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Easy Christmas Tree Cookies

This easy shortbread recipe is the perfect way to make quick Christmas tree cookies that you can decorate in many different ways.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Chilling time
20 mins
Total Time
45 mins
Servings: 12
Calories: 141 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • ½ cup (125g) butter or vegan butter, at room temperature
  • ¼ cup (55g) caster sugar
  • 1 ½ cups (180g) all-purpose flour (plain flour)
For the icing
  • 1 cup powdered sugar sifted (some reserved to make ‘snow’)
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons water
  • A few drops of green food coloring

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 375F/190C.
  2. Add the butter and sugar to a large bowl and beat until smooth.
  3. Gently stir in the flour until combined to a smooth paste.
  4. Lightly dust the work surface with flour, then tip the dough onto it and roll out to ½ inch / 1 cm thick. Cut into tree shapes with a cookie cutter.
  5. Place the tree shortbread shapes onto a cookie sheet and place it into the fridge for 20 minutes to chill.
  6. Bake for 15 minutes or until the shortbread turns lightly golden. Allow to cool in the tray for 2 minutes, then transfer the shortbread cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
  7. Decorate the trees with green icing to look like trees. If you want the trees to stand up 3D, you’ll need to trim the ends with a sharp knife to get an even surface.
  8. To make the green icing, mix the icing ingredients to create a fairly thick, pipable icing. If necessary to get the right consistency, add a little more water or powdered sugar. Add to a piping bag with a small nib and decorate the completely cooled cookies as desired.
  9. Try sifting on a little icing sugar for festive ‘snow’.

Notes

  • Nutritional facts exclude decoration.
  • Dough must be chilled for at least 20 minutes in the fridge to prevent from spreading when baked.
  • If you don’t have a Christmas tree cookie cutter, simply cut the dough into triangles.
  • Don’t roll your dough too thin as the cookies may burn. It’s important to keep them ½ inch thick.
  • To get the trees to stand up as a nice display, cut the ends to make a surface that the cookies are able to stand on evenly.
  • Cookies must be cooled completely before decorating as icing may melt.

Nutrition Information

Calories 141kcal (7%) Carbohydrates 16g (5%) Protein 2g (4%) Fat 8g (12%) Saturated Fat 5g (25%) Cholesterol 20mg (7%) Sodium 68mg (3%) Potassium 17mg (0%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 236IU (5%) Calcium 5mg (1%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 141

% Daily Value*

Calories 141kcal 7%
Carbohydrates 16g 5%
Protein 2g 4%
Fat 8g 12%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 20mg 7%
Sodium 68mg 3%
Potassium 17mg 0%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 236IU 5%
Calcium 5mg 1%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.