Eight festive Christmas Tree Cookies with green icing, sprinkles, and pretzel trunks on a red background.

Transform your kitchen into a festive wonderland with these delightful Christmas Tree Cookies! This simple and fun recipe is perfect for families looking to create cherished holiday memories together. We’ll guide you through making soft, chewy sugar cookies from scratch, ready to be decorated into charming edible trees. Get ready for an easy, delicious, and wonderfully festive baking adventure.

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Why You’ll Love These Christmas Tree Cookies

No-Fuss Baking: Our recipe streamlines the process, requiring minimal equipment for a stress-free experience.
Fun for the Family: Decorating these Christmas Tree Cookies offers a fantastic activity for kids and adults alike.
Irresistibly Soft & Buttery: Enjoy a classic sugar cookie texture that melts in your mouth with every bite.
Perfect for Holidays: These festive treats are ideal for holiday gatherings, cookie exchanges, or heartfelt homemade gifts.
Endless Creativity: Customize your edible trees with various sprinkles, frosting colors, and toppings.

Ingredients

Gather your baking essentials to create these wonderful Christmas Tree Cookies. This list includes everything you need for both the soft cookie base and the creamy, delicious frosting.

Cookies:

1 1/3 cups (186g) unbleached all-purpose flour (scoop and level to measure)
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2/3 cup (135g) granulated sugar
10 Tbsp (141g) unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract*

Frosting:

1 cup (120g) powdered sugar
3 Tbsp (42g) unsalted butter, softened
2 – 3 tsp milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Green food coloring**, Christmas sprinkles and 8 1 1/2-inch broken pretzel rod pieces (optional)

Notes & Substitutions

For your flour, unbleached all-purpose flour works beautifully, but bleached is also fine. Ensure your unsalted butter is properly softened; it should yield slightly to a gentle press. As explained by Taylor Chip, softened butter is crucial for incorporating air into cookie dough, leading to a balanced, soft, and slightly crunchy texture. If you need an egg substitute, a flax egg (1 tbsp ground flaxseed meal + 3 tbsp water, rested for 5 minutes) can often work, though texture might vary slightly. While vanilla extract provides a classic flavor, the almond extract adds a delightful, nuanced touch; feel free to omit it or use extra vanilla. For the frosting, start with 2 teaspoons of milk and add more slowly until you reach your desired consistency. Get creative with optional decorations like green food coloring for classic trees, or use festive sprinkles and pretzel rods for adorable trunks.

Equipment

Making these easy Christmas Tree Cookies requires only a few standard kitchen tools.

9-inch springform or cake pan
Mixing bowls (medium and large)
Electric stand mixer or hand mixer
Parchment paper
Wire cooling rack
Small sharp knife
Resealable bag (for piping frosting)

Instructions

Let’s bake some beautiful Christmas Tree Cookies! Follow these steps carefully for the best results.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175°C). Butter a 9-inch springform pan or cake pan, then line the bottom with a round of parchment paper. Butter the parchment paper and lightly dust the pan with flour, shaking out any excess.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set this dry mixture aside.
In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, blend together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until they are well combined and lightened. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure everything is incorporated.
Add the large egg to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined. Next, mix in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and the optional almond extract. Scrape down the bowl again.
Gradually add the reserved flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until the flour is just combined and no dry streaks remain. Be careful not to overmix the dough.
Scoop the cookie dough into your prepared pan. Lightly spray your hands with non-stick cooking spray, then use your hands to spread the dough into an even layer across the bottom of the pan.
Bake the cookie in the preheated oven for about 14 to 16 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the center is set.
If the sides of your cookie are a little higher after baking, you can gently flatten them down with the bottom of a measuring cup while the cookie is still warm. Let the cookie cool completely on a wire rack for about 1 hour. It’s important for the cookie to be fully cooled before frosting.
To make the frosting, in a medium mixing bowl, use an electric hand mixer to blend together the powdered sugar, softened butter, 2-3 teaspoons of milk, and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract until well combined and smooth. Add more milk, a tiny bit at a time, if you prefer a thinner consistency. If desired, tint the frosting with green food coloring to create festive green trees.
Transfer the prepared frosting to a resealable bag. Seal the bag, pressing out any excess air. Use scissors to cut one small corner from the bottom edge of the bag. This creates a makeshift piping bag for decorating your Christmas Tree Cookies.
Run a small sharp knife along the edge of the cooled cookie in the pan to ensure it’s loose. If you used a springform pan, simply remove the ring. If you used a cake pan, invert the cookie onto a cutting board. You might need to gently tap the bottom of the pan or even carefully drop it upside down a few inches from the cutting board to help coax it out.
Once out of the pan, cut the large round cookie into 8 equal wedges. For a more defined tree shape, you can trim the rounded ends of each wedge, though this is optional.
Now for the fun part: decorate your Christmas Tree Cookies! Use the piping bag to add frosting to your cookie wedges, creating a tree-like texture or simply spreading it smoothly. Top with Christmas sprinkles and gently press the broken pretzel pieces into the bottom of each cookie to form little tree trunks. Enjoy your festive creations!

