Christmas Tree Cookies are a holiday baking tradition that combines buttery sugar cookies with festive royal icing decorations. These cookies are rolled, cut into tree shapes, and decorated with smooth white icing, green piped branches, and red ornaments—just like the ones you see in Christmas bakeries.
They’re perfect for cookie trays, gift boxes, classroom treats, or leaving out for Santa on Christmas Eve. These cookies are crisp at the edges, soft in the center, and full of buttery vanilla flavor. Decorating them is fun for both kids and adults, making them an essential holiday activity.
Ingredients
For the Sugar Cookies:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or almond extract for flavor variation)
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
For the Royal Icing:
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons meringue powder
- 4–6 tablespoons warm water
- Food coloring (green, red, optional gold)
Preparation
Step 1: Make the Dough
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in egg and vanilla extract.
- In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add dry mixture to the wet until a dough forms.
Step 2: Chill the Dough
- Divide dough into two discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Chilling prevents spreading and makes rolling easier.
Step 3: Roll and Cut
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to ¼-inch thickness.
- Cut with tree-shaped cookie cutters and place on parchment-lined baking sheets.
Step 4: Bake
- Bake for 8–10 minutes, until edges are just lightly golden.
- Cool completely on wire racks before decorating.
Step 5: Make the Royal Icing
- In a bowl, beat powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water until icing is smooth and pipeable.
- Adjust thickness by adding more water (for flooding) or more sugar (for outlining).
- Divide icing into bowls and color with gel food coloring (white, green, red).
Step 6: Decorate the Cookies
- Outline cookies with white icing, then flood the center. Let dry.
- Use green icing with a piping bag and fine tip to create branch-like lines.
- Add red dots for ornaments and let set completely before storing.
Variations
- Snowy Trees: Add white sanding sugar over wet icing for sparkle.
- Golden Touch: Use edible gold paint for ornaments.
- Chocolate Trees: Replace ¼ cup flour with cocoa powder for chocolate sugar cookies.
- Sprinkle Fun: Decorate with colorful nonpareils instead of piped ornaments.
Cooking Notes
- Royal icing sets hard, making cookies stackable for gift tins.
- If you prefer softer icing, use a glaze made with powdered sugar and milk.
- Always let cookies cool fully before decorating, or icing will melt.
Serving Suggestions
- Arrange on Christmas cookie trays with gingerbread men and Italian cookies.
- Wrap individually in clear bags with ribbons for gifts.
- Perfect for holiday parties, cookie swaps, or decorating with kids.
💡 Tips
- Roll dough evenly for consistent baking.
- Keep unused dough chilled while cutting cookies.
- Use gel food coloring—it gives vibrant color without thinning icing.
- Let decorated cookies dry at room temperature for 6–8 hours before stacking.
Timing
- Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus 1 hour chilling)
- Cooking Time: 10 minutes
- Decorating Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes + drying
Nutritional Information (per cookie, about 24 cookies)
- Calories: 140
- Protein: 2g
- Sodium: 55mg
❓ FAQs
Q1: Can I make the dough ahead of time?
- Yes, refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for 2 months.
Q2: How long do decorated cookies last?
- Up to 1 week at room temperature in an airtight container.
Q3: Can I use buttercream instead of royal icing?
- Yes, but cookies won’t stack as neatly.
Q4: Can I make these gluten-free?
- Yes, substitute a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
Q5: Do I need meringue powder for royal icing?
- It’s best for stability, but you can substitute pasteurized egg whites.
Conclusion
Christmas Tree Cookies are a festive holiday classic—soft sugar cookies decorated with colorful royal icing to resemble evergreen trees. Fun to bake, decorate, and share, these cookies bring holiday cheer to parties, gift boxes, and family traditions. Whether you’re making them with kids or as part of an elegant cookie tray, they’re sure to delight.