Christmas Cookies for Santa and Beyond

Christmas Cookies for Santa and Beyond shaped as trees and snowflakes

We made Christmas cookies simulating edible Christmas trees and snowflakes!

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Sugar cookies are simple to make and can be yummy too. We like to use a few colors and garnishes, plus almond extract is our secret for tasty Christmas cookies for Santa and for all the family.

The holidays are the perfect excuse for making sweet treats and baking Christmas cookies and other favorites. There is no doubt that this year my oven has been busy!

This is the step by step to making the Christmas cookies using sugar motifs and glaze

I have rediscovered my love for baking and bread making and feel unstoppable. My family and neighbors are getting sweet treats almost daily and everyone is loving it!

Shop for baking essentials at the Amazon storefront.

Baking and decorating Christmas cookies is easy. Follow the tips below.

Process for baking the Christmas cookies with sugar cookie dough, and letting them cool in a cooling rack.

I have to confess I am not an expert baker but have found that creativity has a lot to do to develop the skills as well as patience. Baking can be so therapeutic and a good activity to invite friends over or include the family in the baking and decorating process.

Step by step for making the flurry cookies with sugar flurries and snowflakes. Plus royal icing and metallic sugar.

When decorating the Christmas cookies try not to go overboard and use a few colors.

Add to the cookie dough flavorings that will stand out against the sugar glaze. I use almond extract but you can use coconut, citrus, cinnamon, or vanilla.

Use themed cookie cutters, such as trees, stars, snowman, flurries, or simple rounds.

When the cookies are done let them cool in a wire rack before decorating otherwise the glaze will melt.

A bowl with sweet treats

I like to freehand decorate but there are stencils that facilitate the process.

I have learned that cookie dough that has a butter base melts fast. Do not use your hands to manage it. I recommend the use of parchment paper to minimize the touching of the dough.

I also like to refrigerate the Christmas cookies before baking. This will allow the cookie to maintain its form while the baking process.

Christmas cookies simulating edible Christmas trees and snowflakes. These sweet treats are perfect for the enjoyment of Santa and the whole family.

For the edible Christmas trees, I am using a white glaze, green gel, and colorful nonpareils.

For the edible snowflakes, I found sugar snowflakes and metallic decorating sugar at the store. The base is white sugar glaze and few drops of white gel.

For inspiration head over to the store and visit the baking aisle. I bought a lot of the ingredients and decorations on sale and use those to inspire my creation and color palette.

We made Christmas cookies simulating edible Christmas trees and snowflakes. These sweet treats are perfect for the enjoyment of Santa and the whole family!

Christmas Cookies for Santa and Beyond shaped as trees and snowflakes

Christmas Cookies

Chef Adriana Martin
We made Christmas cookies simulating edible Christmas trees and snowflakes. These sweet treats are perfect for the enjoyment of Santa and the whole family! These cookies have classic sugar cookie dough with almond flavor.
5 from 48 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
15 minutes
Course Desserts
Cuisine American Contemporary
Servings 20 cookies
Calories 167 kcal

Equipment

  • Stand Mixer
  • rolling pin
  • Cookie sheets
  • Cooling rack
  • Parchment paper
  • Holiday cookie cutters
  • measuring cups and spoons
  • Mixing bowl

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon  salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 egg
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 cup icing pre-made
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract lemon, orange, pecan or hazelnut if desired
  • 1 container Christmas sugar motifs choose different colors and shapes
  • 2 tubes decorating gel choose different colors aside from white

Instructions
 

  • Cream the butter in the stand mixer, and then add the sugar. Combine until getting a white-yellowish color. Add the egg and the vanilla and almond extracts. Mix again.
  • Sift the flour and add it to the wet mix. Mix until getting a playdough consistency. Place the dough in a parchment paper and place another parchment paper sheet on top.
  • Pass the rolling pin and extend the dough until forming a rectangle. Remove the parchment paper off the top but leave the one on the bottom.
  • Cut the cookie forms and remove the excess dough. This technique will allow to not touch the dough with your hands and you have the cookies ready to bake in the same parchment paper.
  • Place the parchment paper with the cookies in a baking sheet and refrigerate for 10-15 minutes before baking.
  • Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-12 minutes. Try no to overcook. Place the cookies in a wire rack and let them cool.
  • Now you can decorate the cookies following your creativity. I made Christmas trees covered with the white glaze and then added a star, green gel stripes, and nonpareils.
  • I also made snowflake cookies using sugar snowflakes and metallic sugar with blue, purple and pink colors.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 167kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 2gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 49mgPotassium: 30mgFiber: 1gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 154IUCalcium: 9mgIron: 1mg
Keyword baking, cookies, sugar cookies
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a tablescape with yummy treats

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Chef Adriana Martin
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5 from 48 votes (41 ratings without comment)
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