Description
These festive Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Cookies combine tender buttery sugar cookies with a smooth vanilla buttercream filling, decorated to look like charming Christmas trees with red food gel and green sugar sprinkles. Perfect for holiday celebrations or as a sweet seasonal treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookies
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg, room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Red food gel, for decorating
- Green sugar sprinkles, for decorating
Vanilla Buttercream Filling
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3 1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3–5 tbsp heavy whipping cream
- 1–2 drops red food gel
Instructions
- Prepare the Cookie Dough: In a bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking powder until combined. In a separate larger bowl, cream the 1/2 cup softened butter with 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract to the creamed mixture and beat well.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually mix the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients until a smooth dough forms. Be careful not to overmix to keep the cookies tender.
- Shape and Bake Cookies: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into Christmas tree shapes using a cookie cutter. Place the cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet about 1 inch apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly golden. Allow cookies to cool completely on wire racks.
- Make Vanilla Buttercream Filling: In a mixing bowl, beat 3/4 cup unsalted butter until creamy. Gradually add 3 1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 3 to 5 tablespoons heavy whipping cream, adjusting the cream to reach a spreadable consistency. Add 1-2 drops of red food gel for a subtle pink tint and mix until evenly incorporated.
- Assemble Cookies: Spread a generous amount of the vanilla buttercream filling onto the underside of one cookie. Sandwich with another cookie to form a filled sandwich cookie.
- Decorate: Using red food gel, add small decorations or dots resembling Christmas tree ornaments on the top of each cookie. Sprinkle green sugar sprinkles over the top to mimic pine needles or garlands for that festive look.
- Serve and Store: Let the assembled and decorated cookies set for about 30 minutes to ensure the filling firms up slightly. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or refrigerate for longer freshness.
Notes
- For best results, ensure the butter for both the dough and frosting is at room temperature for easier mixing.
- You can adjust the amount of red food gel in the buttercream to achieve your preferred color intensity.
- If you don’t have a Christmas tree cookie cutter, a triangle shape can also work well.
- These cookies can be frozen before assembly; freeze the baked cookies and filling separately, then assemble once thawed.
- Make sure the cookies are completely cooled before adding the buttercream to avoid melting.
Keywords: Christmas cookies, sugar cookies, holiday treats, sandwich cookies, buttercream filling, festive desserts