There is something truly magical about holiday baking, and this Christmas Light Cookies Recipe perfectly captures the joy and festive spirit of the season. These charming sugar cookies shaped like cheerful Christmas bulbs are not only delicious but also a delight to decorate and share. With a tender, buttery base and bright pops of color from mini M&M’s, they bring a sparkle to any cookie tray and a smile to everyone’s face. Whether you’re baking with family or looking for a standout treat to gift, this recipe is your ticket to spreading holiday cheer one bite at a time.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Christmas Light Cookies Recipe relies on simple, classic ingredients that each play a crucial role in creating the perfect cookie texture and flavor. From the creamy butter that provides richness to the flour that forms the cookie’s structure, every item in this list ensures your cookies come out just right.
- 2 Sticks of Butter: Softened butter adds creaminess and helps achieve that tender crumb everyone loves.
- 1 cup of Sugar: Sweetness is the highlight here and grounds the cookie’s flavor profile.
- 1 Tablespoon of Vanilla: Vanilla extract deepens the flavor with a warm, comforting note.
- 1 Egg: This binds all the ingredients and adds moisture for a soft texture.
- 3 cups of Flour: The foundation that gives the cookies their shape and structure.
- 1 Tablespoon of Baking Powder: A touch of leavening for lightness, so your cookies aren’t dense.
- 2 cups of Powdered Sugar: Necessary for the frosting, giving it that silky, sweet finish.
- 1 Tablespoon of Milk (and more if needed): Helps achieve the perfect frosting consistency.
- Black Food Coloring Gel: To draw the delicate cookie “wick” lines that really bring the Christmas lights to life.
- Mini M&M’s: These colorful candies act as the “light bulbs,” making the cookies festive and fun.
How to Make Christmas Light Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar
Start by whipping together the softened butter, sugar, vanilla, and egg in the bowl of your stand mixer equipped with the whisk attachment. Beat this mixture until it becomes light and fluffy—this airiness makes all the difference in that perfect cookie texture you’re craving.
Step 2: Combine Dry Ingredients
While your butter mixture is getting creamy, sift together the flour and baking powder in a separate bowl. Stir them well to ensure the baking powder gets evenly distributed, which helps the cookies rise uniformly while baking.
Step 3: Mix Flour into Wet Ingredients
Switch to the paddle attachment and slowly add the flour mixture a bit at a time to the wet ingredients. Keep the mixer on low to avoid flour clouds, and stop mixing once all the flour is incorporated. The dough should start forming a smooth, soft ball—if it feels sticky, a quick scrape and mix will help everything come together neatly.
Step 4: Shape and Flatten the Cookies
Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Roll your dough into small 1-inch balls and place them evenly spaced on the sheets. Halfway through their baking time at 350 degrees, use a flat-bottomed glass dipped in sugar to gently press down on each cookie. This subtle flattening creates that charming crinkled appearance typical of Christmas lights and lets the cookies spread beautifully as they bake.
Step 5: Bake and Cool
Pop the cookie sheets into the oven for about 15 minutes, watching for a light golden tint along the edges. Once out of the oven, transfer the cookies carefully to a wire rack to cool completely. This rest period is essential before decorating, so your frosting won’t melt and slide off your beautiful bulbs!
Step 6: Frosting and Decorating
While the cookies cool, prepare the frosting by mixing powdered sugar with milk. Add a bit more milk if needed to create a smooth, spreadable consistency. Use the frosting to create a bright base on each cookie, then press mini M&M’s onto the surface to mimic glowing Christmas light bulbs. Finally, use black food coloring gel with a fine tip to add the “string” that connects your lights. This final touch brings the cookies to life and makes them truly festive.
How to Serve Christmas Light Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
Beyond mini M&M’s, you can add a sprinkle of edible glitter or dust the cookies lightly with powdered sugar to give them an extra holiday sparkle. A small touch of colored sanding sugar around the cookie edges can also make your Christmas light bulbs shine even brighter.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair wonderfully with a warm cup of spiced hot chocolate or a glass of cold milk. If you’re hosting a party, consider serving them alongside a cheese platter or fresh fruit to offer contrasting flavors and textures alongside your sweet treats.
Creative Ways to Present
Arrange your Christmas Light Cookies Recipe on a festive platter lined with holiday-themed napkins or evergreen sprigs. For gift-giving, stack them in a clear box tied with a red ribbon or package them in a decorative tin to brighten someone’s day. These presentation ideas make your cookies just as joyful to look at as they are to eat.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once cooled and decorated, store your cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh for up to a week. Layer them with parchment paper to prevent sticking, and keep the container at room temperature away from direct sunlight to preserve their colors and texture.
