Holiday Ornament Sugar Cookies

The holiday season calls for treats that not only taste delicious but also bring a touch of festive sparkle to every gathering. These Holiday Ornament Sugar Cookies are perfect for celebrating! Adorned with colorful royal icing, sprinkles, and edible pearls, they resemble little ornaments, making them as fun to make as they are to eat. They’ll add a dash of joy to any dessert table and even make wonderful homemade gifts!

Ready to bring some holiday magic to your kitchen? Let’s get baking!

Why You’ll Love These Holiday Ornament Sugar Cookies

These sugar cookies combine soft, buttery goodness with the fun of decorating—a treat for bakers of all ages! The cookies hold their shape beautifully, making them ideal for detailed designs, and the optional almond extract adds a subtle, festive twist to the classic sugar cookie flavor. Plus, with endless possibilities for decorating, you can make each cookie uniquely yours. Here’s what makes these cookies so special:

• Versatile and Fun: From classic red and green to shimmery silver and gold, let your creativity shine!
• Deliciously Soft and Buttery: The perfect balance of light sweetness and melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Great for Gifting: Package them in clear bags or tins to share holiday cheer with loved ones.

Ingredients

For the Cookies:

• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp almond extract (optional, for added flavor)

For the Royal Icing:

• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp meringue powder
• 5-6 tbsp water (adjust as needed)
• Food coloring for decorating
• Assorted sprinkles and edible decorations

Tools You’ll Need

• Mixing bowls
• Electric mixer
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Rolling pin
• Round cookie cutter
• Baking sheets
• Parchment paper
• Piping bags and tips (for decorating)

How to Make Holiday Ornament Sugar Cookies

Make the Dough

1. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
3. Add Wet Ingredients: Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) to the creamed butter and sugar, mixing until combined.
4. Combine Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a dough forms.
5. Chill the Dough: Divide the dough in half, flatten into discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Chilling helps the cookies retain their shape when baking.

Roll and Cut the Cookies

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Roll Out Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness.
3. Cut Shapes: Use a round cookie cutter to cut out circle shapes, then place them on the prepared baking sheets.

Bake the Cookies

1. Bake: Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
2. Cool: Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Prepare the Royal Icing

1. Mix Ingredients: In a medium bowl, beat powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water until smooth. The icing should be slightly thick; adjust water as needed to get the right consistency for piping and flooding.
2. Color the Icing: Divide the icing into separate bowls and add food coloring to create a variety of colors.

Decorate the Cookies

1. Pipe the Base Layer: Use piping bags to add a base layer of royal icing on each cookie. Allow the base to dry slightly.
2. Add Ornament Designs: Decorate each cookie with additional icing colors, patterns, and sprinkles to create your ornament designs.
3. Add Edible Hanger Detail: For an extra touch, place a small metallic candy at the top of each cookie to mimic an ornament hanger.
4. Dry Completely: Let the decorated cookies dry fully before stacking or packaging.

Serving and Storing Your Cookies

What to Serve With Holiday Ornament Sugar Cookies

These cookies are perfect for serving alongside a hot mug of cocoa, spiced tea, or holiday coffee. They also pair well with a dessert spread, including gingerbread cookies and chocolate truffles for a full festive treat table.

Tips for Perfect Holiday Ornament Cookies

• Chill the Dough: Chilling prevents the cookies from spreading too much and helps them keep their round shape.
• Icing Consistency: For the base layer, you’ll want a flooding consistency that spreads evenly; for finer details, use thicker icing.
• Decorating Details: Get creative with sprinkles, edible glitter, or edible metallic accents for a holiday look!

Storage Instructions

Store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. If you plan to gift them, wait until they’re completely dry before packaging to prevent smudging.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes! The dough can be prepared up to 2 days in advance. Wrap it well in plastic and store it in the fridge until ready to use.

Can I freeze the cookies?
Absolutely! Baked (and undecorated) cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months. Decorate after thawing for the freshest look.

What’s the best way to get vibrant icing colors?
Gel food coloring works best as it provides deep color without altering the icing consistency.

Wrap-Up: A Sweet Festive Treat to Brighten the Holidays

These Holiday Ornament Sugar Cookies are a fun, festive way to bring cheer to your celebrations. The process of baking and decorating is a joyful holiday activity, whether you’re baking solo or with loved ones. And the best part? They taste as good as they look!

If you try this recipe, I’d love to see your creations! Share a photo on Pinterest, leave a review, and let the holiday cookie inspiration continue. Here’s to sweet treats and merry memories this holiday season! 🎅✨

Looking for More Festive Recipes?

If you enjoyed making these cookies, you’ll love these other holiday treats:

• Christmas Stocking Sugar Cookies: A classic holiday cookie with a fun twist, perfect for stocking-shaped decorations!
• Gingerbread Cake: A warm, spiced cake that fills the house with holiday aromas.
• Christmas Cake – A Festive Masterpiece: Bursting with festive flavors and topped with a beautiful finish, this cake is a true centerpiece for holiday gatherings.

Nutritional Information (per cookie):
Calories: 120 | Fat: 6g | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 1g

Print