour to maintain the crumbly texture. It may require some experimenting, but those who avoid gluten can still enjoy a version of the Viennese Whirls Recipe!

Is it possible to make these without a piping bag?

A piping bag does make shaping these biscuits easier, but if you don’t have one, you can use a zip-top bag with a corner snipped off or even shape them by hand into small rosettes. Just keep the shapes consistent to bake evenly.

How long do Viennese Whirls stay fresh?

When stored properly in an airtight container, they stay fresh at room temperature for about 2-3 days. The buttercream filling tastes best when enjoyed fresh but remains delicious for a couple of days afterwards.

Final Thoughts

There’s something truly special about making and sharing the Viennese Whirls Recipe. It’s one of those treats that feel like a warm hug in biscuit form—delicate, buttery, just the right amount of sweet, and filled with love. Once you try making them yourself, I promise they’ll become a cherished staple in your baking repertoire, ready to wow friends and family anytime you want to impress with something both simple and spectacular.