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Clothespin cookies are an old-fashioned favorite that your family will love! Tubes of pastry are filled with buttercream frosting and dusted with powdered sugar for a sweet, tender holiday cookie.

White cake plate piled with clothespin cookies. A hand is dusting powdered sugar over the top of the cookies.
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There are some holiday cookies that are simple enough, sometimes I make them at other times of the year as a special treat.

We’re talking recipes like peanut butter blossoms, chocolate crinkle cookies, spritz cookies, and orange cranberry cookies

And then there are a handful of holiday treats that take a little more time and effort that I only make once a year at most, but everyone is glad when I do.

Clothespin cookies are one of those recipes. They definitely take a little more patience to make than some of my other recipes, but they’re an old-fashioned Midwestern favorite that our family loves.

Two white plates filled with clothespin cookies, with a glass of iced coffee and a cake plate filled with more clothespin cookies in the background.

WHAT ARE CLOTHESPIN COOKIES

If you grew up in Ohio, there’s a chance you already know about clothespin cookies.

These cookies – also known as ladylocks or cream horns – apparently originated in Eastern Europe and are very popular in Ohio and western Pennsylvania in particular.

Clothespin cookies are made from a light, flaky pastry that is formed into a tube and filled with a whipped cream filling or buttercream frosting. They are often known as “clothespin cookies” because traditionally they were formed and baked around round wooden clothespins.

Clothespin cookies have been a Christmas tradition for our family for years. Every year, my stepmom orders them from a friend and I look forward to eating them when we visit her and my dad for the holidays.

Even though we consider them a Christmas cookie, they are also popular as wedding cookies – another tradition popular to the Ohio and western Pennsylvania area.

Dough for clothespin cookies in the bowl of a food processor.

HOW TO MAKE CLOTHESPIN COOKIES

Whether you call them clothespin cookies, ladylocks, or cream horns, these cookies definitely require a little time and patience, but are a great way to spend some quality time in the kitchen with friends and family.

Equipment you’ll need

There is one tool you will need to make clothespin cookies that you might not already have on hand.

Even though these cookies were named because they were traditionally formed around round clothespins, I prefer to bake mine around mini cannoli molds these days.

Strips of clothespin cookie dough on a flour-dusted wooden board.

If you choose to use the clothespins instead of the cannoli molds, make sure you spritz them with cooking spray before using them to help the pastry slide off after it is baked.

You will also need:

Strips of clothespin cookie dough wrapped around mini cannoli forms, set on a parchment-lined baking sheet, ready to go in the oven.

Making the dough

These cookies are made in 3 parts:

  1. Making the dough
  2. Shaping and baking
  3. Filling the cookies

I like making the dough in the food processor. It’s really quick and easy, which is nice because it offsets some of the time it takes to shape the cookies.

Add the cold butter, sugar, egg yolks, flour, and salt to the bowl of your food processor. Pulse until well combined, then slowly add the cold water until the dough forms a ball in the food processor.

Remove the dough, wrap it in plastic wrap, and freeze it for 45 minutes.

Baked clothespin cookie shells on mini cannoli forms on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Shaping and baking 

Now for the trickiest part: shaping the cookies.

After the dough has rested in the freezer, cut it into fourths. Work with one quarter of the dough at a time, wrapping the rest back up and storing it in the refrigerator to keep it cold. 

On a floured surface, roll out the dough into a rectangle measuring just over 12×6 inches. The dough should be quite thin.

Use a sharp knife, a dough blade, or a pizza cutter to trim off the edges of the dough, making a 12×6-inch rectangle. Cut the rectangle into 12 strips, each measuring 1 inch wide by 6 inches long.

Carefully lift each strip, wrapping it around one of the mini cannoli forms or clothespins. Slightly overlap the edges of the dough as you wrap it, forming a tube of dough around the forms.

Clothespin cookie shells on a wire rack next to a piping bag filled with buttercream filling.

Place the wrapped form (with the dough ends facing down) onto a lined baking sheet. Bake for 10-13 minutes, until the edges and bottoms of the cookies are golden.

Let the cookies cool on the forms for 2 minutes, then carefully remove them from the molds and place them on a wire rack to cool completely.

Since my cannoli form set has 12 molds in it and each quarter of dough makes 12 cookies, I like to roll, shape, and bake one quarter of dough at a time, then let the forms cool completely before repeating with the remaining dough quarters.

If you are using metal cannoli molds, you can cool them quickly by placing them in a heat-proof container and setting them in the refrigerator or freezer to bring them back to room temperature.

Clothespin cookies dusted with powdered sugar arranged on a wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet.

