Homemade Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies are the perfect cookie to make. This easy homemade Sugar Cookie recipe makes the most beautiful Christmas trees when topped with homemade royal icing.
Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies
These Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies are an elegant looking Christmas tree, that looks like the snow just started to catch on its limbs. Not only do they look amazing but they taste amazing too! They are the softest sugar cookies I have ever made!
If you are looking for beautiful Christmas Homemade Sugar Cookies then you are going to love these Christmas Tree Homemade Sugar Cookies.
From the time that Thanksgiving is over until Christmas arrives we make lots of different cookies. As much as I love homemade sugar cookies there are so many other Christmas cookies that we love too.
Instead of slamming all the cookie baking at once, we spread out making Christmas cookies and make them as often as we can. We enjoy them for dessert or snack and then we pick a few to make each year just for Christmas Dinner dessert.
Not only do they look amazing but they taste amazing too! Made with my No Spread Sugar Cookie Recipe and my amazing Royal Icing recipe these Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies are sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
Plus this sugar cookie recipe makes cookies that keep their shape when you bake them. No need to worry about them spreading when you bake them.
Christmas Cookie Recipes
- Chocolate Dipped Nutterbutter snowmen
- Reindeer Poop Christmas Cookies
- Red Velvet Crackle Cookies
- Grinch Oreo Pops
- Chocolate Crackle Cookies
Tips for Making the Best Frosted Fall Sugar Cookies
Use Gel Food coloring. It is best to use gel food coloring to make your royal icing.
Don’t skimp on cooling time. Allow cookies to cool completely before frosting them or the royal icing will melt off the cookies.
Cookie cutters. Use any cookie cutters that you want to, but to make the baking time easier try to make them all the same size if possible.
Outline the cookies with the frosting and then fill in the cookie and then add the small details for decorating.
Clean work space. Making cookies is so much easier when your work surface is cleaned between making the cookies and decorating them.
How long should sugar cookies cool before frosting them?
You want the cookie to be room temperature before putting the icing on them. 30 minutes to an hour is about what it takes depending on the temperature of your house.
How many cookies does this make?
This sugar cookie recipe will make 18-20 cookies if you are using large cookie cutters, if you are using smaller cookie cutters you will get 30-40 cookies.
Can this recipe be doubled?
Yes! You can easily double or triple this sugar cookie dough recipe.
How do you put icing on sugar cookies?
I find it best to use an icing piping bag and frosting tips when decorating cookies. It makes things easier and I can put extra details on the cookies.
How to Store Sugar Cookies
Store homemade sugar cookies in an air tight container, in a cool dry place out of sunlight for best results. If they have frosting on them, allow the frosting to fully harden before storing the cookies in a container. If they are frosted it is best to store frosted sugar cookies with wax paper between each layer.
How long do Sugar Cookies last?
Sugar cookies will keep for up to 2 weeks after being baked in an airtight container.
Do I need to store cookies with royal icing in the fridge?
No, do not store sugar cookies decorated with royal icing in the fridge.
Can I make Sugar Cookie dough ahead of time?
You can make sugar cookie dough ahead of time and store it in an air tight container for 3-5 days in the fridge. When you want to make the cookies, remove the dough from the fridge and roll out and shape as desired, and then bake according to the recipe directions below.
Can I freeze the cookie dough?
Yes. If you are wanting to make the cookie dough ahead of time to use later, make the pumpkin sugar cookie dough and then wrap it in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer bag. Store in the freezer for 3-6 months. When you are ready to make the cookies, remove the dough from the freezer and let thaw in the fridge. Roll out and shape as desired and then bake according to the recipe directions below.
Can I freeze sugar cookies after they are made?
Yes. After baking the cookies and allowing them to cool completely you can freeze them. Then when it is time to decorate them just remove them from the freezer and bring to room temperature before decorating with royal icing. I find it best to place them in a single layer on a wax paper lined baking sheet and then put them in the freezer. Once frozen I remove them from the baking sheet and put them in a zip close freezer bag.
Homemade Sugar Cookie Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 cups flour
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 cup butter (2 sticks)
- 1 egg
Royal Icing Ingredients
- 1 pound confectioners sugar sifted
- 5 tablespoons meringue powder
- 6 tablespoons water and more if needed
- 1 teaspoon clear extract
How to Make Homemade Sugar Cookies
In a large bowl or with your stand mixer cream the sugar and butter until it is fluffy. If using the stand mixer it will take about 5 minutes.
Once the sugar and butter are creamed together, add in the egg and vanilla extract.
In a medium-sized bowl mix the flour, baking powder, and salt. Use a whisk to mix everything together thoroughly.
