Description
Create festive M&M’S® Christmas Tree Cookies with soft buttery dough, decorated with colorful icing and holiday candies. These charming holiday treats feature a pretzel stick as the tree trunk and vibrant green royal icing adorned with sprinkles and M&M’S® ornaments, perfect for holiday celebrations and gifting.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 cups all purpose flour
Royal Icing
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2½ tablespoons meringue powder
- 2–3 tablespoons water
- 3 drops green gel food coloring
Decorations
- Holiday sprinkles
- ½ cup M&M’S® Milk Chocolate Holiday Candies
- Gold star sprinkles
- 12 pretzel sticks
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the unsalted butter and granulated sugar on medium speed for 3-5 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and kosher salt, mixing until fully incorporated.
- Add Flour: Turn the mixer off, then add all-purpose flour. Start the mixer on low speed to blend the flour into the dough evenly, forming a cohesive dough.
- Chill Dough: Divide the dough in half. Place one half on a large piece of plastic wrap, shape it into a flattened rectangle using the wrap to help, and refrigerate for 2 hours. Repeat with the remaining half.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dough for Cutting: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly flour your workspace and rolling pin. Remove one dough portion from the refrigerator and roll out to about ½ inch thickness. Cut the dough into triangle shapes using a cookie cutter or by hand. Arrange the cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Refrigerate the tray for 15-20 minutes. Gather scraps, reroll, cut, and chill as needed.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the chilled cookies in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown, rotating the baking sheet halfway through. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Insert Pretzel Trunk: While the cookies are still warm, gently insert one pretzel stick into the bottom edge of each triangular cookie to serve as the Christmas tree trunk.
- Make Royal Icing: Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, blend powdered sugar, meringue powder, and 2 tablespoons water. Beat for about 7 minutes until the mixture is stiff, fluffy, and glossy. Add green gel food coloring and mix until you reach the desired shade of green. Transfer the icing to a piping bag.
- Decorate Cookies: Once cookies are fully cooled, pipe icing in a zigzag pattern from the tip to the base of each tree. While the icing is still wet, sprinkle holiday sprinkles over the icing and place several M&M’S® Milk Chocolate Holiday Candies to resemble ornaments. Finish by topping with a gold star sprinkle. Allow the icing to dry completely before serving.
Notes
- For best results, keep the dough chilled while working to maintain shape during baking.
- Use a plastic bench scraper or spatula to prevent sticking when transferring cut cookies to the baking sheet.
- The royal icing should be stiff enough to hold its shape but pipeable; adjust water quantity as needed.
- Store decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- These cookies freeze well before decorating; thaw completely before adding icing and decorations.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus 2 hours chilling)
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Christmas cookies, M&M'S cookies, holiday baking, festive cookies, royal icing, Christmas tree cookies, pretzel trunk
