Description
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.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
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.