A beautiful arrangement of Stacked Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies layered with vanilla buttercream frosting — a festive, eye-catching treat for holiday gatherings.
This cheerful recipe for Christmas tree sugar cookies is perfect for holiday baking. The trees are created by cutting sugar cookie dough into three graduated sizes and stacking them with a smooth, green vanilla buttercream between each layer.
If you already have a favorite sugar cookie dough, you can use it here. The cookies are soft and slightly chewy when baked, and the stacked design comes together by cutting three sizes and securing them with buttercream.
These cookies are delicious and make a fun group project. Invite family or friends to help with cutting, piping, and decorating — it’s an easy way to turn baking into a festive activity and create memories together.
Stacked Sugar Cookie Christmas Trees are approachable for bakers of every skill level. Whether you’re experienced or a beginner, assembling and decorating these cookie trees is satisfying and yields charming results to share with loved ones.
Why We Love These Sugar Christmas Cookies
- Works with homemade or store-bought sugar cookies
- Simple to assemble
- A creative and festive stacked cookie presentation
What If I Don’t Have Cookie Cutters?
You don’t need specialty cutters — common kitchen items work well. For this recipe you can use:
- A round drinking glass for the largest cookie
- The lid of a spice jar or small jar for the smallest cookie
- Measuring cups or other circular objects for the middle size
How to Store Sugar Cookies
Store decorated or plain sugar cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Bring to room temperature before serving for the best texture and flavor.
Elevate your holiday celebrations with these Stacked Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies. Shaped like whimsical trees and finished with velvety vanilla buttercream, they make a standout addition to any cookie table and deliver delightful results with straightforward effort. Enjoy!
- For the Cookies:
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- For the Vanilla Buttercream:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Green gel icing color
- Christmas sprinkles, optional
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and position a rack in the center. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
- Using a stand or handheld mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the vanilla, almond extract, and egg, beating until combined.
- Gradually add the flour mixture in three parts until fully incorporated.
- Divide the dough into two portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Cut three sizes of circles for each tree.
- Bake on a parchment- or silicone-lined baking sheet for 7–8 minutes, or until the edges just begin to turn golden.
- Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Beat the room-temperature butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and continue beating until combined and silky.
- Add the vanilla extract and about 2 tablespoons of water (or milk), mixing until smooth and spreadable.
- Tint the buttercream with green gel icing color until you reach the desired shade.
- Fit a piping bag with a medium star tip and fill with the green buttercream.
- Use one cookie of each size for each tree.
- Pipe a swirl of frosting on the largest cookie, place the medium cookie on top, pipe another swirl, then place the smallest cookie. Finish with a final swirl and add sprinkles if desired.
