Magical Christmas Tree Cookies Recipe: Festive Joy In Every Bite

Sweet holiday memories often revolve around festive christmas tree cookies that spark joy in every kitchen.

Delicate sugar-dusted shapes bring warmth to seasonal celebrations with their charming decorative details.

Crisp edges and soft centers create a perfect balance of textures that delight young and old.

Familiar ingredients combine into magical treats that remind you of childhood winter gatherings.

Colorful sprinkles and creative icing transform simple dough into miniature edible evergreens.

Baking these delightful morsels connects generations through shared culinary traditions.

You’ll love crafting these whimsical cookies that promise to become a cherished annual ritual.

Tree Cookies That Sweeten Up Every Christmas Gathering

• Festive Family Fun: Create delightful Christmas tree cookies that bring everyone together, from kids to grandparents, for a joyful baking and decorating experience.
• Customize with Creativity: Personalize each cookie with unique color combinations, sprinkles, and decorative patterns that showcase individual artistic flair and holiday spirit.
• Beginner-Friendly Baking: Simple ingredients and straightforward steps make these cookies perfect for novice bakers wanting to try their hand at holiday cookie making.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare dough in advance and chill, allowing for stress-free holiday preparation and convenient baking when schedules get busy.

Christmas Tree Cookies Ingredient Guide

• Butter: Creamy and rich base for cookie texture.
• Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps with cookie structure.
• Egg: Binds ingredients and adds richness.
• Flour: Main dry ingredient for cookie base.
• Baking Powder: Helps cookies rise and become light.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor.

• Vanilla Extract, Almond Extract: Adds depth and holiday warmth.

• Powdered Sugar, Meringue Powder, Water: Creates smooth royal icing.
• Food Coloring: Adds festive green, red, and white colors.
• Sprinkles: Provides extra holiday sparkle and texture.

Decorating Christmas Tree Cookies for Holiday Fun

Step 1: Whip Up the Dough Base

Grab a spacious mixing bowl and cream together softened butter and sugar until the mixture becomes light and airy. Crack in a fresh egg and splash in vanilla and almond extracts. Blend everything until smooth and well combined.

Step 2: Combine Dry Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Salt

Slowly incorporate the dry mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring until a cohesive dough forms.

Step 3: Chill and Rest the Dough

Shape the dough into a compact disk, wrap securely in plastic wrap, and let it relax in the refrigerator for a minimum of one hour. This helps develop rich flavors and makes the dough easier to handle.

Step 4: Prepare for Baking

Warm up the oven to 350°F. Dust your work surface with flour and roll out the chilled dough to a quarter-inch thickness. Use a festive Christmas tree cookie cutter to create adorable shapes. Transfer the delicate cutouts onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Step 5: Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the baking sheet into the oven and bake for 8-10 minutes. Watch for lightly golden edges – this signals your cookies are ready. Let them cool briefly on the baking sheet before moving to a wire rack.

Step 6: Craft Magical Royal Icing

• Powdered sugar
• Meringue powder
• Water

Whip until the icing reaches a thick, pipeable consistency. Divide the icing and experiment with food coloring for vibrant decorations.

Step 7: Decorate with Holiday Cheer

Grab piping bags fitted with small round tips. Start by coating the tree with green icing, then add playful red and white details. Sprinkle on festive decorations while the icing is still wet for maximum sparkle.

Cookie Tips That Shape the Sweetest Christmas Trees

• Chill Dough Thoroughly: Refrigerate the dough for at least an hour to prevent spreading and ensure crisp, defined Christmas tree shapes during baking.
• Flour Surface Lightly: Use minimal flour when rolling out dough to prevent dry, tough cookies and maintain a delicate texture.
• Control Icing Consistency: Adjust royal icing thickness by adding water or powdered sugar gradually for perfect piping and smooth decorations.
• Prevent Burning: Watch cookies closely during baking; golden edges indicate doneness without overcooking the delicate tree-shaped treats.
• Store Smartly: Keep decorated cookies in an airtight container between parchment layers to preserve their festive appearance and prevent sticking.

How to Keep Christmas Tree Cookies from Going Stale

• Store decorated cookies in an airtight container between parchment paper layers for up to 5 days. Keep container in the refrigerator to maintain icing's texture and prevent crumbling.
• Wrap undecorated cookies tightly in plastic wrap, then place in freezer bags. Freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes before decorating.
• Place cooled, fully decorated cookies in a sealed container with a tight lid. Keep away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Enjoy within 3-4 days for best taste and texture.
• Gently warm cookies in the oven at 275°F for 3-4 minutes to restore crispness. Allow cookies to cool completely before serving to prevent soggy texture.

