Description
Create festive Christmas Tree Cookie Stacks using soft sugar cookies layered with creamy green buttercream frosting and decorated with colorful sugar pearls. This cheerful holiday treat is simple to make and perfect for sharing during the Christmas season.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookies
- 1 (16.5-oz.) tube sugar cookie dough
Frosting
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups (452 g) confectioners’ sugar, divided, plus more for dusting
- 3 tablespoons milk or water
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Green gel food coloring
Decorations
- 18 yellow sugar pearls or mini M&M’s
- 3 tablespoons red and white sugar pearls
- A piping bag with a medium star tip
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare dough balls: Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350°F (175°C). Roll the sugar cookie dough into 24 balls total: 8 balls using 1 teaspoon of dough each, 8 balls with 2 teaspoons each, and 8 balls with 3 teaspoons each. Place the dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, gently pressing down each ball to flatten slightly.
- Bake smallest cookies: Bake the smallest 1-tsp cookies for about 5 minutes until their centers are set. Remove them carefully and transfer to a wire rack to cool.
- Bake medium and large cookies: Continue baking the remaining medium (2-tsp) and large (3-tsp) cookies for an additional 3 to 4 minutes until centers are set. Let them cool on the baking sheets for 2 to 3 minutes before transferring to the wire rack to cool completely.
- Make the green buttercream frosting: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter using a handheld mixer on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy. Gradually add 2 cups of the confectioners’ sugar and beat until smooth. Mix in the milk and vanilla extract. Add the remaining 2 cups of confectioners’ sugar and continue beating until smooth and fluffy. Add 1 to 2 drops of green gel food coloring and stir well, adding more drops until you reach your desired shade of green.
- Assemble the cookie stacks: Fit the piping bag with the medium star tip and fill with the green frosting. Arrange the largest cookies on a serving platter. Pipe a circle of frosting on each large cookie, then top with a medium cookie. Repeat by piping frosting on the medium cookie and topping it with the smallest cookie. Pipe a pointed star at the top of the smallest cookie to complete the tree shape.
- Decorate and finish: Decorate the assembled Christmas Tree Cookie Stacks with yellow sugar pearls or mini M&M’s as ornaments and scatter red and white sugar pearls as garlands. Lightly dust the finished cookie trees with additional confectioners’ sugar to resemble snow.
Notes
- If you don’t have green gel food coloring, you can use liquid food coloring, but gel will give a more vibrant color without thinning the frosting.
- Use a medium star piping tip for best decorative effect on the frosting layers.
- Allow cookies to cool completely before assembling to prevent the frosting from melting.
- The cookie stacks can be made a day ahead and stored covered at room temperature.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Christmas cookies, holiday treats, sugar cookie stacks, festive desserts, cookie frosting, Christmas tree cookies
