Christmas Tree Cookie Stack

A cookie tree is a great center piece for your Christmas table. You can use my recipe or your favorite cut-out cookie recipe. All you need are star-shaped cookie cutters in different sizes.

• Preparation Time: 40 mins
• Cooking Time: 6 mins
• Total Time: 46 mins
• Calories: 75 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 3 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar for dusting
• 4 ½ teaspoons meringue powder
• ¾ cup butter, at room temperature
• 1 tablespoon assorted holiday decorations, such as silver balls, sprinkles, etc.
• 1 ounce yellow fondant

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Combine sugar and butter in a large bowl. Cream using an electric mixer until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla extract. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. Stir into the butter mixture and mix to combine. Shape dough into a ball, cover, and refrigerate at least 1 hour to overnight.

Step 2

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Step 3

Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick. Cut out different-sized stars with cookie cutters; the height of the Christmas tree will depend on the number of cookies you stack, but you need at least 7 or 8 stars. Place cookies 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven until cookies are lightly browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer cookies carefully onto wire racks and cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Step 5

Combine confectioners' sugar, meringue powder, and water in a bowl and beat at low speed using an electric blender until peaks form, 7 to 10 minutes. Pour icing into a piping bag with a star-shaped tip.

Step 6

Place the largest star onto a plate and pipe a little bit of royal icing into the middle. Add the second-largest star on top, turning the star slightly so the points are offset from the previous star cookie. Repeat adding smaller-sized star cookies and attaching them with royal icing. Decorate the cookie Christmas tree with royal icing, silver balls, and other holiday decor. Roll out yellow fondant and cut out a small star to place on top of the cookie tree and secure with royal icing. Decorate remaining cookies to your liking.

Step 7

Dust the finished tree with confectioners' sugar.