These Christmas tree sugar cookies are a festive treat perfect for holiday gatherings. They are easy to make and can be decorated in various ways to capture the spirit of the season.
The recipe is straightforward and allows for creativity in decorating with icing, sprinkles, and edible glitter to make each cookie unique.
Festive Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies
Christmas tree sugar cookies bring a delightful charm to holiday gatherings.
Their vibrant colors and whimsical shapes capture the essence of the season, making them a favorite among both kids and adults.
These cookies are not only delicious but also provide a wonderful opportunity for creativity in the kitchen.
Shaped like Christmas trees, these cookies are perfect for sharing with family and friends.
With a preparation time of around 30 minutes and a total time of about one hour, you can whip up a batch of approximately 24 cookies to spread holiday cheer.
Ingredients for Success
To create these festive treats, gather a few key ingredients that will ensure your cookies are both tasty and visually appealing.
You’ll need all-purpose flour, baking soda, and baking powder to form the base of the dough.
Unsalted butter and white sugar provide the rich, sweet flavor that makes these cookies irresistible.
Don’t forget the egg and extracts—vanilla and optional almond—to enhance the cookie’s taste.
For decorating, confectioners’ sugar mixed with milk will create a smooth icing, while food coloring, sprinkles, and edible glitter will add that festive touch.
Creating the Cookie Dough
Begin by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C).
In a small bowl, mix together the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
This step is essential for achieving the right texture in your cookies.
In a larger bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until the mixture is smooth and fluffy.
Incorporate the egg and extracts, blending them well before gradually adding the dry ingredients.
This process will yield a soft dough ready for shaping.
Shaping and Baking
Once your dough is prepared, roll rounded teaspoonfuls into balls and place them on ungreased cookie sheets.
Flatten each ball gently using the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar for a sweet touch.
Then, use a Christmas tree-shaped cookie cutter to create festive shapes.
Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until they turn golden.
Allow them to cool on wire racks, which will help maintain their shape and texture.
Decorating Your Cookies
The fun really begins once the cookies have cooled!
Prepare the icing by mixing confectioners’ sugar with milk until smooth.
Divide this mixture into separate bowls and add food coloring to create vibrant hues for decorating.
Once your icing is ready, use it to adorn each cookie.
Add colorful sprinkles and a sprinkle of edible glitter to make them sparkle.
This is where your creativity shines, as each cookie can be uniquely decorated!
Sharing the Holiday Spirit
These Christmas tree sugar cookies are more than just a treat; they embody the spirit of the holidays.
Perfect for cookie exchanges, family gatherings, or simply enjoying at home, they are sure to bring smiles to everyone who tastes them.
So gather your loved ones, roll up your sleeves, and enjoy the festive process of baking and decorating these delightful cookies!
Festive Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies
These delightful sugar cookies are shaped like Christmas trees and are perfect for sharing with family and friends. The recipe takes about 1 hour from start to finish and yields approximately 24 cookies.
Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract optional
- 3 cups confectioners’ sugar for icing
- 2 tablespoons milk for icing
- Food coloring for decorating
- Sprinkles and edible glitter for decoration
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using). Gradually blend in the dry ingredients.
- Roll and Cut: Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, then place them onto ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten each ball with the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar. Use a Christmas tree-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the shapes.
- Bake: Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let cool on wire racks.
- Prepare Icing: In a bowl, mix confectioners’ sugar and milk until smooth. Divide into separate bowls and add food coloring as desired.
- Decorate: Once cookies are cool, use icing to decorate and add sprinkles or edible glitter.
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Servings: 24 cookies
- Calories: 120kcal
- Fat: 5g
- Protein: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 18g