Pro Tips & Troubleshooting

For effortless removal of your large cookie, always use a springform pan. Alternatively, if using a regular cake pan, create parchment paper “slings” by laying two strips in a cross shape before adding the parchment round. If the cookie edges bake up too high, gently flatten them down with a measuring cup bottom while still warm. Adjust your frosting thickness with milk, adding just a tiny splash at a time until it’s perfect for piping or spreading. When decorating, let kids get creative with sprinkles, and adults can pipe more intricate tree branch patterns. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different piping tips for varied tree textures on your Christmas Tree Cookies.

Serving, Storage & Variations

Serving Suggestions

Serve your freshly decorated Christmas Tree Cookies right away for the best taste and texture. They make an enchanting centerpiece for any holiday party or gathering. Pair them with a warm mug of hot chocolate or a festive latte for a cozy treat.

Storage

For optimal freshness and to prevent foodborne illness, consider the food safety tips provided by Eat Wheat when storing homemade baked goods. Store your frosted Christmas Tree Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. For extended freshness, especially if using a dairy-based frosting, you can refrigerate them for up to a week.

Freezing Instructions

You can freeze the un-frosted cookie disk for up to 1 month. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. Thaw the disk completely at room temperature before cutting it into wedges and decorating. Avoid stacking heavily frosted cookies when freezing, as the frosting can get smushed.

Variations

Get creative with your Christmas Tree Cookies! Add some lemon zest to the cookie dough for a brighter flavor. You can also flavor the frosting with lemon extract or an extra dash of vanilla. Mix in colorful sprinkles or mini M&Ms directly into the cookie dough for an unexpected festive surprise. For a deeper green, you can even tint the cookie dough itself with a few drops of green food coloring. Alternatively, use white frosting for a snowy, winter wonderland effect on your trees.

Nutrition

These Christmas Tree Cookies offer a delightful treat for the holidays. Each cookie (based on 8 servings, including frosting and basic sprinkles) typically contains approximately 350-400 calories. They provide a source of carbohydrates from the sugar and flour, fats primarily from butter, and a small amount of protein from the egg and flour. Please remember that these values are estimates and can vary based on exact ingredient brands and portion sizes of frosting and decorations.

Nutrient	Estimated Value (per cookie)
Calories	380 kcal
Total Fat	20g
Saturated Fat	12g
Cholesterol	60mg
Sodium	100mg
Total Carbs	48g
Dietary Fiber	1g
Total Sugars	30g
Protein	3g

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I use royal icing instead of buttercream for these cookies? A: Yes, you certainly can use royal icing. It provides a harder, more decorative finish, perfect for intricate designs on your Christmas Tree Cookies.
Q: How far in advance can I make these cookies? A: You can bake the cookie base up to 2-3 days in advance and store it unfrosted in an airtight container. Frost and decorate just before serving for the freshest look.
Q: What if my cookie dough is too sticky? A: If the dough is too sticky, try adding a tablespoon more flour at a time until it’s easier to handle. Ensure your butter wasn’t too soft initially.
Q: Can I use cookie cutters for this recipe? A: This recipe is designed for a large round cookie cut into wedges. For traditional cut-out cookies, a different sugar cookie recipe with less spread would be better.
Q: Are these suitable for a cookie exchange? A: Absolutely! Their festive shape and delicious flavor make these cookies a wonderful and impressive addition to any holiday cookie exchange.

Conclusion

Baking these easy frosted Christmas Tree Cookies is a wonderful way to bring festive cheer into your home. This simple, family-friendly recipe creates memorable moments and delicious treats for everyone to enjoy. We hope you have fun making and decorating these charming holiday cookies. Share your beautiful creations with Bethany and the community; we love seeing your festive designs!