Christmas Tree Cookies Recipes for Festive Holiday Baking Fun

Why You’ll Love This Christmas Tree Cookies

As the holiday season draws near, nothing beats the joy of baking Christmas tree cookies, a festive treat that brings families together for holiday baking moments. These delightful cookies combine simplicity with fun, making them ideal for beginners like busy parents and kids alike. With their unique shape and customizable flavors, they’ll add a merry touch to your celebrations, turning ordinary baking into something truly special.

One reason you’ll adore these Christmas tree cookies is their ease of preparation. This recipe is simple and quick, requiring minimal ingredients and straightforward steps, perfect for busy holiday schedules. Even better, they’re made with wholesome ingredients that offer nutritional value, like vitamins from natural flavors, while keeping sugar content low for a healthier treat. Plus, their versatility means you can adapt them to various dietary needs, so everyone at your gathering can enjoy them.

• Ideal for family bonding during snowy afternoons.
• Features a distinctive blend of spices for a standout holiday taste.
• Easily scalable for small or large events, yielding about 8 servings in just 1 hour 30 minutes total.

To make your holiday baking even more enjoyable, remember that freezing the cookie disk before cutting and decorating improves handling, as shared in our tips later. If you’re new to festive baking, these cookies shine brightly without overwhelming your kitchen time.

Essential Ingredients for Christmas Tree Cookies

Gathering the right ingredients is key to creating perfect Christmas tree cookies, and this recipe keeps things straightforward for home bakers. You’ll need a balance of basic pantry staples and a few fun extras to make the magic happen. Let’s break down what goes into these festive treats, ensuring you have everything measured out for success.

For the cookies, we’ve extracted all the precise measurements from the original recipe to make your shopping and prep easy:

• 1 1/3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (if you skip this, simply use 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract instead)

And for the frosting, which adds that festive green touch, here’s the full list:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 2 to 3 teaspoons milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Green food coloring (optional, for a vibrant holiday look)
• Christmas sprinkles (optional, to decorate and add sparkle)
• 8 pieces of 1 1/2-inch broken pretzel rods (optional, for a fun tree trunk effect)

These ingredients come together to create a base that’s tender and flavorful, perfect for holiday baking. If you’re exploring festive cookies like these, check out our Lemon Oatmeal Cookies for another easy twist on classic treats.

How to Prepare the Perfect Christmas Tree Cookies: Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to dive into making Christmas tree cookies? This step-by-step guide keeps things simple and fun, just like baking with family on a cozy evening. Start by preheating your oven, and soon you’ll have a batch of these festive delights ready to enjoy. The process takes about 30 minutes of prep, 14 to 16 minutes of baking, and 1 hour of cooling for a total of around 1 hour 30 minutes.

First, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare your pan. Butter a 9-inch springform or cake pan, line it with parchment paper, butter the paper, and lightly dust the pan with flour for easy removal later. Using a springform pan makes this step smoother, as it helps lift the baked cookie without any hassle.

In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 1/3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. This mixture forms the base of your dough, ensuring the cookies hold their shape. In a stand mixer, cream 10 tablespoons of softened unsalted butter with 2/3 cup granulated sugar until well combined, then mix in 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract.

Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients in the mixer until everything combines into a smooth dough. Scoop the dough into your prepared pan and spread it evenly. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes until set, then let it cool completely on a wire rack for about 1 hour. For the frosting, blend 1 cup powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons softened unsalted butter, 2 to 3 teaspoons milk, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth, adding green food coloring if you want that tree-like color. Transfer the frosting to a resealable bag, cut a small corner, remove the cookie from the pan, cut into 8 wedges, trim edges if needed, and decorate with frosting, sprinkles, and pretzel pieces.

Subheading for Baking Tips

If your section exceeds 300 words, we’ll add subheadings for better flow. Parchment strips can help lift the cookie from the pan, and flattening uneven sides after baking ensures a polished look. For more holiday inspiration, try our Churro Cheesecake Cookies, which pair well with these for a themed dessert spread.

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Dietary Substitutions to Customize Your Christmas Tree Cookies

Making Christmas tree cookies adaptable is all about fun tweaks for different needs, whether you’re baking for a vegan friend or someone watching their calories. These changes let you keep the holiday spirit alive while fitting various lifestyles. For instance, substituting almond extract with more vanilla offers a simple swap that enhances flavor without extra effort.