Filling clothespin cookies

Some folks like to fill their clothespin cookies with a whipped cream filling, but I prefer mine with buttercream frosting.

I scaled down my favorite homemade buttercream frosting recipe for this filling and think it is perfect for these cookies. 

You want the frosting to be super light and airy so it doesn’t overwhelm the delicate pastry of the cookies. The key is mixing it for the amount of time listed in the recipe!

Start by beating the butter on medium-high for 6-7 minutes. Gradually add the powdered sugar and the salt, continuing to beat until the sugar is fully incorporated.

Add the vanilla extract, as well as the cream or milk, and mix until incorporated.

Increase the speed to medium-high again and beat for another 6-7 minutes for a super light, fluffy frosting.

Using a piping bag fitted with a medium piping tip (I like a star tip for this) to pipe the filling into each pastry shell.

Dust the cookies with powdered sugar for the perfect finish before serving.

Clothespin cookies dusted with powdered sugar piled on a white cake plate.

STORAGE TIPS

Store clothespin cookies in the refrigerator. They are best served within a day, but will keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days. I do recommend waiting to dust them with powdered sugar until just before serving.

You could easily make the dough ahead of time and freeze it until you’re ready to work with it. Wrap it in plastic wrap and place it in a zip-top freezer bag for up to a month.

Let the dough thaw in the refrigerator overnight before forming the cookies so that it is soft enough to roll out.

You could also freeze the buttercream filling. Make the filling, then freeze it in an airtight container for up to a month. 

Thaw the buttercream overnight in the refrigerator. Let it come to room temperature after thawing, then whip it with your electric mixer for a couple of minutes before piping into the cookies.

I don’t personally recommend freezing the baked clothespin cookies, as I think thawing can affect the texture of the pastry.

Several clothespin cookies arranged on a white plate on top of a red napkin.
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Clothespin Cookies

By: Jamie
4.49 from 27 ratings
Prep: 1 hour
Cook: 10 minutes
Chilling Time: 45 minutes
Total: 1 hour 55 minutes
Servings: cookies
Clothespin cookies are an old-fashioned favorite that your family will love! Tubes of pastry are filled with buttercream frosting and dusted with powdered sugar for a sweet, tender holiday cookie.

Ingredients

For the Dough:

For the Filling:

Instructions 

Make the cookies:

  • Place butter, sugar, egg yolks, flour and salt into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until well combined. Slowly mix in the water until fully incorporated and dough forms a ball in the bowl of your processor.
  • Remove the dough from the processor and place into the freezer for 45 minutes.
  • Cut dough into fourths. Wrap each quarter in plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator to keep cold.
  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
  • Take out one quarter of the dough at a time and allow it to stand at room temperature long enough that it softens enough that the dough can be rolled.
  • Roll dough out on a floured surface into a rectangle measuring just over 12 inches x 6 inches. Dough should be very thin. 
  • Using a sharp knife, a dough blade, or a pizza cutter, trim the edges of the rectangle so that it measures 12 inches x 6 inches. Cut into 12 strips measuring 1 inch wide x 6 inches long.
  • Wrap each strip around a mini cannoli form or round clothespins, slightly overlapping the edges of the dough as you wrap. Place (with the dough ends down) on the prepared baking sheet. 
  • Bake for 10-13 minutes, or until the edges and bottoms are golden. Let cool for 2 minutes, then remove the pastry shells from the forms, placing on a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Let the cannoli molds or clothespins cool completely, then repeat with the remaining dough quarters.

Make the buttercream filling:

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed for 6-7 minutes.
  • With the mixer on low speed, slowly add in the salt and powdered sugar, and continue beating until the sugar is fully incorporated.
  • Add in vanilla and cream or milk and mix on low speed until incorporated.
  • Turn the mixer back up to medium-high speed and beat the buttercream for an additional 6-7 minutes.
  • If the buttercream is too thick, add in a bit of milk, one teaspoon at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
  • Place in a piping bag fitted with a medium piping tip and pipe into each pastry shell.
  • Store in the refrigerator. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Video

Notes

I used mini cannoli forms to shape my cookies.
If you are using clothespins, make sure to use the old-fashioned round clothespins.
I would recommend spritzing the clothespins with cooking spray before using to help the pastry slide off more easily after baking.
To quickly cool the cannoli molds, place them in a heat-proof container and set them in the refrigerator or freezer to bring them back to room temperature.
Dough recipe adapted from The Funny Farm Bakery

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie, Calories: 130kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 28mg, Sodium: 14mg, Potassium: 11mg, Fiber: 0.2g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 248IU, Calcium: 5mg, Iron: 0.3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

4.49 from 27 votes (26 ratings without comment)

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148 Comments

  1. Mirella Liddell says:

    Can’t wait to try these.

