Christmas Tree Cookies are a festive holiday classic, perfect for baking with family or sharing with friends. These buttery sugar cookies are shaped like Christmas trees and decorated with colorful icing, sprinkles, and candies for a cheerful touch. Whether you’re hosting a party, participating in a cookie swap, or looking for a fun activity with the kids, these cookies are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fun and Festive: Perfect for the holiday season with endless decorating possibilities.
- Kid-Friendly: A great baking activity for kids to unleash their creativity.
- Versatile: Use your favorite sugar cookie or gingerbread recipe.
- Customizable: Decorate with icing, sprinkles, or edible glitter to match your holiday theme.
- Perfect for Gifting: Beautifully decorated cookies make thoughtful homemade gifts.
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
For the Cookies:
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Unsalted butter (softened)
- Granulated sugar
- Egg
- Vanilla extract
- Optional: Almond extract for extra flavor
For the Decoration:
- Royal icing or buttercream frosting
- Food coloring (green, red, yellow, or any festive colors)
- Sprinkles, candy stars, and edible glitter
Directions
Prepare the Cookie Dough:
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing well.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture until a soft dough forms.
- Chill the Dough: Divide the dough into two discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Cut and Bake:
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll and Cut: Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use a Christmas tree cookie cutter to cut out shapes.
- Bake: Place cookies on the prepared baking sheets and bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Allow cookies to cool completely before decorating.
Decorate:
- Prepare the Icing: Divide royal icing or frosting into bowls and tint with food coloring as desired.
- Decorate the Trees: Use piping bags or zip-top bags with the corner snipped off to pipe icing onto the cookies. Add sprinkles, candy stars, or edible glitter while the icing is still wet.
- Set the Icing: Allow the icing to dry completely before stacking or storing.
Servings and Timing
- Servings: About 24 cookies (depending on cookie cutter size)
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Chill Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 8–10 minutes per batch
- Total Time: Approximately 2 hours
Variations
- Gingerbread Trees: Use gingerbread cookie dough for a spiced version.
- Chocolate Dough: Add cocoa powder to the dough for a chocolate twist.
- Gluten-Free: Substitute with a gluten-free flour blend.
- Flavor Enhancements: Add peppermint or orange zest for a festive flavor boost.
- 3D Trees: Bake triangular cookies and assemble them into standing trees using royal icing.
Storage/Reheating
- Storage: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Freezing Dough: Freeze unbaked dough for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before rolling and baking.
- Freezing Cookies: Freeze undecorated cookies for up to 3 months. Thaw and decorate as desired.
FAQs
1. Can I use store-bought cookie dough?
Yes, store-bought sugar cookie dough works well for convenience.
2. How do I keep the cookies from spreading?
Chill the dough thoroughly before baking and avoid overmixing.
3. Can I make these cookies ahead of time?
Yes, baked cookies can be made a few days in advance and stored in an airtight container.
4. What type of icing is best for decorating?
Royal icing is great for detailed designs, while buttercream is perfect for a softer, creamier look.
5. Can I skip chilling the dough?
Chilling helps maintain the cookie shape during baking, so it’s highly recommended.
6. How do I prevent the cookies from sticking when rolling?
Lightly flour your work surface and rolling pin, or roll the dough between sheets of parchment paper.
7. Can I use different shapes?
Absolutely! Use any holiday-themed cookie cutters for variety.
8. How do I store decorated cookies?
Once the icing is fully set, layer cookies with parchment paper in an airtight container.
9. Can kids help with decorating?
Yes, decorating is a fun and creative activity for kids! Provide them with sprinkles and easy-to-use piping bags.
10. What if I don’t have a tree-shaped cutter?
Create your own template using cardboard and a knife, or try cutting the dough freehand.
Conclusion
Christmas Tree Cookies are a festive and delicious way to celebrate the holiday season. With their buttery texture, creative decorations, and endless customization options, they’re sure to become a family favorite. Whether you’re baking for a party or creating holiday memories with loved ones, these cookies bring joy and cheer to every bite.
PrintChristmas Tree Cookies
These Christmas Tree Cookies are festive and fun! Made with a buttery sugar cookie base and decorated with colorful royal icing and sprinkles, they’re perfect for holiday parties, gifting, or a family baking activity.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Chill Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Desserts, Holiday Cookies
- Method: Baking, Decorating
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
For the cookies:
- 2 3/4 cups (350 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
For the royal icing:
- 3 cups (375 g) powdered sugar, sifted
- 2 large egg whites or 3 tbsp meringue powder + 6 tbsp water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Green gel food coloring
For decoration:
- Assorted sprinkles, edible glitter, or nonpareils
- Star-shaped candies or sprinkles for tree toppers
Instructions
1. Make the cookie dough:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.
- Mix in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using). Gradually add the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined.
2. Chill the dough:
- Shape the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
3. Roll and cut the cookies:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use a Christmas tree-shaped cookie cutter to cut out cookies and place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
4. Bake the cookies:
- Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are just lightly golden. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
5. Prepare the royal icing:
- In a large bowl, beat the powdered sugar, egg whites (or meringue powder mixture), and vanilla extract until smooth and slightly thickened, about 2–3 minutes. Add water 1 teaspoon at a time to reach your desired consistency.
- Divide the icing and tint one portion green with gel food coloring for the trees.
6. Decorate the cookies:
- Using a piping bag with a fine tip, outline and fill the tree-shaped cookies with green icing. Add sprinkles or edible glitter while the icing is still wet to mimic ornaments.
- Place a star-shaped candy or sprinkle at the top of each tree. Allow the icing to set completely before serving or packaging.
Notes
- Store decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
- For a shortcut, use store-bought sugar cookie dough and royal icing.
- Add a few drops of peppermint extract to the icing for a holiday flavor twist.