Easy Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies: Simple & Fun Holiday Baking for Everyone
Get ready to sprinkle some effortless holiday cheer into your kitchen with these incredibly easy Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies! If the thought of intricate cookie decorating sends shivers down your spine, you’re in the right place. We’re ditching the fancy piping bags and intricate designs, proving that festive, adorable, and delicious Christmas cookies can be achieved with minimal fuss. Our secret? Simply coloring the dough green and pressing in a few mini M&M’s for delightful, instant “ornaments.” This method not only saves you time and effort but also transforms baking into a joyous, kid-friendly Christmas activity the whole family will love.
These straightforward sugar cookies are a game-changer for anyone who desires a charming, homemade Christmas treat without the stress of elaborate decoration. They’re perfect for busy parents, budding young bakers, or anyone looking to enjoy the festive spirit with a delicious, simple recipe. Imagine the delight on your family’s faces as they help create these edible masterpieces, from kneading the green dough to carefully placing each tiny M&M. This interactive process isn’t just about baking; it’s about creating cherished holiday memories and fostering a love for cooking, one sweet cookie at a time. The delicious vanilla and almond flavor in the dough ensures these cookies are as tasty as they are beautiful.
Baking Secrets: Tips for Making These Easy Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies Absolutely Perfect
Achieving bakery-quality results doesn’t have to be complicated. With these simple tips, your Christmas tree sugar cookies will not only be adorable but also incredibly delicious and stress-free to make. These insights will help you navigate the baking process with ease, ensuring every batch is a resounding success.
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Fun Baking Recipe for Kids: Get Them Involved!
These cookies are practically designed for little hands and eager helpers! Kids can enthusiastically help dye the dough a festive green, which feels a lot like playing with edible play-doh. This step is always a huge hit, offering a sensory experience that’s both fun and productive. Once the tree shapes are cut, they’ll love carefully pressing the colorful mini M&M’s into the dough to create their own unique “ornaments.” This hands-on involvement not only makes baking more enjoyable for everyone but also helps children develop fine motor skills, encourages creativity, and fosters a love for cooking and holiday traditions. It’s a wonderful way to bond and create lasting holiday memories in the kitchen, making these truly kid-friendly Christmas cookies.
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No Decorating Required (Unless You Want To!)
The true beauty of this recipe lies in its elegant simplicity. By coloring the dough green and adding M&M’s before baking, you completely bypass the need for tedious frosting, intricate piping, or any complex decorating techniques. The cookies themselves are delightfully flavorful, enhanced with both vanilla and almond extract, giving them a rich, buttery taste akin to a delightful shortbread or a classic butter cookie. However, if you or your family enjoy the extra sweetness and creative outlet, feel free to add a simple sugar cookie icing or a creamy Christmas Cookie Frosting after they’ve cooled. If you choose to frost, remember to add the M&M’s (or festive sprinkles!) *after* the frosting has been applied, not before baking. For a quick and easy option, a simple icing drizzle on top is a fantastic way to add a touch more sweetness without a full frosting layer, maintaining the “easy” aspect of these Christmas treats.
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Don’t Have a Christmas Tree Cookie Cutter? No Problem!
Don’t let the lack of a specific cookie cutter stop your holiday baking fun. This versatile recipe is incredibly adaptable! If you don’t own a Christmas tree cookie cutter, simply roll out the dough to the recommended thickness and use a sharp knife (with adult supervision, of course, especially for kids) to cut the dough into triangles. These will perfectly mimic the classic tree shape. Alternatively, for a different but equally festive design, use a round cup or cookie cutter to create charming green circular shapes. You can then decorate these “wreaths” with red M&M’s or other small candies to resemble holly berries, making them another adorable addition to your holiday cookie platter. There are so many creative ways to make this easy Xmas cookie recipe truly your own!
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Make Them Mini! Perfect for Gifting & Platters
These cookies are adorable in any size, but miniature Christmas trees are exceptionally cute and perfect for holiday gifting. Using a smaller Christmas tree cutter and mini M&M’s will create delightful bite-sized treats that are ideal for various occasions. Miniature cookies are perfect for filling festive holiday cookie platters, adding to homemade gift baskets for friends and family, or serving at parties where guests might want to sample a variety of sweets. Their smaller size also makes them great for portion control, allowing everyone to enjoy a little piece of Christmas magic without feeling overwhelmed. They’re a charming and thoughtful edible gift that everyone will appreciate.
