Christmas Lights Cookies

Total Time

Prep: 45 min. + chilling Bake: 10 min./batch + cooling

Makes

1-1/2 dozen

Updated: Aug. 10, 2023
What better way to brighten chilly winter days than with light-shaped cookies? My classic dough recipe has been a holiday tradition in our family for years. —Carolyn Moseley, Dayton, Ohio

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • FROSTING:
  • 5 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
  • 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 5 to 6 tablespoons water
  • Red, blue, green, yellow and gray paste food coloring
  • Assorted colored sugar, optional

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg and extracts. In another bowl, whisk flour, cinnamon, salt and baking powder; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Shape into a disk; wrap and refrigerate 1 hour or until firm enough to roll.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 4-in. Christmas light-shaped cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 9-11 minutes or until light brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
  3. In a small bowl, beat confectioners' sugar, corn syrup, vanilla and enough water to reach desired consistency. Reserve 2/3 cup frosting for bottom of cookies and reflections. Divide remaining frosting between 4 bowls. Tint 1 red, 1 blue, 1 green and1 yellow. Frost tops of cookies. If desired, sprinkle with colored sugar. Tint half of the reserved frosting gray; frost bottom of cookies. With remaining white frosting and a #5 round tip, pipe on reflections. Let stand until completely set.
  4. To Make Ahead: Dough can be made 2 days in advance. Wrap and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Can you freeze Christmas Lights Cookies?

Freeze undecorated cookies in freezer containers. To use, thaw in covered containers and decorate as desired.

Nutrition Facts

1 cookie: 250 calories, 6g fat (3g saturated fat), 24mg cholesterol, 86mg sodium, 49g carbohydrate (39g sugars, 0 fiber), 2g protein.