Joyful Christmas Tree Cookies Recipe: Festive Holiday Magic

Sweet memories often dance around festive christmas tree cookies that sparkle with childhood wonder.

Colorful sprinkles and delicate icing transform simple sugar dough into magical miniature evergreens.

Kids adore decorating these whimsical treats with creative patterns and bright colors.

Baking together creates moments of pure joy and connection.

Parchment paper helps prevent sticking and ensures perfect edges for each delightful shape.

Crisp, buttery textures melt in you mouth with every delicate bite.

Let’s make these delightful seasonal treats that will bring smiles to everyone at your holiday gathering.

What Makes Christmas Tree Cookies Much Fun

• These Christmas tree cookies whip up in under 30 minutes, making festive baking super easy for busy families.
• Perfect for novice bakers, the simple mixing technique requires minimal skills and basic pantry ingredients to create adorable seasonal treats.
• Decorating these cookies becomes a fun, interactive activity where kids can unleash creativity by adding sprinkles, frosting, and colorful designs.
• Ideal for holiday parties, cookie exchanges, or gifting, these festive cookies spread cheer and add a homemade touch to any Christmas gathering.

Baking Essentials for Christmas Tree Cookies

• Flour: The base of the cookie dough, providing structure and texture.
• Baking Powder: Helps the cookies rise and become light and airy.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the cookies.

• Butter: Creates a rich, tender texture and adds a creamy flavor.
• Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps with cookie browning.
• Egg: Binds the ingredients together and adds moisture.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds classic sweet flavor, use pure extract for best taste.
• Almond Extract: Optional, gives a subtle nutty and aromatic note.

• Sprinkles, Colored Sugar, Icing: Adds festive Christmas tree appearance and extra sweetness.

Best Way to Store Christmas Tree Cookies

• Store cooled Christmas tree cookies in an airtight container lined with parchment paper for up to 5 days, separating layers with wax paper to prevent sticking.
• Pack cookies in a freezer-safe container or ziplock bag, placing wax paper between layers. Freeze flat for up to 3 months, maintaining their crisp texture and festive shape.
• Remove cookies from freezer and let sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving, allowing them to soften gently without losing their delicate crunch.
• Warm cookies briefly in a preheated oven at 300°F for 3-5 minutes to restore their original freshness and bring back that just-baked warmth.

Festive Foods That Pair with Tree Cookies

• Rich, creamy hot chocolate complements the cookie's buttery sweetness, creating a warm holiday embrace that melts beautifully with each delightful bite.
• The cool mint and robust coffee notes contrast the cookie's delicate almond and vanilla flavors, offering a sophisticated seasonal taste experience.
• Chilled whole milk or eggnog provides a classic, creamy companion that highlights the cookie's delicate texture and enhances its subtle nutty undertones.
• Warm, aromatic chai spices like cinnamon and cardamom dance perfectly with the cookie's sweet profile, creating a harmonious and comforting winter treat.

Unique Variations on Tree Cookie Designs

• Gluten-Free Forest Treats: Swap wheat flour with almond or coconut flour for a celiac-friendly version that maintains the festive cookie texture.
• Vegan Holiday Cutouts: Replace butter with coconut oil and use a flax egg instead of traditional eggs to create plant-based Christmas tree cookies.
• Spiced Nordic Cookies: Add ground cardamom and cinnamon to the dough for a Scandinavian-inspired flavor profile that enhances the traditional recipe.
• Chocolate Evergreen Bites: Mix cocoa powder into the dry ingredients and use dark chocolate chips to create a rich, decadent holiday cookie variation.

Questions About Christmas Tree Cookies? Start Here

• What are the key flavors in these Christmas Tree Cookies?

The cookies feature a delightful blend of vanilla and optional almond extract, creating a rich, sweet base with subtle nutty undertones that complement the buttery cookie texture.

• How do I know when the butter and sugar are properly creamed?

The mixture should look light, fluffy, and almost white in color, which typically takes about 2-3 minutes of beating. This process creates air pockets that help the cookies become soft and tender.

• Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the cookie dough in advance and refrigerate it for up to 2-3 days before baking. Chilling the dough can actually enhance the flavor and help the cookies maintain their shape during baking.

