Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies
A harmonious blend of molasses, cinnamon, and ginger creates a delightful taste. It is decorated with royal frosting and sprinkles. Festive trees are both a treat for your taste buds and a visual centerpiece for your holiday celebrations.
If you are looking for a more delectable holiday dessert, try Candy Cane Oreos and Gingerbread Cookies.
As the holiday season approaches, there’s no better way to spread joy and warmth than by baking delightful treats that capture the essence of the festivities. Among the iconic holiday desserts, gingerbread cookies hold a special place.
This year, elevate your festive baking with a unique twist—Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies. These delightful treats not only look enchanting but also offer a delicious blend of warm spices and sweet molasses.
In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the process of creating these festive cookies and provide tips for a seamless baking experience.
Gingerbread Tree Cookies
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
When it comes to holiday baking, the Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies stand out for several reasons. Firstly, the rich blend of molasses, cinnamon, and ginger in the cookie dough creates a symphony of flavors that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the season. The cookies are not just a treat for your taste buds; they’re also a visual delight, transforming into charming Christmas trees that make for a stunning centerpiece on any dessert spread. You will these gingerbread tree cookies:
- Festive Creativity: The Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies add a touch of whimsy to your holiday celebrations, making them perfect for family gatherings and festive parties.
- Versatility: These cookies are a delightful canvas for your creativity. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced baker, the decorating process is both enjoyable and customizable. Get the whole family involved in adding a personal touch to each tree.
How to Make the Recipe
Creating these magical Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies is a joyful and straightforward process.
Ingredients
For Cookie Dough:
- Butter, softened
- Brown sugar, packed
- Granulated sugar
- Molasses
- Large Egg, at room temperature
- Vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground ginger
- Allspice
- Salt
For The Royal Frosting:
- Warm water
- Meringue powder
- Vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar
- Food coloring, optional
To Make Cookie Dough:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, blend softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until just combined.
- Incorporate molasses, a room-temperature egg, and vanilla extract into the mixture.
To Make The Royal Frosting:
- Whisk together all-purpose flour, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and salt in a separate bowl. Combine the dry and wet ingredients, forming a crumbly dough.
- Roll out the dough between parchment papers to a ¼-inch thickness, using a 3D Christmas tree cookie cutter to shape the trees.
- Bake at 375F for 9-10 minutes, then cool and decorate with royal frosting and sprinkles.
Gingerbread Tree Cookies Variations
Elevate the festive spirit by experimenting with variations of the Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies. Consider adding colored sugar, edible glitter, or even crushed peppermint candies to the royal frosting for a unique twist. You can also customize the cookie shapes by using different holiday-themed cookie cutters, turning this recipe into a versatile canvas for your seasonal creativity.
Storing and Making Ahead
Wondering if you can prepare these delightful treats ahead of time? Absolutely! The leftover cookies can be stored at room temperature, and covered with plastic wrap, for up to five days. If you plan to freeze them, do so before assembling the 3D trees, ensuring they retain their festive shape. The royal frosting, while best used immediately, can be stored covered at room temperature for a short period before application.
Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies
Ingredients
For the Cookie Dough:
- ½ cup butter softened
- ½ cup brown sugar packed
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup molasses
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp cinnamon ground
- 2 tsp ginger ground
- ½ tsp allspice
- ½ tsp salt
For The Royal Frosting:
- 5 tbsp warm water
- 3 tbsp meringue powder
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- food coloring optional
Instructions
To Make a Cookie Dough:
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar with an electric mixer, just until blended (do not over-mix). Add the molasses, egg, and vanilla and mix until incorporated.
- Whisk together the flour, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and salt in a separate bowl. Add the dry mixture to the wet and mix with the electric mixer until a crumbly dough forms.
- Turn the dough out onto a sheet of parchment paper and press the dough into a ball. Place another sheet of parchment paper on top of the dough and use a rolling pin to roll the dough out to ¼-inch thickness.
- Use a 3D Christmas tree cookie cutter to cut the trees out of the dough. Transfer the trees to the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake the cookies at 375°F for 9-10 minutes until set. Cool on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes, then use a spatula to transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely to room temperature.
To Make a Royal Frosting:
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat together the water, meringue powder, and vanilla extract with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form.
- Add the powdered sugar and mix on low speed until soft peaks form. If desired, add food coloring and mix well.
- Use the frosting immediately to decorate cookies, then allow to air fry until fully set, about 1-2 hours.
- Serve with tea or coffee and enjoy!
Notes
Notes:
- Here is the cookie cutter I used: https://amzn.to/46vuOyJ
- This is the meringue powder I used and it worked perfectly: https://amzn.to/45LrG0h
- This cookie recipe is both no-chill and no-spread.
- The cookies are soft if rolled thickly and more sturdy if rolled thin. It’s best to roll them just slightly thinner than the cutout part of the tree where the cookies will interlock because if they’re too thick they won’t fit.
- Do not frost the area of each cookie where they will interlock. It makes it less likely that the cookies will fit together after the frosting is dry.
- Frosted one side of each cookie tree, let them dry fully, then turn them over and frost the other side. Make sure they are completely dry on both sides before putting the trees together.
- Another way to do it would be to put the trees together and use a piping bag to frost them once together.
- The leftover cookies should be covered with plastic wrap and stored at room temperature for up to five days. They can be frozen for up to three months, but I would suggest freezing them before they’re put together into the 3D trees.
- The royal frosting should be used immediately, but if it needs to be held for a little while before use, keep it covered well with plastic and at room temperature.
Common Questions about Gingerbread Tree Christmas Cookies
1. Can I use different cookie cutters for this recipe?
Absolutely! Feel free to get creative with various holiday-themed cookie cutters to suit the occasion.
2. How can I ensure the cookies fit together perfectly in 3D form?
Rolling the dough to just the right thickness and avoiding frosting on the interlocking areas ensures a seamless fit.
3. Can I freeze the assembled 3D trees?
While the individual cookies can be frozen, it’s recommended to freeze them before assembly for optimal freshness.
Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies are not just a recipe; they’re a delightful experience that combines the joy of baking with the magic of the holiday season. Share these festive treats with your loved ones and let the spirit of the holidays come to life in every delicious bite.
If you decide to try out this scrumptious 3D Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies, please share your experiences with us, and don’t forget to tag us on social media using #gingerbreadchristmastreecookies and #foodieaholic. We can’t wait to savor your culinary creations!
More holiday desserts to try:
Food memories are a big part of our family. We love having a big family party and making great food, or heading to Disneyland and trying all the things. Why not allow food to be a happy part of your life. That is what this blog is about. I hope you enjoy our recipes.
