Christmas Tree Cookie Recipes: Festive Holiday Treat Ideas

These Christmas Tree Cookies are an ideal holiday baking project — festive, fun, and full of buttery sugar cookie goodness. Topped with green buttercream, sprinkles, and candy accents, they brighten any dessert table and are perfect for family baking sessions or cookie exchanges.

Why This Recipe Works

• Simple & Delicious: A soft, buttery sugar cookie that holds its shape for detailed decorating.
• Perfectly Festive: Decorated to look like little Christmas trees — great for kids and adults alike.
• Customizable: Swap colors, decorations, or shapes to match your holiday theme.
• Make-Ahead Friendly: Both dough and frosting can be prepared in advance for stress-free baking day.

What This Recipe Needs

• Cookie Cutter: A Christmas tree cutter works best, but any holiday shape will do.
• Flour: All-purpose flour gives structure while keeping cookies tender.
• Butter: Unsalted, softened butter adds richness and a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Sugar: Granulated sugar for sweetness and light browning at the edges.
• Egg & Vanilla: Egg binds the dough; vanilla adds warm flavor.
• Green Frosting: Buttercream colored with gel food coloring for bright, even hues.
• Sprinkles & Candies: To decorate — use stars, nonpareils, small candies, or holiday-themed sprinkles.
• Optional Tools: Piping bags and tips, parchment paper, a rolling pin, and couplers to swap tips easily.

1. Step 1: Cream the butter and sugar together until light and smooth.

2. Step 2: Add the egg and vanilla, then mix in the dry ingredients until combined.

3. Step 3: Divide the dough in half and roll each portion between parchment sheets to about 1/8-inch thickness. Refrigerate the flattened dough for at least 20 minutes.

4. Step 4: Cut tree shapes from the chilled dough and transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets.

5. Step 5: Bake at 300°F (150°C) for about 15 minutes, or until edges just begin to turn golden. Cooling time may vary with cookie thickness.

6. Step 6: Prepare the buttercream. Divide into bowls and tint with gel colors — green for trees and optional white or red for accents.

7. Step 7: Fill a piping bag with frosting and use tips to create branches, dots, or swirls. Add sprinkles and candies while the frosting is still soft, then allow it to set.

8. Step 8: Use a mix of piping tips — star, grass, and writing tips work well — to add texture and detail to each tree.

9. Step 9: Experiment with color combinations and designs until you’re happy, then enjoy your festive cookies.

Expert Tips

• Chill the Dough: Chilling prevents excessive spreading and keeps shapes sharp.
• Use Parchment Paper: It prevents sticking and makes rolling and transferring easier.
• Cool Completely: Let cookies cool fully before piping to avoid melting the frosting.
• Try Different Tips: Use varied piping tips and shades of green for realistic branches and texture.

Variations

• Peppermint: Add a touch of peppermint extract for a cool, festive flavor.
• Mini Trees: Make bite-sized cookies for gift boxes or party trays.
• Snowy Iced Trees: Use white icing and colored sanding sugar for a snowy finish.
• Royal Icing: Choose royal icing for crisp, classic decorated cookies.

Yes — the dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.

Both buttercream and royal icing work well. Choose buttercream for soft, creamy decorations or royal icing for crisp, detailed designs.

Absolutely — stars, snowflakes, bells, and other holiday shapes all work with this dough.

Yes — chilling helps cookies hold their shape and prevents excessive spreading.

Store in a single layer in an airtight container for up to five days. If using buttercream, refrigerate; bring to room temperature before serving.

If you try this recipe, please leave a review and share how your cookies turned out. Happy baking and enjoy the holidays!