Christmas Wreath Sugar Cookies

🎄 Christmas Wreath Sugar Cookies – A Festive, Sweet Treat 🍪🌟

If you’re looking for a holiday cookie that’s as beautiful as it is delicious, these Christmas Wreath Sugar Cookies are the perfect choice! With their bright green color, fun decorative accents, and delightful sugar cookie base, they’re sure to be a hit at any holiday gathering. Plus, these wreath-shaped cookies are easy to make, and decorating them is a fun activity for the whole family.

Why You’ll Love These Cookies

Festive and Fun: The wreath shape and colorful decorations make these cookies a showstopper on your dessert table.
Customizable: You can get creative with sprinkles, edible glitter, and different types of frosting.
Perfect for Gifting: Pack these cookies in a cute tin or box for a thoughtful homemade gift that everyone will love!

Ingredients

For the Sugar Cookies:

1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
Green food coloring (gel or liquid)

For the Royal Icing:

1 egg white (or meringue powder)
1 ¾ cups (220g) powdered sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
1-2 tsp water (to thin the icing)

For Decorating:

Red and green sprinkles or colored sugar
Small candy canes, mini marshmallows, or edible pearls (optional)

Instructions

1. Make the Cookie Dough

🧈 In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).
🥚 Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.
🍪 In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix until a dough forms.
🌱 Add a few drops of green food coloring and mix until the dough is fully tinted green.
🌀 Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour (or overnight)

2. Roll and Cut the Cookies

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
🍪 Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about ¼-inch thickness.
🌀 Use a round cookie cutter (2.5 inches) to cut out circles, then use a smaller cutter or a knife to create a hole in the center of each circle, forming a wreath shape.
📄 Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart.

3. Bake the Cookies

Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
🌬️ Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

4. Make the Royal Icing

🥄 In a mixing bowl, combine the egg white (or meringue powder) and powdered sugar.
💧 Add lemon juice and a teaspoon of water to help thin the icing to a piping consistency.
🧁 Beat until the icing forms stiff peaks. If it’s too thick, add more water a little at a time.

5. Decorate the Wreaths

🍩 Using a piping bag or a plastic sandwich bag with the tip cut off, pipe royal icing around the outer edge of each wreath.
🎉 Sprinkle red and green colored sugar or holiday sprinkles on top of the icing. You can also decorate with small candy canes, mini marshmallows, or edible pearls for extra festivity.
❄️ Let the royal icing set for about 30 minutes to an hour before serving or storing.