Sugar Cookie Christmas Tree Stacks with Cream Cheese Frosting: A Festive Holiday Treat

‘Tis the season for baking, and what could be more festive than creating edible Christmas trees made of stacked sugar cookies, adorned with a luscious cream cheese frosting? These Sugar Cookie Christmas Tree Stacks are not only visually stunning but also incredibly delicious. They’re perfect for holiday parties, gift-giving, or simply enjoying a sweet treat while watching your favorite Christmas movies.

This recipe will guide you through each step, from making the perfect sugar cookie dough to creating a smooth and tangy cream cheese frosting, and finally, assembling your delightful Christmas tree stacks. Get ready to impress your friends and family with this fun and festive dessert!

## The Perfect Sugar Cookie Dough: Foundation for Your Edible Christmas Tree

Before we can start stacking, we need a sturdy and flavorful foundation – the sugar cookie itself. This recipe focuses on creating a cookie that is both tender and holds its shape well during baking, ensuring your tree won’t topple over.

**Ingredients:**

* 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
* 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
* 2 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 3 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* ½ teaspoon salt

**Instructions:**

1. **Cream Butter and Sugar:** In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This process is crucial for creating a tender cookie, so don’t rush it! Aim for about 3-5 minutes of beating.
2. **Incorporate Eggs and Vanilla:** Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract. Make sure each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next.
3. **Combine Dry Ingredients:** In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. This ensures even distribution of the leavening agent and seasoning.
4. **Gradually Add Dry Ingredients to Wet Ingredients:** Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in a tough cookie. The dough should come together in a soft, smooth ball.
5. **Chill the Dough:** Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or preferably 2 hours. Chilling the dough is essential for preventing the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
6. **Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets:** Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. This will prevent the cookies from sticking and make cleanup a breeze.
7. **Roll Out and Cut the Dough:** On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of dough to about ¼ inch thickness. Use Christmas tree cookie cutters of varying sizes to cut out the cookies. You’ll need multiple sizes to create the stacked tree effect. Aim for at least 3-4 different sizes, and cut out several of each size to create multiple trees.
8. **Bake the Cookies:** Place the cut-out cookies on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about an inch of space between each cookie. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown. The baking time will depend on the size of the cookies, so keep a close eye on them. Do not overbake.
9. **Cool the Cookies:** Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. It is extremely important for the cookies to cool completely before decorating; otherwise, the frosting will melt.

## Cream Cheese Frosting: The Sweet and Tangy Glue

Now that our sugar cookies are baked and cooled, it’s time to prepare the cream cheese frosting. This frosting adds a delightful tanginess that complements the sweetness of the cookies perfectly. It also acts as the “glue” that holds our Christmas tree stacks together.

**Ingredients:**

* 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
* ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
* 4 cups powdered sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2-4 tablespoons milk or heavy cream (optional, for desired consistency)
* Green food coloring (gel food coloring is recommended for vibrant color)

**Instructions:**

1. **Cream Cheese and Butter:** In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Make sure there are no lumps in the cream cheese.
2. **Add Powdered Sugar:** Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating on low speed until combined. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure even mixing. Start with a lower speed to prevent a powdered sugar explosion!
3. **Incorporate Vanilla and Milk/Cream:** Stir in the vanilla extract. If the frosting is too thick, add milk or heavy cream, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. The frosting should be smooth, creamy, and easily spreadable.
4. **Add Green Food Coloring:** Add green food coloring, a few drops at a time, until you achieve your desired shade of green. Gel food coloring is recommended because it provides a more vibrant color without adding too much liquid to the frosting. Mix well until the color is evenly distributed.

## Assembling Your Sugar Cookie Christmas Tree Stacks

With our sugar cookies baked and our cream cheese frosting ready, it’s time for the fun part – assembling our Christmas tree stacks! This is where you can get creative and let your artistic flair shine.

**Materials:**

* Baked sugar cookies (various sizes of Christmas trees)
* Cream cheese frosting (green)
* Piping bag or zip-top bag
* Small star sprinkles or other decorative sprinkles
* Optional: edible glitter, silver dragees

**Instructions:**

1. **Prepare the Piping Bag:** Fill a piping bag fitted with a small round tip (or use a zip-top bag with a corner snipped off) with the green cream cheese frosting.
2. **Stack the Cookies:** Begin with the largest sugar cookie tree as the base. Pipe a generous dollop of frosting onto the center of the cookie. Place the next largest cookie on top, pressing down gently. Repeat this process, stacking the cookies in descending order of size, with the smallest cookie on top to form the peak of the tree.
3. **Decorate with Sprinkles:** While the frosting is still wet, sprinkle the Christmas tree stacks with small star sprinkles or other decorative sprinkles of your choice. You can also add edible glitter for extra sparkle.
4. **Add Finishing Touches (Optional):** For a more elaborate look, you can use silver dragees to represent ornaments on the tree. Place them strategically on the frosting for a festive touch.
5. **Let the Frosting Set:** Allow the frosting to set for at least 30 minutes before serving or packaging. This will help the trees hold their shape better.