Consider using alternative flours like almond or oat flour in place of wheat flour for gluten-free needs. Substitute traditional butter with plant-based options to accommodate vegan diets. Enhance flavor by adding cinnamon, nutmeg, or citrus zest depending on seasonal availability or personal preference, and use natural sugar substitutes to cater to low-calorie or diabetic-friendly versions.

This recipe’s flexibility means you can mix in sprinkles or candies into the dough for a personalized touch, as suggested in our variations section.

Mastering Christmas Tree Cookies: Advanced Tips and Variations

Once you’re comfortable with the basics of Christmas tree cookies, let’s level up with some pro tips to make your baking even better. Chilling the dough before cutting improves shape retention, and using parchment paper prevents sticking during baking for flawless results. Variations like adding lemon zest to the dough and frosting can bring a fresh twist that delights your taste buds.

Pro cooking techniques include chilling the dough before cutting to improve shape retention and using parchment paper to prevent sticking during baking. Flavor variations can involve adding almond extract or orange zest for a fresh twist. Presentation tips recommend decorating with natural icing or colored sugar sprinkles shaped to enhance the Christmas tree theme. Make-ahead options include freezing unbaked dough or baked cookies to save time during the holiday rush, such as freezing the cookie disk before cutting and decorating to improve handling.

• Try tinting the dough green for a festive look.
• For more ideas, visit our related recipe on holiday baking essentials.
• Double the recipe and bake in two pans for larger batches.

How to Store Christmas Tree Cookies: Best Practices

Keeping your Christmas tree cookies fresh is easy with the right storage methods, ensuring they stay tasty through the holidays. Store them properly to maintain that perfect crunch and flavor. Avoid stacking cookies unless the icing hardens to prevent any mess.

Refrigeration: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days for optimal freshness. Freezing: For long-term storage, freeze cookies in a sealed bag or container for up to 3 months. Reheating: Rewarm frozen cookies in a preheated oven at 300°F for 5 minutes to maintain texture without drying. Meal prep considerations: Prepare batches in advance and freeze for quick holiday treats, labeling them with dates for easy rotation.

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Tree Cookies

Christmas Tree Cookies

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• Author: Brandi Oshea
• Total Time: 1 hour 46 minutes
• Yield: 8 servings
• Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

🎄 Celebrate the holiday season with these festive Christmas Tree Cookies that bring fun and flavor to your baking.
🍪 Soft, buttery cookies with creamy frosting create a perfect treat for sharing and enjoying festive moments together.

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Ingredients

– 1 1/3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

– 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

– 1/4 teaspoon salt

– 2/3 cup granulated sugar

– 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

– 1 large egg

– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

– 1/4 teaspoon almond extract

– 1 cup powdered sugar

– 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

– 2 to 3 teaspoons milk

– 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

– Green food coloring for a vibrant holiday look

– Christmas sprinkles to decorate and add sparkle

– 8 pieces of 1 1/2-inch broken pretzel rods for a fun tree trunk effect

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Instructions

1-First, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare your pan. Butter a 9-inch springform or cake pan, line it with parchment paper, butter the paper, and lightly dust the pan with flour for easy removal later. Using a springform pan makes this step smoother, as it helps lift the baked cookie without any hassle.

2-In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 1/3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. This mixture forms the base of your dough, ensuring the cookies hold their shape. In a stand mixer, cream 10 tablespoons of softened unsalted butter with 2/3 cup granulated sugar until well combined, then mix in 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract.

3-Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients in the mixer until everything combines into a smooth dough. Scoop the dough into your prepared pan and spread it evenly. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes until set, then let it cool completely on a wire rack for about 1 hour. For the frosting, blend 1 cup powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons softened unsalted butter, 2 to 3 teaspoons milk, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth, adding green food coloring if you want that tree-like color. Transfer the frosting to a resealable bag, cut a small corner, remove the cookie from the pan, cut into 8 wedges, trim edges if needed, and decorate with frosting, sprinkles, and pretzel pieces.

Notes

🍰 Using a springform pan makes it easier to remove the baked cookie.
📏 Flatten uneven sides after baking for a neat appearance.
❄️ Freeze the cookie disk before cutting and decorating to improve handling and reduce breakage.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cooling time: 1 hour
• Cook Time: 16 minutes
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 wedge

Keywords: Christmas cookies, festive baking, holiday treats, decorated cookies