• What's the best way to mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients?

Add the flour mixture gradually and mix until just combined. Overmixing can lead to tough cookies, so stop mixing as soon as you no longer see streaks of flour in the dough.

How to Create Tree Cookies That Impress

Step 1: Prepare Dry Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Salt

Mix these ingredients until they’re evenly combined.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar

• Unsalted butter
• Granulated sugar

Whip these ingredients until they become light, airy, and super fluffy. This typically takes about 2-3 minutes.

Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients

• Egg
• Vanilla extract
• Almond extract (optional)

Mix these ingredients until they’re completely blended.

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Slowly add the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients. Mix gently until everything just comes together. Be careful not to overmix the dough.

Step 5: Chill the Dough

Wrap the cookie dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour. This helps the flavors meld and makes the dough easier to handle.

Step 6: Roll Out the Dough

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use a Christmas tree-shaped cookie cutter to cut out festive shapes.

Step 7: Bake the Cookies

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Place cookie cutouts on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.

Step 8: Cool and Decorate

Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack. Decorate with royal icing, sprinkles, or powdered sugar to make them look like magical Christmas trees.

Tips for Tree Cookie Decorating Success

• Chill the Dough: Refrigerate the cookie dough for at least 1 hour before rolling to prevent spreading and maintain sharp tree-shaped edges during baking.
• Roll with Precision: Use powdered sugar instead of flour when rolling out the dough to prevent tough cookies and maintain a delicate texture.
• Cut with Care: Keep cookie cutters clean between cuts and use a thin spatula to transfer delicate tree shapes to the baking sheet without breaking.
• Decorate Creatively: Use royal icing, colored sugar, or edible glitter to transform plain cookies into festive Christmas tree masterpieces that sparkle and shine.
• Store Smartly: Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.

Christmas Tree Cookies Recipe

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• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Festive Christmas tree cookies bring holiday cheer with delightful green sugar cookies decorated like miniature evergreens. Sweet sprinkles and royal icing create magical winter wonderland treats perfect for sharing with family and friends.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients (Flour and Sugar):

• 2 ¾ cups (350 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar

Binding and Flavoring Ingredients:

• 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 large egg
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)

Additional Dry Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Royal Icing Ingredients:

• 3 cups (375 g) powdered sugar, sifted
• 2 large egg whites or 3 tablespoons meringue powder + 6 tablespoons water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Green gel food coloring

Decoration Ingredients:

• Assorted sprinkles
• Edible glitter
• Nonpareils
• Star-shaped candies or sprinkles for tree toppers

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Instructions

1. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium mixing vessel, whisking thoroughly to ensure even distribution of dry ingredients.
2. Cream butter and sugar in a spacious bowl, using an electric mixer to achieve a pillowy, pale texture that becomes significantly lighter and more voluminous.
3. Introduce egg and flavor extracts (vanilla and optional almond) into the butter mixture, blending until smooth and fully incorporated.
4. Gradually fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring gently until a cohesive dough forms without overmixing.
5. Wrap the freshly prepared dough in plastic film and refrigerate for approximately one hour to allow ingredients to meld and dough to firm up.
6. Preheat the oven and prepare baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners to prevent sticking.
7. Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to an even thickness, using tree-shaped cookie cutters to create festive winter-themed shapes.
8. Transfer delicate cookie cutouts onto prepared baking sheets, spacing them evenly to allow proper heat circulation.
9. Bake in the preheated oven until edges turn a delicate golden brown, indicating perfect crisp texture.
10. Remove cookies from oven and allow them to cool completely on wire racks before decorating or serving.

Notes

• Chill the dough for at least 1 hour before rolling to prevent spreading and maintain the crisp tree shape during baking.
• Use powdered sugar instead of flour when rolling out the dough to keep the cookies tender and prevent a dry, floury texture.
• For gluten-free variations, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to accommodate dietary restrictions.
• Decorate with royal icing or colored sugar sprinkles to create festive tree designs that add extra holiday cheer to these delightful cookies.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 174
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 35 mg
• Fat: 7 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 25 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 22 mg