Snowflake Cookie Trees with Royal Icing
These delightful Snowflake Cookie Trees are the perfect way to bring a touch of snowy magic and nostalgic charm to your holiday dessert table. Crafted from simple, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread cookies shaped into snowflakes and transformed into whimsical trees with royal icing, they're both easy to make and a feast for the eyes. A sweet ending to any cozy family gathering or festive meal, these Snowflake Cookie Trees are sure to become a cherished holiday tradition in no time.
Allergens
This recipe contains eggs and gluten. To make it nut-free, simply use store-bought powdered sugar that doesn't contain tree nuts.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2/3 cup confectioners' sugar
- 2 cups all
- purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Royal Icing (see recipe below)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Add the flour, salt, and vanilla extract, mixing just until combined.
- Scoop the dough into a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Pipe 12 snowflake shapes on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart to allow for expansion during baking.
- Bake for 12 15 minutes or until the edges of the snowflakes are just beginning to turn golden. Allow the cookies to cool completely on wire racks before assembling.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the egg whites and cream of tartar until frothy. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar, mixing until smooth and glossy.
- Divide the icing evenly between two separate bowls. Add green food coloring to one bowl until you achieve your desired shade of green for the trees. Leave the other bowl white for the snowflake centers.
Chef’s Insight
For added fun, turn the Snowflake Cookie Trees into a festive activity by having the whole family pitch in to decorate them.