Christmas Sugar Cookie Decorating Ideas

Whether it is for the neighborhood cookie exchange or a festive centerpiece for our holiday party dessert table, I always have the hope of baking wonderful elaborate cookies from scratch. The reality is time is at a premium. Luckily I have found that with a lot less work I can turn store bought sugar cookie dough into delectable cookies I am proud to serve to my friends. Below is a description of some of my favorite ways to decorate sugar cookies.

For all of these Christmas cookies you can start with either a dry pouch of sugar cookie mix or a package of pre-made sugar cookie dough. If using a mix, start by making it according to the directions on the package.

Candy Cane Cookies

Over the years, I have often seen Candy Cane cookies recipes in cookbooks and magazines. However, they all started for scratch. You do not need to go to this trouble. Instead to your store bought sugar cookie dough add ½ teaspoon of peppermint extract. Then divide the dough into two bowls. To one bowl add one drop of red food coloring and mix well. If the red color is not vibrant enough, you can add one additional drop of red food coloring at a time mixing well. Be careful as too much red food coloring will make your dough look reddish brown.

When your dough is ready, roll each batch into long snake ropes (like you did when you were a kid playing with playdough). Roll the white colored dough first to eliminate the possibility of transferring color from the red dough via your hands. Lay the two dough snakes next to each other. Twist the dough ropes together. Cut at 6 inch intervals. Lay the twisted ropes on a cookie sheet and bend the top of the twisted ropes to resemble a candy cane. Bake as directed.

Sugar Ring Cookies

These Christmas cookies are also decorated before baking. Roll the dough into a one to two inch wide log. I prefer a smaller log which makes a more delicate looking cookie. Roll the log in red candy sugar which can be purchased at the grocery store. Refrigerate the log for at least one hour. Then slice the log into ¼ inch circles. To make the cutting easier and cleaner, use a sharp knife and place it in the freezer for five minutes before using. Place the cookie circles onto a cookie tray and bake as directed. For a slightly more grown-up cookie you can substitute crushed nuts for the red candy sugar in this decorating trick.

Creative Sprinkles Cookies

These Christmas cookies are even simpler to bake. They start with simple drop sugar cookies baked as directed on the package. The cookies are allowed to cool and then are iced with store bought white icing. What makes these cookies festive and special are the unique sprinkles that are shaken over the icing. These particular sprinkles are red and green and shaped like little Christmas trees. Containers of these sprinkles and others types are sold in the baking section of local craft stores and some grocery stores.

Christmas Tree Cookies

These Christmas cookies are simple rolled cookie cutter sugar cookies. To turn drop dough into dough suitable for rolling knead in extra flour. Start with a ¼ cup per batch and continue kneading and adding until the batter is no longer sticky. As you are adding the extra flour try not to do any extra kneading as this will toughen the dough. When the dough is no longer sticky, roll out a ¼ inch thick sheet. Use a Christmas tree cookie cutter to form cookies. Bake as directed. While the cookies are baking, add a few drops of green food coloring to store bought white icing. Mix well. When the cookies have cooled, ice them with the green icing. To create the look of ornaments on the tree sprinkle with nonpareils. These come in a variety of color combinations and are sold at craft and grocery stores. Alternatively, you can sprinkle the cookies with coconut for the look of snow on the trees.

Holly Leaf Cookies

My favorite rolled Christmas sugar cookie are my holly leaf cookies. The cookies are made in the same manner as described above using a holly leaf cookie cutter. Green icing is also spread over these cookies when they have cooled. They are then sprinkled with green candy sugar. This adds a little sparkle to the cookies. Finish the cookies by adding three red candy cinnamon hearts to the corner of the cookie to represent berries.

With the wide variety of decorating supplies on the market it is easy to turn store bought sugar cookie dough into dazzling Christmas cookies. Be creative but remember the best decorated cookies will not taste good if they are burnt. Therefore, always allow your baking sheets to cool between batches. These tricks should help you have a very tasty Christmas.