Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies

Decorating sugar cookies is a Christmas time essential in our family. This year we’re keeping it super simple with these stacked sugar cookies into mini Christmas trees. These are a great DIY idea with young kids or an additional decoration for around your gingerbread house!

We found this great sugar cookie last year in our blog post 5 GF/DF Christmas Creations. This was the recipe we used as our Button Cookies, however we have altered them slightly so they are subtly spiced with cinnamon and ginger!

The simple glaze on top adds a lovely snowy decoration, we also sprinkled over some red and green sprinkles and a dusting of icing sugar to finish.

​For the sugar cookies, you’ll need:
1 cup olivani
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla essence
3 cups gluten free flour (recipe for our blend is here)
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp salt

1. Using your electric mixer, combine the olivani and sugar beating the mixture on high until fluffy. Reduce the mixing speed to medium, adding the eggs one at a time.


2. Then, adding the vanilla. Reduce the mixing speed again to low, sift in the flour, spices and salt. A soft dough will form. Using your hands, seperate the dough into 4 equal portions flattening the mixture with your hands into a disk. 


3. Wrap each disk separately with glad wrap and place in the fridge for at least an hour. Once refrigerated, prepare baking trays by lining them with baking paper and get the oven preheating to 200℃. Then roll each disk out in between two sheets of baking paper. Using a range of star cookie cutters cut as many cookies as possible varying in sizes. Then transfer to the prepared baking tray. Refrigerate again if required, you'll know this is necessary if you have difficulty transferring the cookies to the baking tray. 


4. Place trays into the oven and bake for 5 minutes or until edges are slightly golden. Then remove from the oven and allow to cool.


5. Once cool, stack a series of cookies on top of each other, slightly offsetting each cookie layer to form a Christmas tree like structure.

For the snowy glaze, you’ll need:
1 1/2 cups icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
Splash of hot water

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients and whisk to combine into a smooth glaze.
Drizzle the glaze over tips of the stars and across the top. Decorate with sprinkles and a dusting of icing sugar! Serve immediately or keep for up to a week.


Enjoy making these delicious treats and be sure to share your baking creations with us on social media @livelivelynz


From our home to yours,