Easy Frosted Christmas Tree Cookies for a Festive Holiday Treat
These easy-to-make frosted Christmas tree cookies are a delightful holiday treat, perfect for festive gatherings. With a soft cookie base and a vibrant green frosting, they're sure to bring cheer to your celebration.
Equipment
- 9-inch springform pan or cake pan
- Medium mixing bowl
- Electric Stand Mixer
- Paddle Attachment
- Non-stick cooking spray
- wire rack
- Electric hand mixer
- Resealable bag
- Small sharp knife
- Measuring cup
Ingredients
Cookie
- 1 1/3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (186g, scoop and level to measure)
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar (135g)
- 10 Tbsp unsalted butter (141g, softened)
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp almond extract (optional)
Frosting & Decoration
- 1 cup powdered sugar (120g)
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter (42g, softened)
- 2-3 tsp milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Green food coloring (optional)
- Christmas sprinkles (optional)
- 8 broken pretzel rod pieces (1 1/2-inch, optional)
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Butter a 9-inch springform or cake pan, line it with parchment paper, butter the parchment, and dust with flour, tapping out any excess.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt, then set aside.
Cookie Dough
- In an electric stand mixer with a paddle attachment, blend softened butter and granulated sugar until combined, then scrape down the bowl.
- Mix in the large egg, followed by the 1 tsp vanilla and almond extract, scraping the bowl after each addition.
- Gradually add the whisked flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Scoop the dough into the prepared pan, then use hands sprayed with non-stick cooking spray to spread it into an even layer.
Baking & Cooling
- Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 14-16 minutes, or until the cookie is set.
- If the cookie sides are higher after baking, gently flatten them with the bottom of a measuring cup. Let the cookie cool completely on a wire rack for about 1 hour.
Frosting & Decorating
- To make the frosting, blend powdered sugar, softened butter, milk, and 1/2 tsp vanilla using an electric hand mixer until well combined. Tint with green food coloring if desired.
- Transfer the frosting to a resealable bag, pressing out excess air, then snip a small corner from the bottom edge.
- Run a small sharp knife along the edge of the cookie in the pan to loosen it. If using a springform, remove the ring; if a cake pan, invert the cookie onto a cutting board.
- Cut the cooled cookie into 8 wedges, trimming the rounded ends if preferred.
- Decorate the cookies with frosting, sprinkles, and gently press the pretzel pieces into the cookies for tree trunks, if using.
Notes
The recipe mentions almond extract and green food coloring as optional ingredients, which are used for flavoring and tinting the frosting. Christmas sprinkles and pretzel rod pieces are also optional for decoration. If the cookie sides are slightly higher after baking, they can be gently flattened with the bottom of a measuring cup.