Slowly add the flour mixture to the sugar, butter, egg, and vanilla extract mixture. Mix everything until well incorporated.
Put a handful of the freshly made dough between two sheets of parchment paper and roll until you get your desired thickness and set aside still on the parchment paper.
Repeat with the rest of the sugar cookie dough.
Put the rolled dough including the parchment paper, on a cookie sheet and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
After your dough has been rolled out and refrigerated for half an hour cut your trees with the cookie cutter from the dough.
Place the rectangles onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat, bake at 350 for 8 to 10 minutes or until the cookies have browned on the edges.
Move the cookies to a cooling rack and allow them to completely cool.
When your cookies are cooling prepare your royal icing.
Making Royal Icing
Combine all ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until smooth and creamy, about 8 to 10 minutes.
If icing is too thick, add more water. If too thin, beat icing 2 to 3 minutes more.
Next, add a clear extract to make your frosting take on different flavors if you want to. This is also when you will want to color the frosting as well if you are going to color it.
Place 2/3 of your royal icing into one bowl and color it green. Divide the remainder of the icing into two bowls and color one bowl brown.
Place your green, brown, and white royal icing into their own pastry bag with number 3 straight pastry tip.
How to Decorate Sugar Cookie Christmas Trees
Pipe the outer border of the green on your tree.
Remove the green icing by squeezing it into a small bowl from your bag and thin it out to a six-second icing and flood in the tree using a toothpick to fill in any holes.
With your brown icing add your outline to the stump.
Remove the brown icing from your bag and thin it out to a six-second icing and flood in the stump using a toothpick to fill in any holes.
With your white icing add wavy lines to the tree only working on one cookie at a time.
While your icing is still wet take a damp paintbrush and gently thin out the icing upward.
Add sprinkles if desired while the white frosting is still wet.
Sugar Cookie Recipes
- Whoville Cookies Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipe
- Minion Christmas Sugar Cookies
- Zombie Sugar Cookies
- Elf on the Shelf Cookies
- Rainbow Swirl Sugar Cookies
- Jack Skellington Cookies
Want delicious cookies that come out perfect every time? Check out some of our favorite tools to make super easy cookies with fun decorations!
Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
Homemade Sugar Cookie Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 cups flour
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 cup butter 2 sticks
- 1 egg
Royal Icing Ingredients
- 1 pound confectioners sugar sifted
- 5 tablespoons meringue powder
- 6 tablespoons water and more if needed
- 1 teaspoon clear extract
Instructions
How to Make Homemade Sugar Cookies
- In a large bowl or with your stand mixer cream the sugar and butter until it is fluffy. If using the stand mixer it will take about 5 minutes.
- Once the sugar and butter are creamed together, add in the egg and vanilla extract.
- In a medium-sized bowl mix the flour, baking powder, and salt. Use a whisk to mix everything together thoroughly.
- Slowly add the flour mixture to the sugar, butter, egg, and vanilla extract mixture. Mix everything until well incorporated.
- Put a handful of the freshly made dough between two sheets of parchment paper and roll until you get your desired thickness and set aside still on the parchment paper.
- Repeat with the rest of the sugar cookie dough.
- Put the rolled dough including the parchment paper, on a cookie sheet and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- After your dough has been rolled out and refrigerated for half an hour cut your trees with the cookie cutter from the dough.
- Place the rectangles onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat, bake at 350 for 8 to 10 minutes or until the cookies have browned on the edges.
- Move the cookies to a cooling rack and allow them to completely cool.
- When your cookies are cooling prepare your royal icing.
Making Royal Icing
- Combine all ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until smooth and creamy, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- If icing is too thick, add more water. If too thin, beat icing 2 to 3 minutes more.
- Next add a clear extract to make your frosting take on different flavors if you want to. This is also when you will want to color the frosting as well if you are going to color it.
- Place 2/3 of your royal icing into one bowl and color it green. Divide the remainder of the icing into two bowls and color one bowl brown.
- Place your green, brown, and white royal icing into their own pastry bag with number 3 straight pastry tip.
How to Decorate Sugar Cookie Christmas Trees
- Pipe the outer border of the green on your tree. Remove the green icing from your bag and thin it out to a six-second icing and flood in the tree using a toothpick to fill in any holes.
- With your brown icing add your outline to the stump. Remove the brown icing from your bag and thin it out to a six-second icing and flood in the stump using a toothpick to fill in any holes.
- With your white icing add wavy lines to the tree only working on one cookie at a time. While your icing is still wet take a damp paintbrush and gently thin out the icing upward.
More Christmas Recipe You will Love!
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If you do Elf on the Shelf, then make sure you check out all the Elfy fun we have for you!
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