Gather Your Ingredients: What You Need for Simple Christmas Cookie Success
You’ll be delighted by how few specialized items are required to create these charming holiday treats. Most of these ingredients and tools are likely already in your pantry or easily found at any grocery store, making this an accessible recipe for all.
- Sugar Cookie Dough: Our detailed recipe below provides a fantastic base for tender, flavorful cookies. Alternatively, for ultimate convenience, you can opt for store-bought sugar cookie dough.
- Christmas Tree Cookie Cutter: Essential for shaping those festive trees! If you don’t have one, remember to refer to our creative alternatives outlined in the tips section above.
- Green Gel Food Coloring: This is the key to transforming your dough into vibrant Christmas trees. Gel coloring is highly recommended over liquid for intense color without affecting dough consistency or flavor.
- Mini Red M&M’s: These tiny, colorful candies make perfect, edible ornaments for your trees, adding a touch of classic Christmas charm.
- Optional Additions: If you wish to enhance the sweetness or presentation, consider adding an easy icing or a rich Christmas Cookie Frosting to drizzle or spread on top after baking. If you decide to use frosting, you might want to halve the amounts of vanilla and almond extracts in the dough to ensure a balanced flavor profile.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Easy Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies
Follow these simple, clear instructions to bake your way to a batch of beautiful, delicious, and effortlessly festive Christmas tree cookies. Each step is designed for ease and enjoyment.
Step 1: Prepare Your Sugar Cookie Dough
Begin by preparing your sugar cookie dough. You can use the detailed instructions provided in the recipe card below, which guarantees a flavorful and tender cookie with a perfect texture for cutting. For those seeking extra convenience, store-bought sugar cookie dough (like the kind found in refrigerated tubes from brands like Pillsbury) works perfectly well as a base. If opting for pre-made dough, you might find that adding a drizzle of easy Christmas cookie icing or simple frosting after baking can significantly boost the flavor, as store-bought doughs often have a milder taste profile compared to homemade. While traditional royal icing is beautiful, we’re focusing on simplicity here to make your holiday baking stress-free!
Step 2: Dye the Dough Green & Cut Out Shapes
This is where the festive magic truly begins! Use green food coloring to transform your sugar cookie dough into a vibrant, cheerful shade of green. For the best results and to preserve the cookie’s ideal texture and delicious taste, I highly recommend using a gel food coloring or a specialized dough dye. These concentrated colorings require only a small amount to achieve a rich, vibrant hue, meaning they won’t dilute your dough or impart any unwanted “food coloring” taste. Liquid food colorings, on the other hand, often require much larger quantities, which can lead to a watery, difficult-to-work-with dough and a noticeable artificial flavor. We want beautiful green cookies that taste purely like delicious sugar cookies!
Once your dough is uniformly green and perfectly mixed, lightly flour your work surface and a rolling pin to prevent sticking. Roll out the dough to a thickness of approximately ½ inch. This thickness is crucial as it ensures a sturdy cookie that won’t easily break during handling and provides a satisfying, chewy bite. Use your Christmas tree cookie cutter to carefully cut out the festive shapes. Remember, if you don’t have a specific cutter, you can always cut triangles with a knife or use a round cutter for charming green wreaths, as mentioned in our helpful tips!
Step 3: Decorate with Red M&M’s
Before placing your beautifully shaped Christmas tree cookies in the oven, it’s time to add their festive “ornaments.” Gently press a few mini red M&M’s onto the surface of each green Christmas tree cookie. Ensure they are firmly embedded in the dough so they stay securely in place and don’t fall off or melt excessively during baking. If you’ve decided that you want to frost your cookies after baking, then skip adding the M&M’s at this stage. Instead, you can press them into the frosting once it’s set, or even use a delightful variety of festive sprinkles for extra sparkle and texture!
Pro Tip: Do you want to add a shining star to the very top of your Christmas tree cookies? Simply press a single yellow M&M gently onto the highest point of each cookie. When doing this, be extra careful to make sure it’s fully on the dough and not hanging over the edge, as this can cause it to melt prematurely and lose its distinct star shape, impacting the final look of your festive cookie.
Step 4: Bake and Cool Your Festive Treats
Carefully transfer your decorated cookie cut-outs to a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. This helps prevent sticking and ensures even baking. Bake the cookies according to the detailed instructions provided in the comprehensive recipe card below. Baking times can vary slightly depending on several factors, including the exact size and thickness of your cookies, as well as the calibration of your individual oven. It’s always a good idea to keep a close eye on them; you’re looking for lightly golden edges and a set center, indicating they are perfectly baked.
