Save A festive and whimsical assortment of sugar cookies shaped and decorated to resemble Santas sleigh, reindeer, and holiday accents—perfect as a centerpiece for holiday gatherings.
This recipe always brings joy to my family every holiday season as we bake and decorate together.
Ingredients
- For the Cookies: 2 ½ cups (315 g) all-purpose flour, ¾ tsp baking powder, ¼ tsp salt, ¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter softened, 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar, 1 large egg, 1 tsp vanilla extract, ½ tsp almond extract (optional)
- For the Royal Icing: 3 cups (360 g) powdered sugar sifted, 2 large egg whites or 4 tbsp meringue powder + 6 tbsp water, ½ tsp vanilla extract, Gel food coloring red, green, brown, yellow, black, white
- For Decoration & Assembly: Edible gold or silver sprinkles, Mini pretzels (for sleigh runners optional), Mini candy canes (optional), Assorted festive sprinkles, Edible glue or a small amount of royal icing (for assembly)
Instructions
- Preheat:
- Oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Mix Dry Ingredients:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugar:
- In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Add egg, vanilla, and almond extract mix until combined.
- Combine Dough:
- Gradually add flour mixture to wet ingredients mixing just until dough forms. Divide dough in half form into disks wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.
- Roll and Cut:
- On a lightly floured surface roll out dough to ¼-inch thickness. Use sleigh reindeer Santa star and tree cookie cutters to cut shapes. Transfer to prepared baking sheets.
- Bake:
- 10–12 minutes or until edges are just beginning to turn golden. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes then transfer to racks to cool completely.
- Prepare Icing:
- Beat powdered sugar and egg whites (or meringue powder mixture) on low speed until thick and glossy (about 5 minutes). Add vanilla then divide and tint with food coloring as desired.
- Decorate:
- Cooled cookies with colored royal icing sprinkles and edible decorations. Pipe details onto sleigh reindeer Santa and accents. Let icing dry completely (at least 2 hours).
- Assemble Display:
- Arrange sleigh cookies at the center of a platter. Place reindeer in front connecting with icing or edible glue. Fill sleigh with tree star cookies or mini candies. Use mini pretzels or candy canes as sleigh runners attaching with icing if desired.
Save Sharing this festive cookie display has become a cherished holiday tradition in our family.
Required Tools
Electric mixer, Rolling pin, Holiday cookie cutters (sleigh reindeer Santa star tree), Baking sheets & parchment paper, Piping bags and small tips for decorating, Spatula
Allergen Information
Contains wheat (gluten) egg and dairy (butter). Some decorations may contain nuts or soy always check labels if you have allergies.
Nutritional Information
Per cookie approximately 110 calories, 4 g total fat, 18 g carbohydrates, 1 g protein.
Save This delightful cookie display will brighten your holiday celebrations and impress your guests with its charm.
Recipe Help
- → What ingredients give these sugar treats their texture?
All-purpose flour combined with baking powder and butter creates a tender yet sturdy base, while sugar adds sweetness and slight crispness on baking.
- → How is the vibrant decoration achieved?
Royal icing, made from powdered sugar and egg whites, is tinted with gel food colors and piped onto cooled cookies for detailed, colorful accents.
- → Can the decoration be customized?
Yes, using different food coloring shades and festive sprinkles allows for personalized designs matching holiday themes.
- → What is the best way to assemble the display?
Arrange sleigh cookies centrally, place reindeer attached with icing or edible glue, and fill the sleigh with tree and star shapes or mini candies for a charming centerpiece.
- → Are there optional flavor enhancers?
Adding almond extract to the dough provides a warm, aromatic touch enhancing the festive flavor profile.