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Nothing says “I appreciate you” quite like a gift made from the heart—and these Christmas Present Cookies are the ultimate homemade holiday treat! They bring together the buttery goodness of classic sugar cookies with the festive charm of colorful, gift-wrapped designs. Whether you’re gifting them to friends, sharing them at a holiday party, or making them with family, these cookies are guaranteed to spread joy.
Ready to become everyone’s favorite holiday baker? Let’s dive right into the details! And don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter to get festive recipes like this sent straight to your inbox!
Why You’ll Love These Christmas Present Cookies 🎄
✨ 1. A Gift Within a Gift
These cookies look like presents, but they are gifts themselves! Their beautiful decorations will steal the spotlight at cookie exchanges or holiday dessert tables.
🎨 2. Perfect for Creative Decorating
Unleash your inner artist! With royal icing in various colors and edible glitter, you can customize each cookie to make a unique “present.”
🍪 3. A Fun Activity for All Ages
Gather your kids, friends, or family around the table—these cookies make for an unforgettable decorating session. Everyone will love creating and sharing their edible works of art!
🍪 4. A Buttery Sugar Cookie Base
The dough is easy to work with and holds its shape beautifully when baked, making it ideal for cutting out perfect little squares or boxes.
What Do These Christmas Present Cookies Taste Like?
Think soft, buttery cookies with a hint of vanilla—or almond, if you prefer. They have a tender bite but hold up well to decorating, so every bite delivers both flavor and texture. Add the subtle crunch of royal icing, and you get a cookie that’s as delicious as it is beautiful.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Sugar Cookie Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract (or almond extract)
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
Royal Icing Ingredients (for Decorating)
- 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 3 tbsp meringue powder
- 8-10 tbsp water (adjust for consistency)
- Food coloring (red, green, blue, pink, yellow, etc.)
- Edible glitter or festive sprinkles
Tools You’ll Need
- Square cookie cutter (or a knife for hand-cut squares)
- Rolling pin
- Piping bags with small round tips
- Toothpicks (for spreading icing)
- Mixing bowls and spatula
- Baking sheets lined with parchment paper
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the Dough
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract (or almond extract) and mix until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until the dough forms.
- Divide the dough into two portions, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
2. Roll and Cut the Cookies
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface to about ¼ inch thickness.
- Use a square cookie cutter (or a knife) to cut out the present-shaped cookies.
- Transfer the cookies to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
3. Bake the Cookies
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just lightly golden.
- Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.
Decorating the Present Cookies
1. Prepare the Royal Icing
- In a bowl, combine the powdered sugar and meringue powder.
- Slowly add water, mixing on low speed. Increase speed until the icing forms soft peaks.
- Divide the icing into separate bowls and tint each with your preferred food colors.
2. Outline and Flood the Cookies
- Use a piping bag with a small round tip to outline each cookie. Let the outline set for a few minutes.
- Thin out the remaining icing with water to create a flooding consistency.
- Use the thinned icing to fill in the cookies, spreading it evenly with a toothpick if necessary.
3. Add Decorative Ribbons and Glitter
- Once the base icing has dried, pipe ribbons or bows on top with contrasting colors.
- For added flair, pipe delicate snowflakes or stars using white icing.
- Sprinkle edible glitter or sprinkles onto the wet icing for an extra festive touch.
What to Serve with Christmas Present Cookies 🎄
These cookies pair perfectly with:
- Hot cocoa or peppermint mocha
- Mulled wine for adults
- A platter of assorted Christmas treats, such as Christmas Stocking Sugar Cookies and Gingerbread Cake.
Storage Tips
- Room Temperature: Store the cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: Undecorated cookies freeze well! Store them in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Thaw and decorate when ready.
- Iced Cookies: If fully decorated, let them dry completely before layering them with wax paper in an airtight container.
FAQ: Common Questions About Christmas Present Cookies
Q: Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes! The dough can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. You can also freeze it for up to 2 months—just thaw overnight in the fridge.
Q: Can I use store-bought icing?
Absolutely! If you’re short on time, store-bought royal icing works perfectly. Just make sure to add your personal touch with colorful ribbons and glitter.
Q: What if I don’t have meringue powder for the icing?
You can replace meringue powder with pasteurized egg whites—just whisk them until frothy and proceed with the recipe.
The Sweetest Holiday Treat 🎅
There you have it—delightful Christmas Present Cookies that are as fun to decorate as they are to eat! These cookies are guaranteed to spread holiday cheer, whether you gift them to loved ones, display them at parties, or enjoy a cozy night in with family.
Don’t forget to snap a photo of your creations and share them on Pinterest—I’d love to see your masterpieces! 🎄
Looking for More Festive Recipes?
Try these holiday favorites:
Nutritional Information (Per Cookie)
- Calories: 150
- Fat: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Protein: 2g
Enjoy every bite—and happy baking! 🎁
Print
Christmas Present Cookies – The Sweetest Gift to Share This Holiday Season!
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Christmas Present Cookies are festive, buttery sugar cookies decorated to look like tiny wrapped gifts. Perfect for holiday parties, cookie exchanges, or as thoughtful homemade gifts, these colorful treats will bring joy to anyone who receives them! Gather your loved ones for a fun decorating session, and bake these cookies to spread some Christmas cheer.
Ingredients
Sugar Cookies:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract (or almond extract)
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
Royal Icing:
- 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 3 tbsp meringue powder
- 8–10 tbsp water (adjust as needed)
- Food coloring (red, green, blue, pink, yellow, etc.)
- Edible glitter or festive sprinkles
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough:
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until a dough forms.
- Divide the dough in half, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Roll and Cut:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about ¼ inch thickness.
- Use a square cookie cutter (or knife) to cut out present-shaped cookies.
- Place the cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake the Cookies:
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Allow the cookies to cool completely before decorating.
- Prepare the Royal Icing:
- In a bowl, mix the powdered sugar and meringue powder.
- Slowly add water until the icing forms soft peaks.
- Divide the icing into bowls and color each with food coloring.
- Decorate the Cookies:
- Outline the cookies using a piping bag, let the outline set, and flood the cookie with icing.
- Once dry, use contrasting colors to pipe ribbons or bows on top.
- Add edible glitter or sprinkles while the icing is still wet for extra sparkle.
Notes
- Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze undecorated cookies for up to 3 months.
- Drying Time: Allow the cookies to dry completely for 1-2 hours or overnight before stacking or packaging.
- Customization: Use any color combinations to match your holiday theme, or add tiny edible decorations like sugar pearls.
- Alternative Icing: If you don’t have meringue powder, substitute with pasteurized egg whites.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes (includes chilling time)
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 45mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
