Description
Christmas Present Cookies are festive, colorful, and perfect for the holiday season! Shaped like tiny wrapped gifts, these sweet sugar cookies are decorated with royal icing and a dash of edible glitter to mimic Christmas presents. They’re fun to make, delicious to eat, and make ideal gifts or party treats. Bake up some holiday cheer with this easy-to-follow recipe!
Ingredients
Scale
Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
Royal Icing
- 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 2-3 tbsp meringue powder
- 4-5 tbsp water (adjust for consistency)
- Assorted gel food coloring (red, green, blue, yellow, pink, purple)
- Edible glitter, sprinkles, and small decorations
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, cream together softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract if using.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Chill the Dough: Shape the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
- Roll Out and Cut Cookies: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Use square or rectangular cutters to shape the cookies. Arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake: Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly golden. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare Royal Icing: In a bowl, whisk powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water to create a thick, pipeable icing. Divide and color each portion with gel food coloring.
- Decorate: Use piping bags with small round tips to apply the base layer of icing. Once dry, add ribbons, bows, and decorations using contrasting colors. Sprinkle edible glitter or add sprinkles for extra holiday sparkle.
Notes
- Dry Icing Layers: Allow each icing layer to dry fully before adding the next to prevent colors from smudging.
- Flavor Variations: Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg for a cozy, festive flavor twist.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to a week. Freeze for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes (includes chilling time)
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 35mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1.5g
- Cholesterol: 20mg