## Tips and Tricks for Sugar Cookie Christmas Tree Perfection

* **Don’t Overbake the Cookies:** Overbaked cookies will be dry and brittle, making them difficult to stack and decorate. Aim for lightly golden edges and a slightly soft center.
* **Chill the Dough Thoroughly:** Chilling the dough is crucial for preventing spreading during baking. If the dough becomes too soft while you’re working with it, simply pop it back into the refrigerator for a few minutes.
* **Use Gel Food Coloring:** Gel food coloring provides a more vibrant color than liquid food coloring without thinning out the frosting.
* **Make the Cookies and Frosting Ahead of Time:** You can make the sugar cookies and cream cheese frosting up to 2 days in advance. Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature and the frosting in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Bring the frosting to room temperature before using.
* **Get Creative with Decorations:** Don’t be afraid to experiment with different sprinkles, edible glitter, and other decorations to create your own unique Christmas tree stacks.
* **Adjust Frosting Consistency:** If your frosting is too thick, add a little more milk or cream. If it’s too thin, add a little more powdered sugar.
* **Use Different Cookie Cutter Shapes:** While this recipe focuses on Christmas trees, you can use other holiday-themed cookie cutters, such as stars, snowflakes, or gingerbread men, to create different variations.
* **Make Mini Trees:** Use smaller cookie cutters to create mini Christmas tree stacks for individual servings.

## Variations and Additions to Elevate Your Sugar Cookie Trees

While the classic recipe is delightful, here are some ways to add your personal touch and create unique variations:

* **Lemon Zest:** Add 1-2 teaspoons of lemon zest to the sugar cookie dough for a bright and citrusy flavor.
* **Almond Extract:** Substitute vanilla extract with almond extract in the cookie dough or frosting for a nutty and aromatic twist.
* **Chocolate Chips:** Add mini chocolate chips to the sugar cookie dough for a touch of chocolate indulgence.
* **Sprinkles in the Dough:** Incorporate colorful sprinkles directly into the sugar cookie dough for a festive and fun surprise.
* **Peppermint Extract:** Add a few drops of peppermint extract to the cream cheese frosting for a refreshing and minty flavor.
* **Colored Sugar:** Sprinkle colored sugar onto the cookies before baking for a shimmering effect.
* **Royal Icing Accents:** Use royal icing to create intricate designs on the cookies before stacking, such as ornaments, garlands, or snowflakes.
* **Caramel Drizzle:** Drizzle caramel sauce over the finished Christmas tree stacks for a decadent and irresistible treat.
* **White Chocolate Drizzle:** Drizzle melted white chocolate over the finished trees and sprinkle with crushed peppermint candies for a winter wonderland effect.

## Serving and Storing Your Festive Creations

These Sugar Cookie Christmas Tree Stacks are best enjoyed fresh, but they can be stored for a few days if properly stored. To store them, gently place the assembled trees in an airtight container, making sure they are not touching each other. Store at room temperature for up to 2 days. If you need to store them for longer, you can refrigerate them, but the cookies may become slightly softer.

When serving, arrange the trees on a platter or cake stand for a visually stunning presentation. You can also wrap them individually in cellophane bags and tie with a ribbon for a charming holiday gift.

## Conclusion: A Sweet Ending to Your Holiday Baking

These Sugar Cookie Christmas Tree Stacks with Cream Cheese Frosting are a delightful and festive addition to any holiday celebration. They’re fun to make, beautiful to look at, and incredibly delicious to eat. So gather your ingredients, put on your favorite Christmas music, and get ready to create some sweet memories with this enchanting recipe. Happy baking, and happy holidays!

This recipe makes approximately 12-15 Christmas tree stacks, depending on the size of your cookie cutters.

**Nutritional Information (approximate, per tree):**

* Calories: 350-450
* Fat: 20-25g
* Saturated Fat: 12-15g
* Cholesterol: 60-80mg
* Sodium: 150-200mg
* Carbohydrates: 40-50g
* Sugar: 25-30g
* Protein: 3-4g

Enjoy your homemade Sugar Cookie Christmas Tree Stacks!