  2. Nicole says:

    5 stars
    Made these today and they turned out amazing ! Ty so much

    1. Jamie says:

      So glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your feedback.
      -Jamie

  3. Anita says:

    What type of flour did you use?

    1. Jamie says:

      Hi Anita – I used all-purpose flour. Happy baking!
      Jamie

  4. Bernadette Niebuhr says:

    Hi,
    Are these cookies okay to store at room temp?

    1. Jamie says:

      Hi Bernadette – These cookies should be ok stored at room temp for up to a couple of days as long as the room is fairly cool. If the room is warm, you might pop them in the fridge so the filling doesn’t melt. Hope this helps!
      Jamie

  5. Julie Whittaker says:

    Could you please post the original recipe for the filling? I’m trying to reproduce the recipe for my grandmother’s recipe and your buttercream, though tasty, wasn’t as close to the originals as I was looking for. :/

    1. Jamie says:

      Unfortunately, I no longer have the original recipe, but hopefully you’ll be able to find something close online. Happy holidays to you and yours!
      -Jamie

    2. Tracy Greene says:

      @Julie Whittaker,
      To Make Filling: In a saucepan over medium heat, cook 1 cup milk and 1/2 cup flour until thick stirring constantly. Let cool.

      Cream together shortening, confectioners’ sugar, marshmallow cream, and vanilla. Add cooked mixture to creamed mixture and beat till fluffy. Fill cooled pastry curls with filling.

    3. Brenda says:

      @Julie Whittaker, I have that ! From a woman in Warren, Ohio. Here it is; I bet this is the flavor you are remembering, I know it was for me !

      1 cup milk
      4 Tablespoons sifted flour
      1/2 pound butter
      2 cups powdered sugar
      6 Tablespoons marshmallow cream
      1 teaspoon vanilla

      In small sauce pan heal the milk and flour until thick; set aside
      Cream together the rest of the ingredients
      When milk mixture is cool, add that to the butter mixture and whip until creamy

      DELICIOUS!!!

    4. Kelly Astleford says:

      Hi Julie!
      I don’t know if you will see this, but I found this recipe on a Facebook page about lost recipes which led me here to find a photo of these cookies. This recipe is from the 90 year old aunt of the person who posted it. Hope this helps!

      Clothespin Cookies

      Ingredients
      4 c Flour
      3 Tbsp Sugar
      1 tsp Salt
      1 1/2 c Crisco
      1 pkg. Dry Yeast
      3/4 c warm Milk
      3 beaten Egg Yolks
      1/2 c Flour + 1 1/2 c Sugar
      1 box Powdered Sugar
      1 c Crisco
      1 stick Oleo (margarine)
      1/2 c Milk
      1 Egg
      2 tsp Vanilla
      Dash of Salt

      Directions
      1. Mix : Flour, Sugar, Salt, Crisco. (Mix as for pie crust dough)
      2. Crumble dry yeast in warm milk, then add beaten eggs.
      3. Add to pie dough and work until smooth (about 5 min.)
      4, Wrap with foil, and refrigerate 4hrs or overnight.
      5. Mix 1/2 c flour with 1 1/2 c sugar, and use this mixture to roll out small amounts of dough at a time. (1/ 8 in thick or less)
      6. Cut into strips (1in long x 1in) Wrap on clothes pins overlapping on 1/2 of strip.
      7. Bake @ 350° – 375 for 15min
      8. Remove from heat right away to cool
      9. Mix together for filling: Powdered sugar, Crisco, oleo, milk, egg, vanilla, salt. (mix 10min and refrigerate)
      10. Fill cookies

  6. Christine says:

    Can these be made with all butter instead of margarine and eliminate the Butter flavoring?

    1. Jamie says:

      I honestly haven’t made this recipe in years, Christine, so I am not sure how that substitutions would perform. Sorry I am not more of a help. Happy Holidays to you and yours!
      -Jamie

  7. Jonathan says:

    Hello, im new to your website and all your recipes caught my eye! However when I was looking at this i was unsure of what you need for the buttercream filling? Do you use both 1 stick of unsalted and salted butters?

  8. Gionni says:

    I made these cookies last night and my husband said on a scale from 1 to 10 these are an 11! He said they might even be his new favorite, which has been unbeatable from my chocolate chip for years. Thank you for the recipe!

    1. MBA says:

      Gionni-
      I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks for stopping by and providing your feedback – have a great day!
      -Jamie