Description
The Christmas Tree Cookie Forest is a festive holiday dessert featuring buttery sugar cookies shaped like Christmas trees, layered with forest-green royal icing, and sprinkled with edible snow. Perfect as a centerpiece, gift, or treat, this recipe blends creativity with classic holiday flavors to create an edible winter wonderland.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 sticks (24 tablespoons) unsalted butter: adds rich, creamy flavor and tenderness
- 3 large eggs: binds the dough and provides structure
- 4 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting: gives body and stability to cookies
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract: enhances the sweet aroma
- 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar: adds sweetness and smooth texture to dough
- 1 pound (about 3 1/2 cups) confectioners’ sugar, plus more for thickening and decorating: forms the royal icing and snowy effect
- 2 tablespoons meringue powder: helps icing harden with a glossy finish
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda: provides gentle lift
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt: balances sweetness
- 1 cup granulated sugar: creates crisp edges and slight caramelization
- Forest green gel food coloring: gives icing a vibrant holiday hue
- White sprinkles: mimic snow for decoration
Instructions
- Cream butter and both sugars in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
- Beat in eggs one at a time, followed by vanilla extract.
- In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to wet ingredients until dough forms.
- Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out chilled dough on a floured surface and cut into tree shapes.
- Place cookies on parchment-lined baking sheets and bake 10–12 minutes or until edges are lightly golden.
- Cool completely on wire racks before decorating.
- For icing, combine confectioners’ sugar, meringue powder, and water. Beat until glossy and stiff peaks form.
- Tint icing with forest green gel coloring; adjust consistency with more sugar or water as needed.
- Pipe icing onto cookies, layering different sizes to create stacked trees.
- Decorate with white sprinkles and let icing set completely before serving or displaying.
Notes
- Chill dough for cleaner edges and easier cutting.
- Use gel food coloring to maintain icing texture.
- Store cookies in an airtight container up to 1 week.
- Freeze undecorated cookies for up to 3 months.
- Perfect for gifting, cookie exchanges, or edible centerpieces.
- Prep Time: 2 hours (including chilling and decorating)
- Cook Time: 12 minutes per batch
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking and Decorating
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tree cookie
- Calories: 1294
- Sugar: 110 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 49 g
- Saturated Fat: 30 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 201 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg
Keywords: Christmas Tree Cookie Forest, Christmas cookies, holiday desserts, sugar cookies, royal icing, edible centerpiece, festive cookie recipe, Christmas baking ideas