Christmas Tree Cookie Stacks Recipe
Introduction
These Christmas Tree Cookie Stacks are a festive and fun holiday treat that’s easy to make and delightful to eat. Layered sugar cookies with creamy green frosting and colorful decorations make a charming centerpiece for any holiday gathering.
Ingredients
- 1 tube sugar cookie dough
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- Green food coloring
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Christmas nonpareils
- Yellow mini M&Ms or sprinkle stars
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a medium cookie sheet with parchment paper. Form cookie dough into balls in three sizes: 1 teaspoon, 2 teaspoons, and 3 teaspoons. Place them on the baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes. Remove the smallest cookies and bake the remaining cookies for an additional 3–4 minutes. Let all cookies cool on a wire rack.
- Step 2: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter with a hand mixer until fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar and continue beating until combined. Add vanilla extract, heavy cream, green food coloring, and salt. Beat everything together until smooth and well blended. Add more food coloring until the desired shade of green is reached. Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a medium star tip.
- Step 3: On the largest cookie, pipe a circle of frosting. Place the medium cookie on top and pipe another frosting circle. Top with the smallest cookie and pipe a small pointed star of frosting on top. Decorate with Christmas nonpareils and finish with a yellow mini M&M or a sprinkle star on the very top. Serve and enjoy your festive cookie stacks.
Tips & Variations
- For a different flavor, try adding a pinch of cinnamon or almond extract to the frosting.
- Use gel food coloring for a more vibrant green without altering frosting consistency.
- Swap out the yellow mini M&Ms for edible glitter or colored sugar for a sparkly effect.
Storage
Store the assembled cookie stacks in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. To keep cookies crisp, store unfrosted cookies separately and assemble just before serving. If refrigerated, allow cookies to come to room temperature before serving for best texture.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use homemade sugar cookie dough instead of the tube?
Absolutely! Homemade sugar cookie dough works wonderfully. Just adjust baking times as needed to ensure cookies are baked through but not overdone.
How do I prevent the frosting from melting or sliding off?
Make sure the cookies are completely cooled before frosting and assembling. Also, use frosting that’s thick enough to hold shape but still pipeable. Chilling the cookie stacks briefly before serving helps the frosting set firmly.
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Christmas Tree Cookie Stacks Recipe
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 12 cookie stacks 1x
Description
These Christmas Tree Cookie Stacks are festive and fun holiday treats made by stacking sugar cookies of varying sizes with creamy green frosting. Decorated with colorful sprinkles and mini candy stars, they make perfect edible decorations for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 tube sugar cookie dough
Frosting
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- Green food coloring, as needed
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Decorations
- Christmas nonpareils
- Yellow mini M&Ms or sprinkle stars
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare cookies: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a medium baking sheet with parchment paper. From the tube of sugar cookie dough, form dough balls in three sizes: 1 teaspoon, 2 teaspoons, and 3 teaspoons. Place the balls on the baking sheet.
- Bake cookies in stages: Bake all the cookies for 5 minutes. Then, remove the smallest cookies (1 tsp size) from the baking sheet and continue baking the remaining medium and large cookies for an additional 3-4 minutes. Remove all cookies from the oven and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Make the frosting: In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the softened butter until it becomes light and fluffy. Gradually add the powdered sugar and continue beating until fully combined. Add the vanilla extract, heavy cream, green food coloring, and salt. Beat again until everything is well incorporated and the frosting has a smooth, vibrant green color. Add more food coloring as needed to achieve your desired shade. Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a medium star tip.
- Assemble the cookie stacks: Start with the largest cookie as the base. Pipe a circle of frosting on top. Then place the medium-sized cookie on top of the frosting, and pipe another circle of frosting on it. Add the smallest cookie on top and pipe a pointed peak of frosting over it to resemble the tip of a tree.
- Decorate: Decorate the assembled cookie stacks with Christmas-themed nonpareils and finish by topping the very top with either a yellow mini M&M or a sprinkle star to create a festive tree topper look.
- Serve and enjoy: Once decorated, the Christmas Tree Cookie Stacks are ready to be served and enjoyed as a delightful holiday treat.
Notes
- Ensure cookies are completely cooled before frosting to prevent melting.
- You can adjust the green food coloring amount to achieve preferred shade of frosting.
- Store assembled cookie stacks in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days for best freshness.
- If tube sugar cookie dough is unavailable, you can use your favorite sugar cookie dough recipe or pre-made dough tubes from stores.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Christmas cookies, holiday treats, sugar cookies, cookie stacks, festive desserts
