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 brings holiday cheer to my kitchen every year and never fails to impress guests with its charming presentation.
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:
- 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 Ingredients:
- 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 Cookies:
- 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 Royal 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 Cookies:
- 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 This display always brings my family together as we decorate and assemble the cookies while enjoying hot cocoa.
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 approx. Calories 110, Total Fat 4 g, Carbohydrates 18 g, Protein 1 g
Save These cookies add a magical touch to your holiday celebrations creating lasting memories.
Recipe FAQs
- → What type of flour works best for these cookies?
All-purpose flour is ideal as it provides the right balance of structure and tenderness for decorated sugar cookies.
- → How can I ensure the shapes hold during baking?
Chill the dough thoroughly before rolling and cutting to help maintain defined edges and prevent spreading in the oven.
- → What is the best way to decorate the cookies?
Use thick royal icing tinted with vibrant colors and pipe details carefully. Allow each layer to dry completely before adding more decoration.
- → Can I prepare the cookies ahead of time?
Yes, cookies can be baked and decorated a day in advance. Store them in an airtight container to keep fresh.
- → How do I assemble the sleigh display?
Arrange the decorated cookies on a platter and attach sleigh runners like pretzels using thick royal icing or edible glue for stability.