The MOST Elegant Christmas Tree Cookies
Aren’t these elegant Christmas tree cookies just lovely?
They are gorgeous in person, especially with the shimmery sparkling sugar.
They truly are Elegant Christmas Tree cookies and this recipe will have you getting all kinds of compliments on your elegant Christmas cookie recipe skills!
But wait! There is a fun little secret to these cookies that nobody else needs to know about… the “royal icing” on these fancy cookies is actually store-bought frosting.
That’s right! They take just a short time to make and it looks like you spent hours!! Save even more time by buying sugar cookies from the bakery, but just in case you aren’t in that big of a rush, I’ve included our favorite cookie recipe for these here.
Ingredients for making Elegant Christmas Tree Cookies
For cookies:
3 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 (2 sticks) cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
½ teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Additional flour for rolling
For icing and decorating:
1 (16 ounce) container classic white frosting (I used Pillsbury Creamy Supreme.)
White sparkling sugar
White nonpareils
White Sixlets
I used the tree cookie cutter from this cookie cutter set here, but obviously any tree cookie cutter will do! I actually think it would be really neat to do different sizes of trees as well, wouldn’t that be pretty?
How to make these Elegant Christmas Tree Cookies
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Whisk together dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a mixing bowl, blend the butter and sugar until creamy and light. Add egg, almond extract, and vanilla extract. Mix well. Slowly add dry ingredients and mix until combined. Dough may be a little crumbly.
4. Turn out the dough onto a surfaced sprinkled with flour. Press into a ball and then roll out to ½ inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to create shapes. Carefully lift shaped cookies to the baking sheet.
5. Bake cookies for 7 to 9 minutes. Do not brown the cookies. Allow cookies to cool for at least 7 minutes on the baking sheet before carefully removing to a cooling rack. Cool completely before decorating.
6. To make you faux royal icing, remove lid and foil from frosting container. Heat in the microwave on high heat for 30 seconds. Stir well. Repeat in 15 second intervals, stirring each time, until the frosting has melted to a stirrable consistency.
7. Spread frosting over the cookies and immediately decorate with sprinkles. For larger sprinkles, gently press into the frosting so they will not easily fall off the cookies.
8. Allow cookies to dry completely or serve immediately.
Aren’t these just gorgeous? I just love them and not only are they unique but they are delicious and just think of all the darling ways you can plate these pretty elegant Christmas tree cookies for gift giving!
Looking for more delicious Christmas recipes? I’ve got you covered, here are a few of our favorites:
Rice Krispies Wreaths Cookie Recipe
Rice Krispies Reindeer Treats Recipe
Peppermint Oreo Truffles Recipe
Lofthouse Reindeer Christmas Cookie Recipe
Eggnog Cookie Recipe
Print the Recipe for the Elegant Christmas Tree Cookies
Elegant Christmas Tree Cookies
I don't know what else to call these cookies, so I've always just referred to them as the Elegant Christmas Tree cookie recipe - they are SO pretty and even better, super easy to make. They look absolutely gorgeous on a Christmas cookie platter and can stand alone at a holiday party as a pretty addition to any dessert table.
Ingredients
For cookies:
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 (2 sticks) cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Additional flour for rolling
For icing and decorating:
- 1 (16 ounce) container classic white frosting (I used Pillsbury Creamy Supreme.)
- White sparkling sugar
- White nonpareils
- White Sixlets
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Whisk together dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a mixing bowl, blend the butter and sugar until creamy and light. Add egg, almond extract, and vanilla extract. Mix well. Slowly add dry ingredients and mix until combined. Dough may be a little crumbly.
4. Turn out the dough onto a surfaced sprinkled with flour. Press into a ball and then roll out to ½ inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to create shapes. Carefully lift shaped cookies to the baking sheet.
5. Bake cookies for 7 to 9 minutes. Do not brown the cookies. Allow cookies to cool for at least 7 minutes on the baking sheet before carefully removing to a cooling rack. Cool completely before decorating.
6. To make you faux royal icing, remove lid and foil from frosting container. Heat in the microwave on high heat for 30 seconds. Stir well. Repeat in 15 second intervals, stirring each time, until the frosting has melted to a stirrable consistency.
7. Spread frosting over the cookies and immediately decorate with sprinkles. For larger sprinkles, gently press into the frosting so they will not easily fall off the cookies.
8. Allow cookies to dry completely or serve immediately.
Meet the author – Keri Lyn
The creative and frugal mind behind She Saved for over 12 years now, Keri Lyn shares her adventures in parenting along with her love for family travel, country living and brand marketing. A self-proclaimed “brand loyalist”, Keri Lyn is known for her strong and enthusiastic voice when it comes to the products and brands that she loves. She Saved has become a community for like-minded consumers who appreciate saving money, time and sanity by getting the best deals on quality products and experiences.
These are the prettiest Christmas Tree cookies I have ever seen. They are so elegant looking.