Description
These Sparkling Sugar Tree Cookies are the ultimate holiday treat — crisp edges, soft centers, and a buttery vanilla flavor that melts in your mouth. Decorated with royal icing and shimmering sprinkles, they’re a festive favorite for cookie exchanges, dessert tables, or gifting. Perfect for quick breakfast treats, easy dessert ideas, or holiday food ideas with a fun and creative twist. Whether you’re baking with kids or making a cozy batch for yourself, these cookies add sparkle to every celebration.
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
Royal icing (prepared, for decorating)
Green nonpareils, edible gold stars, and other festive sprinkles (for decorating)
Instructions
1. Cream the butter and sugar together in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add in the egg and vanilla extract; mix until combined.
2. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this to the wet mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms.
3. Divide the dough into two discs, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
4. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness and cut into tree shapes using a cookie cutter.
5. Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and chill again for 10 minutes.
6. Bake for 8–10 minutes until edges just start to turn golden. Cool on sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
7. Once cooled, decorate with royal icing and immediately add sprinkles while icing is wet.
8. Let cookies dry at room temperature for several hours or overnight until icing is fully set.
Notes
Chilling the dough is crucial — don’t skip this step or the cookies will spread.
Use a squeeze bottle for icing if piping bags feel too tricky.
Let the icing dry uncovered in a cool room to avoid condensation ruining the decorations.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 45mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1.5g
- Cholesterol: 25mg