Christmas Light Cookies Recipe

Introduction

Christmas Light Cookies are a festive and fun treat perfect for holiday gatherings. These soft sugar cookies are decorated to look like colorful Christmas lights, adding joy and sweetness to any celebration.

Ingredients

• 2 sticks of butter, softened
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 tablespoon of vanilla
• 1 egg
• 3 cups of flour
• 1 tablespoon of baking powder
• 2 cups of powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon of milk, plus more if needed
• Black food coloring gel
• Mini M&M’s

Instructions

1. Step 1: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the softened butter, sugar, vanilla, and egg. Whisk until the mixture is light and fluffy.
2. Step 2: In a separate bowl, mix together the flour and baking powder until well blended.
3. Step 3: Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture gradually, mixing on low speed until all the flour is incorporated.
4. Step 4: Remove the whisk attachment and replace it with the paddle attachment. Continue mixing until the dough forms a smooth ball, scraping down the bowl as needed.
5. Step 5: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
6. Step 6: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them evenly on the prepared cookie sheets.
7. Step 7: Bake the cookies for about 15 minutes, or until they turn light golden brown around the edges. Halfway through baking, check for small cracks forming on top.
8. Step 8: While the cookies are still warm, dip the flat bottom of a glass into sugar and gently press it onto each cookie to flatten slightly and create a crinkle effect.
9. Step 9: Remove the cookies from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
10. Step 10: For the frosting, place the powdered sugar in a bowl and add milk a little at a time. Stir until smooth and no lumps remain. Adjust thickness by adding more powdered sugar if needed.
11. Step 11: Pour a few tablespoons of the white frosting into a separate bowl and add black food coloring gel. Mix well, adjusting thickness with powdered sugar as necessary to achieve a pipeable consistency.
12. Step 12: Spread the white frosting evenly over the cooled cookies and let them set for about 45 minutes.
13. Step 13: Fill a pastry bag fitted with a small tip with the black frosting. Pipe back-and-forth lines across the cookies to resemble light strands.
14. Step 14: Place mini M&M’s along the black frosting lines to mimic colorful Christmas lights.
15. Step 15: Serve your festive Christmas Light Cookies and enjoy!

Tips & Variations

• For a softer cookie, slightly underbake by a minute or two.
• Use gel food coloring to avoid thinning the frosting.
• Substitute mini colored candies if you don’t have mini M&M’s on hand.
• Store cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh longer.

Storage

Store the decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. To keep frosting intact, place wax paper between layers. Reheat is not recommended as frosting may soften or melt.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the cookie dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the dough and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. Let the dough come to room temperature briefly before rolling into balls.

What if I don’t have a pastry bag for piping?

You can use a plastic sandwich bag and snip a small hole in one corner to pipe the black frosting if a pastry bag isn’t available.

Christmas Light Cookies Recipe

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These festive Christmas Light Cookies are soft, buttery sugar cookies decorated with a smooth white frosting base and detailed black piping to resemble light strands, topped with colorful mini M&M’s that mimic holiday lights. Perfect for holiday parties and family gatherings, these charming cookies bring seasonal cheer with their delightful taste and creative presentation.

• Author: Clara
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: About 24 cookies 1x
• Category: Dessert Cookies
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

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Cookie Dough

• 2 Sticks of Butter – softened
• 1 cup of Sugar
• 1 Tablespoon of Vanilla
• 1 Egg
• 3 cups of Flour
• 1 Tablespoon of Baking Powder

Frosting

• 2 cups of Powdered Sugar
• 1 Tablespoon of Milk – plus more if needed
• Black Food Coloring Gel – a few drops

Decorations

• Mini M&M’s

Instructions

1. Mix the Dough: In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the softened butter, sugar, vanilla, and egg; blend until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, stir together the flour and baking powder until well blended.
3. Add Flour Gradually: Slowly add the flour mixture to the creamed ingredients, mixing on low speed to combine thoroughly.
4. Form the Dough: Switch to the paddle attachment and continue to blend the dough until it forms a smooth ball; scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed for even mixing.
5. Shape Cookies: Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Roll dough into approximately 1-inch balls and place them evenly spaced on the sheets.
6. Bake Cookies: Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 15 minutes until edges turn a light golden brown. Halfway through baking, check for slight cracking.
7. Crinkle Effect: Remove a flat-bottomed glass and dip the base in sugar. Gently press each cookie with the sugared glass bottom to flatten them slightly and spread for a crinkled texture.
8. Cool Cookies: Once baked, transfer cookies to a wire rack and allow to cool completely before frosting.
9. Prepare White Frosting: In a bowl, gradually mix powdered sugar with milk, stirring well until smooth and lump-free. Adjust by adding more powdered sugar if frosting is too thin.
10. Prepare Black Frosting: Take a portion of the white frosting and add a couple of drops of black food coloring gel, stirring to blend fully. If thinned, add powdered sugar to thicken the black frosting.
11. Frost Cookies: Spread a layer of white frosting over each cooled cookie and allow it to set for about 45 minutes.
12. Pipe Black Strings: Fill a pastry bag fitted with a small tip with the black frosting and pipe back-and-forth lines over the white frosting to mimic electrical cords for lights.
13. Add Mini M&M’s: Place mini M&M’s along the black frosting lines to resemble colorful Christmas lights.
14. Serve: Once decorated, serve these festive cookies to enjoy their buttery texture and vibrant holiday look.

Notes

• Use softened butter, not melted, for the best cookie texture.
• If the frosting is too thick, add milk in small increments for easier spreading.
• For sharper black piping, use gel-based food coloring instead of liquid.
• Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
• Rolling dough balls evenly ensures consistent cookie baking.

Keywords: Christmas cookies, sugar cookies, holiday cookies, decorated cookies, festive cookies, mini candy cookies