Christmas Light Cookies
These Christmas light cookies are so cute and best of all, they are easy to make! Such a fun Christmas cookie to add to your cookie exchanges, bring to holiday parties or just a fun treat to eat.
Christmas Light Cookies
These Christmas Light Cookies are fun to make and even better to eat!
They look like colorful lights strung up for the holidays.
They are so easy to make and kids love making these too.
Everyone will love these tasty treats at your holiday gatherings!
Ingredients
Sugar cookie dough: You can use store-bought or your own homemade sugar cookie dough.
Powdered sugar: Sift the powdered sugar to make sure it's clump free.
Meringue powder: This ingredient helps stabilize the royal icing, making it easy to pipe and hold its shape.
Warm water: Use warm water to help dissolve the powdered sugar and meringue powder quickly. Make sure it’s not too hot, as that can affect the icing's consistency.
Black writing icing: This is perfect for creating the string of lights on your cookies.
M&M candies: Choose your favorite colors for a fun and festive look. Cutting them in half makes them easier to stick to the icing and makes them look more like little Christmas lights.
How to Make
Preheat the oven and prepare your favorite sugar cookie dough into circles and according to the instructions.
Once the cookies are shaped and baked, allow them to cool completely on a wire rack.
Next, make the royal icing by combining powdered sugar, meringue powder, and warm water in a large mixing bowl.
Begin with a smaller amount of warm water and beat the mixture with a hand mixer until smooth.
Adjust the consistency by adding more water, one tablespoon at a time, until it’s thick but spreads easily.
Once the icing is ready, transfer it to a piping bag and snip off the tip.
Draw a circle around each cooled cookie with the icing and flood the inside, making sure to spread it evenly.
If you notice any gaps, use a toothpick to gently fill them in.
Allow the icing to set completely.
After the icing has dried, use black writing icing to create strands that resemble Christmas lights on the cookies.
For the finishing touch, cut M&M candies in half and place them cut side down onto the icing to resemble colorful lights.
Enjoy!
Tips & Tricks
Chill the dough: If using homemade dough, chill it for about 30 minutes before rolling out. This makes it easier to handle and helps the cookies hold their shape.
Customize colors: Use different colors of M&M candies or icing to create themed cookies for other holidays or celebrations.
Practice piping: If you're new to piping, practice on a piece of parchment paper before decorating your cookies to get a feel for the icing flow.
Use a toothpick for details: A toothpick can help you adjust the icing and create finer details on the cookies.
Let icing set: Allow the royal icing to dry completely before stacking or storing the cookies to avoid smudging.
Leftovers/Storage
Store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
You can freeze the cookies by placing them in a single layer on a baking sheet until firm, then transferring them to a freezer-safe bag for up to three months.
To reheat, simply thaw at room temperature or warm them in the oven at a low temperature for a few minutes.
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Christmas Light Cookies
Ingredients
- Your favorite sugar cookie dough store bought, or homemade
For royal icing:
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 Tablespoons merengue powder
- 8-10 Tablespoons warm water
For decorating:
- Black writing icing
- M&M candies
Instructions
- Prepare the sugar cookie dough according to directions. Allow the cookies to cool completely.
- For the royal cookie icing, in a large mixing bowl, combine the powdered sugar, merengue powder, and warm water. Start with 8 tbsp. of the water. Beat with a hand mixer for 1-2 minutes. If the icing is too thick, add additional water, 1 tbsp. at a time. Frosting shouldn't be too runny, but it should be soft enough that it melds back together so we get the smooth cookie surface.
- Add the icing to a piping bag and snip off just the very tip.
- Draw a circle around the cookie with icing, and then flood icing into the circle, careful not to over do it. If you have any blank spaces in the icing, use a toothpick to spread the icing carefully, and then allow it to settle into the circle you made.
- Allow the icing to set completely before decorating.
- To make the Christmas lights strand, draw your strand with the black writing icing in any pattern you like.
- For the lights, cut about ½ cup of M&M candies in half, placing the candies onto the icing, cut side down.
Please note that the nutritional content of this recipe will vary based on the specific ingredients used. For a detailed breakdown of the nutritional values, consider using a recipe nutrition calculator with the exact brands and measurements you've used.
