If you’re in the mood for a holiday treat that’s as festive as it is delicious, you’re going to love this Christmas Tree Cookies with Buttercream Frosting Recipe. These cookies aren’t just adorable; they’re buttery, soft, and stacked into charming little Christmas trees covered with creamy, swirl-topped frosting. Honestly, making these has become one of my favorite holiday traditions, and I can’t wait to share all my insider tips so you can nail them too!

💙

Why This Recipe Works

Perfect Texture: The cookies come out tender but firm enough to stack, creating sturdy tree layers.
Rich Buttercream Frosting: The creamy frosting balances sweetness and adds that classic festive green hue.
Fun Assembly: Making the stacked shape turns cookie time into a delightful holiday activity.
Customizable Decorations: You can easily swap sprinkles or adjust coloring for your own personal flair.

Christmas Tree Cookies with Buttercream Frosting, festive holiday cookies, Christmas tree cookie recipe, buttercream frosting cookies, holiday baking treats - The image shows small Christmas tree-shaped desserts arranged on a white cake stand. Each dessert has three layers of light brown cookie cakes stacked with bright green frosting between each layer, shaped like swirls to give a tree effect. The top layer of frosting is decorated with small round gold and silver sprinkles, and each tree is topped with a small yellow star candy. In the front lower portion of the image, a few more of these desserts sit on a white plate with a gold rim. To the right, there is a small white bowl filled with colorful star-shaped sprinkles. The background is a white marbled surface with blurred festive decorations in the distance. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Christmas Tree Cookies with Buttercream Frosting Recipe plays a star role—literally. From buttery cookies to smooth frosting, understanding why each part matters can really help you get the best results. Plus, shopping for good quality ingredients makes all the difference.

Unsalted Butter: Using unsalted butter lets you control the saltiness and gives a rich, creamy base, both in the cookies and the frosting.
Confectioners’ Sugar: This fine sugar dissolves beautifully into the butter for a silky texture and lukewarm sweetness.
Egg: Helps bind the dough and gives the cookies a tender crumb.
Vanilla Extract: Adds warm flavor that complements the buttery notes.
All-Purpose Flour: The sturdy base of these cookies, provides structure without toughness.
Baking Soda: Gives a bit of lift to keep cookies from being too dense.
Salt: Enhances flavor and balances the sweetness.
Green Food Coloring: Just a few drops turn your frosting into a festive green—choose a gel or paste for more vibrant color without thinning.
Sprinkles (Stars, Pearls): Adds that magical holiday sparkle and makes your cookies look delightful on any table.

📝

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Tweak to Your Taste

I like to make this Christmas Tree Cookies with Buttercream Frosting Recipe my own every year. Sometimes I add a hint of almond extract to the frosting or swap out green for a deep red or pastel blue frosting for a twist. You can totally tailor it to fit your own holiday vibe.

Almond or Peppermint Extract: Try adding a teaspoon to the frosting for a different festive flavor; I adore peppermint in these for that classic holiday feel.
Vegan/Dairy-Free Option: I’ve had luck using vegan butter and coconut milk, just watch for a slight change in texture.
Sprinkle Variety: Swap out the gold and silver pearls for red and green jimmies, nonpareils, or even edible glitter for different textures and looks.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Tree Cookies with Buttercream Frosting Recipe

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar Until Silky

Begin by softening your butter to room temperature; it should be easy to press but not melting. Using a stand mixer or a hand mixer, beat the butter on high speed for about 2-3 minutes until creamy and fluffy. Then add the confectioners’ sugar and continue beating for another 3 minutes—this helps make those cookies melt-in-your-mouth soft. Don’t forget to scrape the bowl often so everything mixes evenly.

Step 2: Mix in the Egg and Vanilla

Next, add in the egg and vanilla extract, beating until they’re fully blended. This is crucial because under-mixing here might lead to uneven texture in your cookies. Scrape down the bowl again to make sure everything is uniform before moving on.

Step 3: Gently Incorporate the Dry Ingredients

Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Then add to your wet mixture and beat at low speed just until the dough comes together. Overmixing at this stage will make your cookies tough, and trust me, you want soft, tender cookies for stacking and decorating!

Step 4: Form and Bake Differently Sized Cookie Balls

Here’s where the fun begins: divide the dough into three sizes of balls—small (1 teaspoon), medium (2 teaspoons), and large (3 teaspoons). I usually make around 20 of each to get enough trees. Then bake each size on a Silpat-lined sheet: small for about 5-6 minutes, medium for 7-8, and large for about 10. A key tip is to bake one sheet at a time on the center rack, rotating halfway through for the best evenness. Remember, cookies are done when edges begin to set; centers may look slightly soft but will firm up as they cool.