Freezing
You can freeze the cookie dough before baking or freeze baked and decorated cookies. For dough, shape into balls and freeze on a tray, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months. For baked cookies, freeze them in a single layer with parchment between layers. Thaw at room temperature before serving or decorating.
Reheating
Cookies are best enjoyed fresh, but if you want to warm them slightly, pop them in a 300-degree oven for 5 minutes or microwave for 10 seconds. Avoid overheating, as it may cause the frosting to melt or the cookies to harden.
FAQs
Can I use different candies instead of mini M&M’s?
Absolutely! You can swap mini M&M’s for colorful sprinkles, gumdrops, or small jellybeans depending on your preference. Just choose candies that hold their shape well and add a fun pop of color to your Christmas light cookies.
Is this Christmas Light Cookies Recipe suitable for kids to make?
Yes, these cookies are perfect for baking with kids! The shaping and decorating steps are hands-on and fun, making it a wonderful holiday activity. Just keep an eye on hot oven use and help with the frosting details if needed.
How do I make the frosting thick enough to hold the mini M&M’s?
Start with a tablespoon of milk and add gradually to powdered sugar until you reach a thick, spreadable consistency. If it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar; if too thick, add a little more milk, but be careful—too much can make it runny and less adhesive.
Can I make the cookies gluten-free?
Yes, you can substitute an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend for the regular flour. Make sure the blend includes xanthan gum or another binder to maintain good texture. The taste might change slightly but still deliciously festive!
What’s the best way to achieve the crackled look on the cookies?
Dipping the bottom of a glass in sugar and gently pressing the cookies halfway through baking gives them their signature crinkled texture. This simple trick spreads the dough evenly and creates tiny cracks while adding a sparkly sugar layer beautifully catching the light.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to add some extra sparkle and joy to your holiday baking list, this Christmas Light Cookies Recipe is an absolute must-try. They are fun to make, festive to look at, and utterly delicious to eat. From the buttery dough to the candy decorations, every bite bursts with holiday spirit. Don’t wait—grab your mixing bowl and start creating these charming cookies today. Your friends and family will thank you, and your holiday celebrations will be that much sweeter.
Print
Christmas Light Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 40 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delight in the festive charm of these Christmas Light Cookies—soft, buttery sugar cookies topped with colorful mini M&M’s to resemble Christmas lights. Perfect for holiday gatherings, these cookies combine a tender crumb with a sweet glaze decorated to brighten any cookie tray.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 2 sticks of Butter, softened
- 1 cup of Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon of Vanilla Extract
- 1 Egg
- 3 cups of Flour
- 1 Tablespoon of Baking Powder
Frosting & Decoration
- 2 cups of Powdered Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon of Milk, plus more if needed
- Black Food Coloring Gel, for outlining (optional)
- Mini M&M’s, for decorating
Instructions
- Prepare the cookie dough: In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine softened butter, sugar, vanilla extract, and egg. Whisk until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, stir together the flour and baking powder until thoroughly combined.
- Combine dry and wet ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients using the mixer on low speed. Switch to the paddle attachment once flour is mostly incorporated, and continue mixing until a smooth, cohesive dough ball forms. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary to ensure even mixing.
- Shape the cookies: Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll dough into small 1-inch balls and place them evenly spaced on the sheets.
- Bake the cookies: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake cookies for about 15 minutes. Halfway through baking, check for cracks on the cookie tops.
- Flatten the cookies: Remove the cookies briefly from the oven halfway through baking. Dip the bottom of a flat glass in sugar and gently press it onto each cookie to slightly flatten and give a delicate crinkled texture. Return cookies to bake until edges turn light golden brown.
- Cool the cookies: Once baked, transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
- Make the frosting: In a small bowl, mix powdered sugar with 1 tablespoon milk, adding more milk if necessary to reach a smooth, spreadable consistency.
- Decorate the cookies: Spread or pipe frosting on cooled cookies. Optional: use black food coloring gel to outline shapes to resemble Christmas light bulbs. Press mini M&M’s onto the frosting to simulate colorful bulbs.
- Set and serve: Allow frosting to set for several minutes before serving or packaging the cookies.
Notes
- Use room temperature butter to ensure a smooth and creamy dough texture.
- Pressing the cookies with a sugar-dipped glass while baking creates a charming crinkled surface and helps cookies spread more evenly.
- Adjust milk in frosting gradually to achieve desired thickness; too thin frosting will run off the cookies.
- The black food coloring gel outlining is optional but adds a fun, festive look resembling Christmas bulbs wrapped in wire.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
