Delightful Christmas Present Cookies

A few weeks before Christmas, my neighbor Lily invited a group of us moms over for a gift-wrapping get-together that turned into a cookie-decorating showdown. Her dining table, usually spotless, was covered in ribbons, flour, and food coloring and somehow, it became the perfect spot for our holiday creativity to bloom. Little Max, still in his elf pajamas, tugged on his grandma’s sleeve and asked if the cookies we were making could be real presents. That gave us the idea why not make cookies shaped like tiny wrapped gifts?

At another table, Clara, who teaches second grade, brought out her homemade royal icing in six pastel colors, while someone else whipped out edible glitter with the glee of a magician pulling a rabbit from a hat. That afternoon, we weren’t just making sweets. We were making joy in edible form. These Christmas Present Cookies are more than just adorable they’re buttery, soft, and decked out in ribbons and bows. Perfect for cookie swaps, teacher gifts, or letting the kids feel like decorating pros.

They’ve since become a yearly tradition in our house. My daughter now insists on coordinating the color palette each year. One Christmas, we went full-on Barbie pink and gold. Another, we kept it classy in blues and silvers. No matter how you dress them up, these cookies always find their way into the center of the dessert table and into people’s hearts.

Short Description

These Christmas Present Cookies make a cheerful, edible addition to your holiday traditions. Soft and buttery sugar cookies shaped like festive gift boxes, decorated with colorful royal icing and edible glitter.

Key Ingredients

For the Sugar Cookies

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract (or almond extract for variation)
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt

For the Royal Icing

• 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• 3 tbsp meringue powder
• 8–10 tbsp water (adjust as needed)
• Food coloring (red, green, blue, pink, yellow, festive shades)
• Edible glitter or sprinkles (optional)

Tools Needed

• Stand mixer or electric hand mixer
• Mixing bowls
• Measuring cups & spoons
• Rolling pin
• Square cookie cutter or knife
• Parchment paper
• Baking sheet
• Cooling rack
• Icing bags & tips or squeeze bottles
• Toothpicks

Cooking Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Dough
Beat softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in egg and vanilla or almond extract. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Divide dough into two portions, wrap in plastic, and chill for 1 hour.

Step 2: Roll and Cut
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out chilled dough on a floured surface to ¼-inch thickness. Cut into square shapes. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets, spaced 1 inch apart.

Step 3: Bake the Cookies
Bake for 8–10 minutes until edges are just golden. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack. Ensure cookies are fully cooled before decorating.

Step 4: Make the Royal Icing
In a bowl, mix powdered sugar and meringue powder. Add water one tablespoon at a time until soft peaks form. Divide icing into bowls and tint with food coloring.

Step 5: Decorate the Cookies
Outline the cookie with icing and let it set. Flood the center with thinned icing and spread using a toothpick. After drying, add icing bows and ribbons in contrasting colors. Sprinkle with glitter or decorations if desired.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Great make-ahead holiday treat

Customizable colors and designs

Fun for kids and adults alike

Soft, buttery sugar cookie base

Impressive edible gifts or party favors

Mistakes to Avoid & Solutions

1. Skipping the chill time
Solution: Chill the dough for at least 1 hour or it will spread and lose its shape.

2. Overmixing the dough
Solution: Once the flour is added, mix only until the dough comes together.

3. Icing consistency issues
Solution: For outlining, icing should be thick; for flooding, thinner like honey. Adjust water slowly.

4. Decorating before cookies cool
Solution: Let cookies cool completely or the icing will melt.

5. Uneven baking
Solution: Roll dough to an even ¼-inch and bake on the center rack. Rotate tray halfway if needed.

Serving and Pairing Suggestions

Serve on a holiday dessert board

Wrap in clear cellophane for gifts

Pair with hot cocoa or spiced apple cider

Add to holiday brunch buffets

Use as edible place cards with initials piped on top

Storage and Reheating Tips

Room Temp: Store in airtight container for up to 1 week

Freezing Dough: Freeze dough discs for up to 2 months; thaw in fridge overnight

Freezing Baked Cookies: Freeze undecorated cookies in layers with parchment between

Reheat (if needed): Refresh in a 300°F oven for 3–5 minutes to restore texture

FAQs

1. Can I make the dough in advance?
Yes, chill it up to 2 days ahead or freeze it for up to 2 months.

2. How do I make the icing dry faster?
Let cookies dry in front of a fan for 1–2 hours. Avoid humid environments.

3. Can I use store-bought icing?
It works in a pinch, but homemade royal icing holds shape and detail better.

4. My cookies puffed up why?
Too much baking powder or warm dough can cause puffing. Chill the dough and measure carefully.

5. What if I don’t have meringue powder?
Use pasteurized egg whites (3 tbsp) instead, but adjust liquid accordingly.

Tips & Tricks

Use gel food coloring for vibrant shades without thinning the icing

Pipe icing on parchment to practice designs before decorating cookies

Use squeeze bottles for kid-friendly decorating

Outline and flood with the same color but vary opacity for a dimensional effect

Add shimmer dust or gold leaf for an upscale look

Recipe Variations

Almond-Cherry Present Cookies
Swap vanilla with almond extract. Add ¼ cup finely chopped dried cherries to the dough before chilling. Pair with pink and white icing.

Spiced Gingerbread Present Cookies
Replace ½ cup flour with ½ cup molasses and 1 tsp ground ginger + ½ tsp cinnamon. Decorate with white and red icing for contrast.

Chocolate Sugar Present Cookies
Add ¼ cup cocoa powder to flour mix. Decorate with mint green and silver icing for a wintery vibe.

Final Thoughts

Making Christmas Present Cookies isn’t just about baking; it’s about the joy of creating little edible surprises that bring smiles before the first bite. Each cookie feels like a gift in itself, and whether you’re hosting a decorating party or spending a quiet afternoon with your kids, these charming treats add a spark of creativity and tradition to the holidays.

Sometimes, it’s the smallest gestures that warm the heart and a box of these cookies, wrapped with frosting ribbons and dusted with glitter, somehow says “you’re loved” better than most wrapped gifts. Let the ribbons flow, the colors pop, and the cookie trays shine.