Step 5: Make the Buttercream Frosting

While the cookies cool, whip up the frosting. Beat the softened butter until smooth and creamy—about 3-4 minutes. Adding the confectioners’ sugar gradually, beat on medium speed, scraping the bowl often, until you get a silky texture. Mix in the vanilla and salt, then add green food coloring a few drops at a time until you reach your perfect festive shade. It’s worth spending time here because a good frosting is what ties the whole cookie tree together.

Step 6: Pipe, Stack, and Decorate Your Christmas Trees

Fill a piping bag fitted with a star tip (I always go for a 1M) with the green frosting. Pipe a generous swirl on top of each small cookie—you want it to look like the treetop swirl. Then pipe onto the medium and large cookies similarly. Stack the cookies by starting with the largest cookie on the bottom, followed by medium, topped with the small swirled cookie. Repeat until you’ve used all cookies, forming multiple adorable stacks. Finish them off with a yellow star sprinkle on top and sprinkle the gold and silver pearls all over for that extra sparkle.

💡

Pro Tips for Making Christmas Tree Cookies with Buttercream Frosting Recipe

Baking Times Matter: I learned to bake one sheet at a time on the center rack and rotate halfway through for even cooking—don’t rush this step!
Don’t Overmix Dough: Keeping the flour just incorporated prevents tough cookies, which is crucial for stacking.
Use a Star Tip for Frosting: The 1M tip gives the frosting that beautiful textured swirl that looks festive and makes decorating so much easier.
Assemble When Cookies Are Fully Cooled: Stacking warm cookies causes the frosting to melt and cookies to slide, so patience here pays off.

How to Serve Christmas Tree Cookies with Buttercream Frosting Recipe

Garnishes

I stick with classic yellow star sprinkles on top to mimic the star on a real Christmas tree, plus gold and silver pearl sprinkles to add that festive sparkle. Sometimes I add tiny edible glitter for a shimmer effect that catches the light—kids love it! You can switch up the colors to match your party theme or even go for savory toppings like crushed peppermint candies for a crunchy twist.

Side Dishes

These cookies go great with a warm mug of spiced hot chocolate or a frothy eggnog. If it’s a cookie party, I like serving them alongside gingerbread men or classic sugar cookies for an impressive holiday platter. For adult gatherings, a mulled wine or even a peppermint latte pairs beautifully.

Creative Ways to Present

One year, I arranged all the cookie trees on a large platter dusted with powdered sugar “snow” and surrounded them with mini candy canes—it looked like a little winter wonderland. Another time, I wrapped individual trees with cellophane and tied them with satin ribbons, turning them into perfect edible gifts. You can also set them in clear glass jars layered with festive tissue paper for a great presentation at holiday markets or parties.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

After you’ve decorated, I usually store these Christmas tree cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to four days—my family loves to snack on them fresh! If you want them to last longer, refrigerate them for up to two weeks. Just make sure the container is sealed so the cookies don’t dry out or absorb fridge odors.

Freezing

I’ve found the best method is to freeze baked but undecorated cookies first, stacked with parchment between layers in an airtight container. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw them at room temperature, then frost with buttercream before serving. Freezing the frosting isn’t ideal as it can separate or lose texture.

Reheating

If you want to enjoy the cookies warm, especially if they’ve been refrigerated, I pop them in the microwave for about 10 seconds or warm them briefly in an oven set at 300°F (150°C)—just enough to soften without melting the frosting. It really revives the buttery flavor beautifully.

FAQs

Can I make the dough ahead of time for these Christmas tree cookies with buttercream frosting recipe?

Absolutely! You can prepare the cookie dough up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate it tightly wrapped. When ready, just shape the small, medium, and large balls and bake as directed. This makes holiday prep easier and helps the flavors develop in the dough.
What if I don’t have a piping bag or star tip?

No worries! You can use a sturdy zip-top bag and snip a tiny corner off to pipe the frosting. While the star tip creates those lovely swirls, a simple round tip or even a spoon can work—just dollop the frosting and smooth it lightly.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?

Yes! I recommend swapping the all-purpose flour for a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend that contains xanthan gum to maintain texture. The cookies might be slightly more delicate, so handle them gently when stacking.
How do I fix frosting that’s too runny?

If your buttercream frosting turns out too soft or runny (sometimes happens if the butter melts), pop it in the fridge for 15-20 minutes, then beat it again to bring back that fluffy consistency perfect for piping.
Can I add other colors besides green to the frosting?

Definitely! While green fits the Christmas tree theme perfectly, you can have fun experimenting with red, white, or even gold. Just add food coloring a drop at a time until you achieve your desired shade.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Tree Cookies with Buttercream Frosting Recipe is more than just a dessert—it’s a joyful tradition that brings family and friends together around the kitchen counter. The process of baking, frosting, and decorating those miniature tree stacks is pure holiday magic, and the best part is, you get to eat your work at the end! Trust me, once you try making these, you’ll want to keep them as part of your seasonal celebrations forever. So go ahead, grab your mixing bowl and start baking—happy holidays and happy cookie decorating!