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    Home » Recipes » Cookies & Crackers

    Published: Dec 13, 2017 · Modified: Apr 21, 2023 by Paula Montenegro · Income from ads and affiliates

    Sugar Cookie Christmas Tree

    Jump to Recipe

    I made my first sugar cookie Christmas tree. So easy and beautiful! I used sugar cookies and a very thick but super simple powdered sugar icing. It's great to use as a centerpiece and to make with kids.

    Table of Contents Open
    What is a cookie Christmas tree?
    Cookie recipe
    Assembling the tree
    Related recipes you might like:
    Sugar Cookie Christmas Tree
    Star shaped Christmas tree made with frosted sugar cookie, candy cane crushed around, white and gold props, surface, and linens.


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    The holidays are not my most productive time of the year, bake-wise.

    Maybe because it's summer here (Buenos Aires), and the hot weather takes the fun of turning the oven on.

    But a short trip to the US last month brought back cookie cutters. A lot of them.

    Then I had to decide what type of cookie to use. While sugar cookies are a classic, I debated making my beloved gingerbread cookies with white glaze. They are perfect for hanging in the tree and taste so amazing.

    But traditional won, and a white Christmas it was. A hot one.

    Frontal view of christmas tree made with star shaped cookies, gold white and red props and cloth around.

    What is a cookie Christmas tree?

    December 8 (the day we decorate our tree here if you're into that) found me ready to tackle the sugar cookie Christmas tree, which is a bunch of frosted star cookies, all different sizes, that are piled, making sure the pointed parts are mismatched.

    That way, you get the idea of a pine tree. Cute, very cute.

    Cookie recipe

    The sour cream sugar cookies recipe I use is my favorite, and it never fails. But you could use a traditional sugar cookie.

    It comes together easily, rolls, and cuts without a glitch.

    Make sure the dough is cold so the cutouts keep their shape. I put them in the freezer for a few minutes, and the problem was solved.

    Piece of parchment paper with cookie cut outs on grey counter, metal star shaped cutters around

    Assembling the tree

    I glazed them with a simple confectioners' sugar and lemon juice glaze and added some red sugar crystals and crushed peppermint candy.

    A lack of piping bag skills calls for some crushed stuff, the redder the better.

    Several star shaped baked sugar cookies on whitish parchment paper

    Turns out, a sugar cookie Christmas tree has no need for fancy decoration really. You can get away with some sprinkling. Or even with a top star that has a smudged glaze. I wonder whose fault was that, huh?

    Assembling stacked star shaped cookies with white frosting and crushed candy cane on piece of parchment paper

    I hope they will be the centerpieces on my holiday table.

    I say hope because I always make a list of homemade gifts and decorated cookies for the table and such, but they rarely come to life. Sad, I know. But so true.

    Happy holidays everyone! Hope your days are filled with love, cookies, and harmony.

    Top view of star shaped cookie Christmas tree, white and gold cloth and props, crushed candy cane scattered

    Related recipes you might like:

    • White marbled surface with decorated and plain holiday cut out cookies.
      Sour Cream Cut-Out Cookies
    • Overview of white plate with a pile of iced bunny sugar cookies on a white tray with beige hearts.
      Easy Bunny Cookies
    • Close up aerial view of iced gingerbread people on a metal wire rack.
      Gingerbread Cookies (with video)
    • White surface and blue background with squares of chocolate nut fudge leaning into each other.
      Microwave Fudge (any chocolate)

    Let me know in the comments below if you made this recipe and loved it and if you had issues so we can troubleshoot together. I love to hear what you think, always. Thanks for being here. It's much appreciated.
    You might also consider subscribing to our FREE email series to Boost your Home Baking Skills! And our regular newsletter.
    And let's connect via Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

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    Star shaped Christmas tree made with frosted sugar cookie, candy cane crushed around, white and gold props, surface, and linens

    Sugar Cookie Christmas Tree

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    So easy and beautiful! I used sugar cookies and a very thick but simple powdered sugar icing. 

    • Total Time: 3 hours 27 minutes
    • Yield: 2 small trees

    Ingredients

    Units

    For the cookies:

    • ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter, room temperature
    • ¾ cup (150g) light brown sugar
    • 1 egg, at room temperature
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or paste
    • ¼ teaspoon almond extract
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt

    For the glaze:

    • ½ cup confectioners’ sugar
    • a few teaspoons of lemon juice (or milk or water)

    Instructions

    For the cookies:

    1. Beat butter with sugar until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute.
    2. Add egg and beat until incorporated.
    3. Add vanilla and almond extract and mix well.
    4. Sift dry ingredients: flour, baking powder and salt (I measure them and sift directly over the butter mixture). Add them in 2-3 times to the butter, mixing at low speed and only until combined and no dry spots remain.
    5. Divide the dough into two or three parts. Chill for half an hour.
    6. Place each portion of dough between sheets of parchment paper, roll about ¼ inch thickness (add some flour if needed to prevent the rolling pin from sticking) and place on cookie sheets.
    7. Refrigerate them for another 15-20 minutes, or freeze for five minutes, or until they are very cold but not starting to crack.
    8. Preheat the oven to 350ºF / 180ºC.
    9. With cookie cutters cut dough into the shapes you want.
    10. Place the cut cookies on baking sheets and bake for about 10 minutes, until dry and just starting to color. If you want chewy centers underbake them for a minute or two.
    11. Careful as different sized cookies will have different baking times.
    12. Let cool completely on a wire rack.

    For the glaze:

    1. Mix confectioners’ sugar with a teaspoon lemon juice. Add drops until you have a thick and smooth consistency, similar to thick honey.

    To assemble:

    1. Take the largest star cookie and glaze the top. Place on the serving plate and sprinkle the ends with colored sugar and crushed peppermint candy.
    2. Continue glazing and piling the other star cookies, from the largest to the smallest. Be sure to alternate pointed ends so you create a tree.
    3. Let the glaze set before you move the tree.
    4. Repeat if you made cookies for more than one tree.

    Notes

    • Bake ahead: the cookies can be baked ahead and kept in airtight containers or tins for about a week. The dough can be frozen for up to a month.
    • I used the star cookie cutters from Sur La Table.
    • Author: Paula Montenegro
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cooling + decorating time: 3 hours
    • Cook Time: 12 minutes
    • Category: Cookies
    • Method: Baking + glazing
    • Cuisine: American

    Keywords: christmas cookie tree

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @vintagekitchenblog on Instagram and hashtag it #vintagekitchenblog

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    About Paula Montenegro

    I'm Paula, a baker for more than 30 years and your designated recipe developer, sharing the best ones here with simple ingredients + easy-to-follow instructions.

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    1. Angie@Angie's Recipes says

      December 13, 2017 at 7:45 am

      Such a lovely cookie tree!

      Reply
      • Paula Montenegro says

        December 13, 2017 at 9:32 am

        Thanks Angie!

        Reply

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