Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies

This time of the year, the kids are out of school and want to help in the kitchen. These cookies are perfect for including young bakers. They only take 8 minutes to bake between batches, and the kids will eat more of the mini M&M than go onto the cookies. Christmas tree cookies are so fun to make!!!!

Here in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, sugar cookies are in every bakery at this time of the year.

I found it strange that the history of the sugar cookie says that it was created in the 1700s by German Protestants in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. I am German and Irish; both sides are Protestants, but neither side made sugar cookies or any cookies at Christmas. Cookie making was not a tradition in my house growing up. At least if they made cookies, we kids were not part of the action.

Although there are few ingredients to making the humble sugar cookie, it is all about the toppings. I have seen simple decorations by young children that were so adorable I wanted to grab one. But I have also watched cookie artists create the most beautiful cookies I have ever seen.

Ingredients You Will Need

For the Sugar Cookie

• Butter unsalted 
• Sugar white 
• Egg
• Vanilla Extract
• All-purpose flour 
• Baking powder
• Kosher Salt
• Coloring gel

For the Topping

• Milk chocolate wafers
• Mini M&M's
• Piping bag
• #3 Piping tip

Creating Your Christmas Tree Cookie

Making the Trees

Weigh or measure the sugar and set it aside. Then, in another bowl, weigh the flour, salt, and baking powder, running a whisk through to blend.

Now we start to make the magic. Add the butter and sugar to a mixer and mix for 2-4 minutes so they are light and fluffy. Now add the egg, vanilla extract, and the green coloring gel. I used the color leaf green, which is an excellent color for a Christmas tree.

Finally, add the dry ingredients until incorporated on a slow mixer speed. Place the cookie dough on a pastry sheet and divide the dough in half. I flattened them down and wrapped them in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Take one of the wrapped oval cookie doughs and roll it out on a floured surface. I use my pastry sheet, but you can use any flat surface. Remember, you will be using a cookie cutter and don't want to damage your surface.

Roll and Cut the Trees

Cut out as many trees as you can. Then, you can keep re-rolling the dough till you can't get any more cutout trees.

I put 12 trees onto a half-sheet pan and bake them at 350°F (175°C or 180°C) for 7-9 minutes. I rolled out my cookie dough to ⅛" thick, so if your cutouts are thicker, you may need to add a minute or two.

Time to Decorate With The Kids

Because milk chocolate coating wafers set faster, I like to use them for this type of cookie decorating. But if you are decorating with your kids and this will be a fun time, I might suggest using Baker's Milk Chocolate, which does not harden so quickly. They both melt the same in the microwave; you have a longer time getting the M&M's on the tree.

I melted the milk chocolate coating wafers in two batches of about 80 grams each. Start with microwaving 30 seconds before you stir the wafers. I heat for another 10 seconds and go again. If need be, heat for another 10 seconds. You do not want to overheat the chocolate, or it will not be smooth but stiff and lumpy.

Spoon the melted chocolate into a piping bag with a small tip and go back and forth like a string of lights on a Christmas tree. Place the M&M's anywhere that makes the tree look adorable. I did two or three trees at a time since the chocolate sets fast.

These are simple to make, and the kids will have fun. What more could you ask for? Enjoy!