Christmas Tree Cookies Party Matches

• Festive Flavor Companions: Christmas Tree Cookies Pairings
• Sip Spiced Mulled Wine: Warm, aromatic mulled wine with cinnamon, orange peel, and cloves perfectly complements the sweet, buttery Christmas tree cookies. Its rich, deep flavors create a cozy holiday harmony.
• Pair with Peppermint Hot Chocolate: Creamy, velvety hot chocolate infused with cool peppermint provides a delightful contrast to the crisp cookie texture. The mint adds a refreshing holiday touch.
• Complement with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Smooth, cold vanilla bean ice cream offers a luxurious counterpoint to the warm, spiced cookie. Its creamy sweetness enhances the cookie's delicate almond and vanilla notes.
• Match with Eggnog Latte: Creamy, nutmeg-spiced eggnog latte brings a traditional Christmas spirit to the cookie experience. Its rich, smooth profile elevates the cookie's festive charm.

Christmas Tree Cookie Sweet Designs

• Gluten-Free Holiday Trees: Replace wheat flour with almond or rice flour for a celiac-friendly version that maintains the same delicate texture and festive shape.
• Vegan Christmas Cookies: Swap butter with coconut oil, use a flax egg instead of regular egg, and create plant-based royal icing using powdered sugar and aquafaba for a cruelty-free treat.
• Low-Sugar Option: Reduce sugar content by using stevia or monk fruit sweetener, and decorate with naturally colored sprinkles made from fruit powders for a healthier alternative.
• Spiced Winter Cookies: Incorporate warm holiday spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom into the dough for a more complex and aromatic Christmas tree cookie experience.

FAQs

• What ingredients make these Christmas tree cookies special?

The key ingredients are butter, sugar, flour, egg, vanilla extract, and optional almond extract. These simple pantry staples create a delicious sugar cookie base that’s perfect for holiday decorating.

• How do I know when the cookies are perfectly baked?

Look for lightly golden edges, which typically takes 8-10 minutes at 350°F. The cookies should be firm but not dark brown. Remove them from the oven when they’re just set to ensure a soft, tender texture.

• Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes! You can prepare the cookie dough up to 3 days in advance. After shaping the dough into a disk, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator. This actually helps develop better flavor and makes rolling easier.

• What's the best way to get clean cookie shapes?

Roll the dough to a consistent 1/4-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Use a sharp Christmas tree cookie cutter and press firmly. Dip the cutter in flour between cuts to prevent sticking and maintain crisp edges.

Christmas Tree Cookies Recipe

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4.5 from 8 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Festive Christmas tree cookies bring holiday cheer with their delightful green hue and sprinkled charm. Crisp sugar cookie edges and sweet buttercream frosting create a merry treat you’ll treasure during seasonal celebrations.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups (340 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar

Flavor Enhancers:

• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)

Leavening and Seasoning:

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

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Instructions

1. Craft the foundational mixture by vigorously blending softened butter and sugar until achieving a pillowy, aerated texture. Incorporate egg, vanilla essence, and optional almond extract, ensuring thorough integration.
2. Simultaneously sift flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate vessel. Methodically fold dry ingredients into the creamy base, creating a uniform, cohesive dough.
3. Compress the dough into a compact disc, envelop with plastic membrane, and nestle in refrigerator for minimum 60 minutes to allow molecular relaxation and flavor melding.
4. Warm oven to 350°F. Liberate chilled dough and roll across lightly dusted surface until uniformly 1/4-inch thick. Employ festive evergreen-shaped cutters to transform dough, transferring delicate silhouettes onto parchment-lined baking sheet.
5. Introduce cookie landscape to heated chamber, allowing 8-10 minutes of transformative baking until golden perimeters emerge. Permit brief cooling directly on baking surface before migrating to wire elevation rack.
6. Construct royal embellishment by whisking powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water until achieving glossy, pipeable consistency. Partition icing, infusing desired chromatic variations.
7. Embellish cookies using precision piping techniques: outline tree form with verdant hues, accent with crimson and ivory details. Sprinkle decorative elements while surface remains receptive and glistening.

Notes

• Chill dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain crisp tree shapes during baking.
• Use gel food coloring for vibrant, concentrated icing colors without thinning the consistency.
• Keep royal icing covered with damp towel to prevent hardening while decorating multiple cookies.
• For gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend, ensuring same texture and taste.

• Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 150
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 20 mg
• Fat: 7 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 21 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 1.5 g
• Cholesterol: 15 mg