Christmas Lights Cookies are twinkling, sparkling, and so delicious! A classic sugar cookies, with a simple white icing, and garnished with a chocolate string of lights. Perfect for any cookie exchange to keep the season merry and bright.
Today is National Cookie Day and what better was to celebrate with a festive Christmas cookie? Christmas lights are one of my favorite thing about the holidays. Our family love to go on light drives to look at all the beautiful displays and decorations. We bundle up, sip hot chocolate, and enjoy the ride with some holiday tunes.
These cookies are a simple way to enjoy editable lights! I use a simple soft sugar cookie recipe and a simple white icing that sets as it dries. The decorations are a black frosting tube with a fine decorating tip and mini M&Ms for the lights!
These cookies are sooooo cute and a showstopper at any exchange or holiday gathering. My kiddos love to pick off the M&Ms, gobble them up, and then enjoy he cookie. However, you can enjoy in any order your heart desires!
Celebrate #NationalCookieDay with all my fellow cookie fanatics! Below is a list of great cookies to make this holiday: (Thanks to Erin of The Spiffy Cookie for hosting)- Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies by Kate's Recipe Box
- Chocolate Cinnamon Crinkle Cookies by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Chocolate Dipped Butter Cookies by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
- Christmas Lights Cookies by Cheese Curd In Paradise
- Christmas Whoopie Pies by The Freshman Cook
- Classic Old Fashioned Snickerdoodles by Big Bear's Wife
- Coconut S’Mores Bars by The Foodette
- Gingerbread Snickerdoodles by The Redhead Baker
- Peanut Brownie Sablés by Karen's Kitchen Stories
- Pistachio Cardamom Cresent Cookies by Savory Moments
- Quince and Almond Filled Cookies by Palatable Pastime
- Rosettes by That Recipe
- Spritz Cookies with Christmas Sprinkles by Our Good Life
- Tahini Cookies by The Spiffy Cookie
What do you need to make Christmas Lights Cookies?
For the Cookies:
- Butter
- Granulated Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
- All-Purpose Four
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda
- Salt
For Icing:
- Egg Whites
- Powdered Sugar
- Cream of Tartar
- Salt
For Decorations:
- Black Piping Icing (these can be found in the baking aisle)
- Mini M&M's
Helpful Kitchen Items:
How do I make Christmas Lights Cookies?
For the cookies:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two large, rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- Cream butter and granulated sugar until lightly and fluffy, 3-4 minutes using an electric mixer. Scrape down the sides at the half-way point.
- Add the egg and vanilla and mix again for an additional minute. The batter will become lighter in color.
- In separate mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined.
- Scoop the cookie dough into rounded balls about 3 tablespoon in size. Place cookies on the baking sheets a couple inches apart (about 8 cookies per baking sheet).
- Bake for 12-13 minutes until slightly crackly on top.
- Let the cookies cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet before removing to a cooling rack.
For icing:
- Using an electric mixer, whisk egg whites for 1 minute till foamy.
- Add powdered sugar, cream of tartar and salt to egg whites and continue to whisk. Mix until the egg whites are extremely light and fluffy, almost like whipped a fluffy whipped cream.
- Add water by the tablespoonful until it has the consistency of hot fudge. Typically this takes between 3-5 tablespoon of water to get the right consistency.
- Icing dries out somewhat quickly, so keep covered until ready to use.
For decorating:
- Using the black icing, pipe swayed lines to mark the string of lights. Place mini m&m's on to the string. Icing will harder as you do this so paint a few string at a time versus the entire batch.
Check out more delicious cookie recipes!
Gingerbread Cookies Dipped in White Chocolate
Are you following me yet? What are you waiting for?
Christmas Lights Cookies
Ingredients
For cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 ⅓ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
For icing
- 3 large egg whites
- 3 ¾ cups confectioners' sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For decoration
- Black pipping icing
- Mini M&M's
Instructions
For Cookies
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two large, rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- Cream butter and granulated sugar until lightly and fluffy, 3-4 minutes using an electric mixer. Scrape down the sides at the half-way point.
- Add the egg and vanilla and mix again for an additional minute. The batter will become lighter in color.
- In separate mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined.
- Scoop the cookie dough into rounded balls about 3 tablespoon in size. Place cookies on the baking sheets a couple inches apart (about 8 cookies per baking sheet).
- Bake for 12-13 minutes until slightly crackly on top.Let the cookies cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet before removing to a cooling rack.
For Icing
- Using an electric mixer, whisk egg whites for 1 minute till foamy.
- Add powdered sugar, cream of tartar and salt to egg whites and continue to whisk. Mix until the egg whites are extremely light and fluffy, almost like whipped a fluffy whipped cream.
- Add water by the tablespoonful until it has the consistency of hot fudge. Typically this takes between 3-5 tablespoon of water to get the right consistency.
- Icing dries out somewhat quickly, so keep covered until ready to use
For Decoration
- Using the black icing, pipe swayed lines to mark the string of lights. Place mini m&m's on to the string. Icing will harder as you do this so paint a few string at a time versus the entire batch.
Notes
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Erin Vasicek
These are so cute! I started decorating my tree last night and hope to get outdoor lights up before the weekend, but I think I would rather have edible lights 😉
Ashley Lecker
Me too!
Wendy Klik
So stinkin' cute. I love this idea, thanks so much for sharing them with us.
Susan
Those are the cutest! And so simple. I love it.
Amy (Savory Moments)
These are sooooo cute!! What a clever (and yummy) idea!
Colleen - Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck
I've been wanting to decorate cookies like this for years, however, I never seem to get around to it. Maybe this will be the year...I even purchased multi-colored chocolate-covered sunflower seeds just in case!
Ashley Lecker
It is a must make this year!
Hezzi-D
These are so fun! I did something similar with cupcakes one year but I love the idea of this on a cookie!
Ashley Lecker
Oh a cupcake sounds really cool!!!!
Karen
These are darling!! I think even I could pull these off! Pinning!
Audrey
These are adorable and sound delicious too. I will have to add mini M&Ms to the grocery list this week.