Christmas Tree Cookies are a fun and easy way to celebrate the holidays! With a tasty cookie and delicious buttercream, these cookies are decorated to bring the Christmas cheer!
This is my absolute favorite sugar cookie recipe. It’s actually tasty and I love using it for all the holidays!
Make sure to check out my other Christmas cookies like Red Velvet Crinkle, Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies, Gingerbread Christmas Tree, Grinch Cookies, and these super festive Christmas Wreath Cookies!
What you need for Christmas Tree Cookies?
- Tree Cookie Cutter (amazon affiliate link)
- Parchment Paper
- Rolling Pin
- Piping Bag and Tips: I like to use the Wilton bags and tip set to vary my designs. (amazon affiliate links)
- Cookies: Sugar, Unsalted Butter, Egg, Vanilla Extract, Flour, Baking Soda, Baking Powder, Salt
- Buttercream Frosting: Unsalted Butter, Powdered Sugar, Vanilla Extract, Heavy Cream, Salt, Christmas sprinkles
Why I love this recipe: The sugar cookie is actually good and is tasty if eaten on its own. It’s not just something you use to eat frosting if you know what I mean.
How to make Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies?
- Cream the butter and sugar in a mix bowl.
- Incorporate the egg and vanilla.
- Stir in the dry ingredients.
Divide dough in half. Roll each half between two pieces of parchment paper and then refrigerate.
Once the dough has chilled, cut out the tree shapes and bake.
How to decorate Christmas Tree Cookies?
Mix up the buttercream. Divide the frosting into a few bowls and stir in any colors (like red or green). I like to leave some frosting white too.
Fill a piping bag with a tip with frosting and decorate the cookies. Add sprinkles and let frosting set.
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Pro Tip: Use a coupler for your piping tips so you can easily switch out the tips without having to change frosting bags! (amazon affiliate link)
I like to use a combination of star tips, the grass tip, and writing tips to create branches and other designs on the cookies.
Can you use royal icing to decorate Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies?
Absolutely. That’s what I use on my gingerbread men and it works great and sets up fast!
When do you put sprinkles on sugar cookies?
Add sprinkles right after you frost. That way they will stick to the frosting before it sets.
How to store sugar cookies?
Store cookies in an air tight container. If you use buttercream frosting to decorate (like I do in this recipe) then I recommend refrigerating the cookies as well.
How long will cookies last?
Cookies should last 3-4 days when stored properly.
Can I use this recipe for other sugar cookie shapes?
Absolutely! Don't limit yourself to just trees, use Santa, candy cane, and all other types of Christmas cookie cutters!
Can you freeze the dough?
Yes! Make the sugar cookie dough ahead of time, wrap in plastic wrap, then store in an air tight container and freezer for up to three months.
Then when you are ready to use, let it thaw overnight, roll flat, cut and bake!
If you like this recipe, make sure to check out all my fun and tasty Christmas recipes like Christmas Tree Cake Dip, Christmas Tree Bruschetta, Peppermint Bark, Red Velvet Cake Balls, Christmas Drink, and this tasty Christmas Cracker Toffee!
Video
Christmas Tree Cookies
Equipment
- Piping Bag and Small writing tip if you want to use for decorating
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 egg
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Butter Cream Frosting
- 1 cup butter softened to room temperature
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tbs vanilla or almond extract*
- 5 tbs heavy cream
- Pinch of Salt
- Food Coloring Gel green, red, etc
- Candies and Sprinkles for decorating
Instructions
How to make sugar cookies:
- In a mixing bowl, add sugar and softened butter and stir until combined.1 cup sugar, 1 cup unsalted butter
- Add in egg and vanilla extract. Mix until just combined. You may need to scrape down the sides at least once.1 egg, ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Then add in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix until combined.2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, ¼ teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt
- Divide dough in half. Take half of dough and place in-between two large pieces of parchment paper. Roll dough into a flat layer about an ⅛th inch think. Do the same with the other half. Refrigerate the flattened dough for 20 minutes or up to 1 ½ hours.
- Preheat oven to 300°F and line several baking sheets* with parchment paper. Move oven rack to the second to lowest position.
- Cut out tree cookie shapes and place on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until edges just start to turn golden. Thickness of the cookies will vary the baking time.
- Any scraps of dough leftover can be rerolled and refrigerated while the other cookies are baking. Try to use a cold baking sheet for every new batch.
- While cookies are baking and cooling, make the frosting.
- In a stand mixer, whip the butter on high until light and fluffy.1 cup butter
- Add the heavy cream and powdered sugar, alternating between the two, until fully mixed in.5 cups powdered sugar, 5 tbs heavy cream
- Add in the vanilla/almond extract, salt, and green food coloring. Before adding the green color, you can reserve a little of the white if you want to use it to decorate.1 tbs vanilla or almond extract*, Pinch of Salt, Food Coloring Gel
- Mix frosting on high for 30 seconds to get light and fluffy.
- Frost the cookies when they are cooled completely. I like to use a combination of different piping tips like a dot, leaf, grass tips, or star tip. Add sprinkles as bulbs and a little star on the top!Candies and Sprinkles for decorating
Notes
- * I used almond extract instead of vanilla in this batch of frosting, but you can use whatever extract you want.
- *Depending on how cold the dough is, it might be hard to lift it off the parchment paper. If that’s the case just use scissors to cut parchment paper around the cookie and place cookie and parchment directly on baking sheet.
- *If you have a baking sheet without edges use it! It will allow the air to circulate better.
- *I recommend using gel food coloring to dye your frosting for more vibrant color.
Lisa says
These are so fun to make and tasty amazing too!