Once baked, immediately remove the baking pan from the oven. However, and this is a crucial step for perfect sugar cookies, do not immediately transfer the cookies off the pan. Sugar cookies are quite delicate and prone to breaking when hot! Let them rest on the hot baking pan for a good 10-15 minutes. This essential resting period allows them to firm up, continue baking gently from the residual heat, and cool enough to be handled without breaking. After this resting period, carefully transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Once fully cooled, they are ready to enjoy as is, showcasing their simple charm, or you can proceed with optional frosting if desired, perhaps using a delicious Christmas Cookie Frosting for an extra layer of sweetness.
Frequently Asked Questions: Easy Christmas Tree Cookies
Here are some common questions to help you master these delightful holiday cookies and ensure your baking experience is as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
Absolutely! While this sugar cookie dough recipe is already infused with delicious vanilla and almond extracts, adding a layer of simple icing or a rich and creamy Christmas Cookie Frosting will certainly enhance their sweetness and allow for even more decorative possibilities. If you plan to frost your cookies, you might consider halving the amount of extracts (vanilla and almond) in the dough recipe to ensure the overall flavors aren’t overpowering and remain perfectly balanced. Remember to wait until the cookies are completely cool before applying any frosting or icing to prevent it from melting or sliding off.
No worries at all! Creativity is truly key in the kitchen, especially during the holidays. You can easily roll out your vibrant green dough and use a sharp knife (safely, of course, with adult supervision if children are helping) to cut it into simple triangle shapes. These will still beautifully resemble festive Christmas trees. Another charming and equally simple option is to use a round cup or a circular cookie cutter to create circular shapes from the green dough. These can then be decorated as lovely Christmas wreaths, perhaps with red M&M’s or small red candies resembling holly berries. There are so many enjoyable ways you could adapt and make this easy Christmas cookie recipe uniquely your own, even without a specific cutter!
I strongly recommend using a gel food coloring or a specialized dough dye. These concentrated colorings require only a very small amount to achieve a vibrant, rich green, which is ideal because it won’t dilute your dough or impart any unwanted artificial flavor. Liquid food colorings, on the other hand, often require much larger quantities to reach a satisfactory hue, which can lead to a watery, difficult-to-handle dough and a noticeable “food coloring” taste that detracts from the cookie’s natural deliciousness. The goal is always a beautifully green cookie that tastes purely like a delightful sugar cookie!
To achieve a lovely, bright lime green shade for your cookies, you’ll typically want to mix your green food coloring with a touch of yellow. You can also start with a base of yellow and add a tiny bit of blue. When aiming for lighter, pastel, or very specific shades, I always advise using a toothpick to dip into the gel food coloring and add it to your dough in very small, controlled increments, rather than squeezing drops directly from the tube. This method allows you to gradually “build” the color to your desired intensity, giving you greater control over the final shade. Don’t stress too much about getting the exact shade, though – any vibrant green will make these Christmas tree cookies look wonderfully festive and appealing!
Looking for even more joyful Christmas baking ideas and deliciously easy Christmas cookie recipes? Explore some of my other festive favorites to complete your holiday dessert table:
- Christmas Holly Cookie Cups
- Christmas Cookie Frosting
- The Ultimate Guide to Cut Out Sugar Cookies
- Easy Sugar Cookie Icing Recipe
Easy Christmas Tree Cookies
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Ingredients
Sugar Cookie Dough
- ¾ cup unsalted butter (microwave cold butter for 10 seconds to slightly soften, not melt)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract (for a richer flavor; substitute with extra vanilla if you have a nut allergy)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
Tools & Toppings:
- Green gel food coloring
- Mini red M&M’s
- Christmas Tree Cookie Cutter
- Buttercream Frosting (optional, for extra sweetness)
Before you begin! If you make this, will you do me a huge favor and leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe? This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350℉ (175°C). Prepare baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper for easy removal and cleanup.
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In a large mixing bowl, cream together the slightly softened unsalted butter (¾ cup, or 1 ½ sticks) and granulated sugar (¾ cup) on medium speed for about 20-30 seconds, until the mixture is light and fluffy. Next, beat in the large egg (1), vanilla extract (2 teaspoons), and almond extract (1 teaspoon) until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Finally, gradually add in the dry ingredients: baking powder (1 teaspoon), salt (½ teaspoon), and all-purpose flour (2 cups). Mix on low speed until a cohesive, smooth dough forms.
