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Twisted Christmas Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 74 reviews

These Twisted Christmas Cookies are festive, buttery sugar cookies enhanced with almond extract and a hint of orange zest for a bright holiday flavor. Topped with glossy, colorful royal icing and decorated with sprinkles, edible glitter, or crushed candy canes, they make perfect treats for holiday parties and gift-giving.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cookies:

  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 14 oz (400g) butter, softened
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp almond extract
  • Zest of 1 orange (optional)
  • 6 cups plain flour
  • 1 tbsp milk (optional, to help bind dough)

For the Icing:

  • 6 tbsp meringue powder
  • 8 tbsp water
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 7 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • Extra water (for thinning)
  • Gel food coloring (red, green, gold, white)
  • Sprinkles, edible glitter, or crushed candy canes (for topping)

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line 2-3 baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
  2. Make the Dough: In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and white sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. Then add the eggs, vanilla extract, almond extract, and optional orange zest, mixing until smooth and fully incorporated.
  3. Add Flour: Gradually mix in the plain flour a little at a time until a dough forms. If the dough seems crumbly or too dry, add a tablespoon of milk to help it bind together properly.
  4. Roll and Cut: Roll out the dough to a ¼-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Use holiday-themed cookie cutters like trees, stars, and mittens to cut out shapes.
  5. Chill Cookies: Place the cut dough shapes on the prepared baking sheets and chill in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes. This helps the cookies hold their shape while baking.
  6. Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges just start to turn golden. Avoid over-baking to keep cookies tender.
  7. Cool: Remove cookies from the oven and allow them to cool completely on wire racks before decorating.
  8. Make the Icing: In a bowl, whisk together the meringue powder, lemon juice, and water until well combined. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, beating until the icing becomes glossy and smooth. Add extra water a few drops at a time to adjust the consistency as needed for outlining or flooding.
  9. Color and Decorate: Divide the icing into separate bowls and mix in your gel food coloring to create festive red, green, gold, and white icing. Decorate the cooled cookies using piping bags or spoons, then add sprinkles, edible glitter, or crushed candy canes for extra holiday flair.
  10. Set Icing: Allow the decorated cookies to sit at room temperature until the icing is fully set and hardened, which may take several hours.

Notes

  • If dough is too crumbly, adding a small amount of milk helps bring it together.
  • Chilling the dough before baking helps cookies maintain their shape and prevents spreading.
  • Use gel food coloring to avoid thinning the icing consistency.
  • Let the icing dry completely before stacking or storing cookies to prevent smudging.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

Keywords: Christmas cookies, sugar cookies, holiday treats, festive baking, royal icing, almond extract, orange zest, decorated cookies

Find it online: https://savorandsimmer.com/twisted-christmas-cookies-recipe/