CHRISTMAS TREE COOKIES
These Christmas Tree Cookies are festive, buttery, and fun to decorate! Perfect for holiday baking with kids, they hold their shape well and taste as good as they look—ideal for gifting, parties, or cookie swaps.
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract optional
For Decorating:
- Green royal icing or cookie icing
- Sprinkles stars, or edible glitter
- Mini chocolate chips or colored candies optional
Instructions
Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Mix Dry Ingredients:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
Make the Dough:
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla (plus almond extract if using), mixing until combined. Gradually add dry ingredients and mix to form dough.
Roll and Cut:
- Roll dough to ¼-inch thickness on a floured surface. Use a Christmas tree-shaped cookie cutter to cut out cookies. Transfer to baking sheets.
Bake:
- Bake 10–12 minutes or until edges are lightly golden. Cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.
Decorate:
- Use green icing to flood cookies, then decorate with sprinkles and candies as ornaments. Add a star on top for a festive finish!
Notes
- Make Ahead: Dough can be chilled for up to 2 days or frozen for a month.
- Flavor Tips: Swap almond extract with peppermint for a holiday twist.
- Serving Ideas: Great for decorating parties, cookie exchanges, or as edible ornaments.
- Storage: Keep cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 week or freeze undecorated cookies for longer shelf life.