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Incorporate green gel food coloring into the prepared dough. Mix thoroughly, either by hand or with an electric mixer, until the color is evenly distributed throughout the dough and achieves a vibrant, consistent green. Transfer the colored dough to a lightly floured surface and use a rolling pin to roll it out to a uniform thickness of ⅜” to ½”.
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Using your Christmas tree cookie cutters, cut out the festive tree shapes from the rolled dough. Carefully transfer these cut-outs to your prepared baking sheets, leaving a small space between each cookie. Before baking, press red mini M&M’s gently into the dough of each cookie to create the charming “ornaments.”
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Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes. Please note that baking time may vary slightly depending on the specific size of your cookie cutter and the thickness of your dough, as well as your oven’s characteristics. Watch for the edges to be lightly golden and the centers to be set, indicating they are fully baked.
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Once baked, immediately remove the cookies from the oven, but crucially, leave them on the hot baking pan. Allow them to rest on the pan for 10-15 minutes. This vital step allows the cookies to firm up and finish baking gently from residual heat, preventing breakage when you eventually transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
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Optional: For an added touch of sweetness and decoration, once the cookies are completely cooled to room temperature, you can drizzle or spread them with your favorite icing or frosting. Refer to the notes section below for excellent frosting ideas and tips to complement these festive cookies.
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Store your delightful Christmas tree cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days to maintain freshness. For longer storage, you can freeze them for later enjoyment, ensuring you have holiday cheer ready whenever you need it.
Last Step! If you loved these easy Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies, please do us a huge favor and leave a review and rating! Your feedback truly helps my small business thrive, allowing me to continue sharing more free recipes and high-quality content for fellow baking enthusiasts like you. Thank you for your support!
Notes
- Can I add frosting or icing? Absolutely! While this sugar cookie dough recipe is already packed with delicious flavor from vanilla and almond extracts, you can certainly add more sweetness and visual appeal with simple icing or a rich Christmas Cookie Frosting. If you opt for frosting, consider reducing the amount of extracts in the cookie dough by half to ensure a perfectly balanced flavor profile that isn’t overly sweet.
- What if I don’t have a Christmas tree cookie cutter? No problem at all! Get creative! Roll out the dough to the recommended thickness and use a sharp knife to carefully cut it into simple triangles for a charming tree effect. Alternatively, for a delightful and easy option, use a round cup or cookie cutter to make circular cookies that can be decorated as festive wreaths with M&Ms or sprinkles.
- What food coloring do you recommend for the best green? For vibrant color without affecting the cookie’s taste or texture, I highly recommend using a gel food coloring or specialized dough dye. Liquid food colorings typically require larger quantities, which can thin the dough and leave an unpleasant, artificial taste.
- How do I get them lime green? Achieving a lovely lime green shade involves mixing your green food coloring with a small amount of yellow food coloring. For precise color control, always use a toothpick to add gel food coloring incrementally, rather than squeezing drops directly from the container. This technique allows you to gradually build and adjust your desired shade with greater accuracy. For more detailed holiday color formulas and tips, be sure to check out my comprehensive Christmas Cookie Frosting Guide.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 29g |
Protein: 3g |
Fat: 12g |
Saturated Fat: 7g |
Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g |
Monounsaturated Fat: 3g |
Trans Fat: 1g |
Cholesterol: 44mg |
Sodium: 105mg |
Potassium: 66mg |
Fiber: 1g |
Sugar: 13g |
Vitamin A: 374IU |
Calcium: 23mg |
Iron: 1mg
We hope you enjoy baking these wonderfully simple and festive Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies as much as we do! They’re proof that you don’t need to be a professional decorator to create beautiful, delicious holiday treats. Perfect for sharing with loved ones, gifting to neighbors, or simply enjoying with a warm cup of cocoa by the fire, these cookies embody the spirit of easy, joyful holiday baking. Happy baking, and happy holidays!
Did you make these delightful, easy Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies? We’d absolutely love to hear from you! Be sure to leave a comment below with your feedback and let us know how much you (and your family!) liked them. Your reviews and ratings are incredibly helpful, not only for us but also for other aspiring bakers looking for delicious and easy Christmas cookie recipes. Thank you for being a part of our baking community!