By: Jill Mills Posted: Nov 1, 2021 Updated: Nov 4, 2023

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My favorite part of Christmas is seeing all of the beautiful Christmas lights and enjoying all the lovely desserts. Now, I can enjoy both of these experiences into one with these Christmas Light Cookies! These Sugar cookies are perfect for the winter season and are sure to be your favorite too!

Christmas Light Sugar Cookies

These Sugar Cookies are so good and great for bringing in the Christmas spirit. They taste like they are fresh out of a bakery and are super simple to make. These crunchy and slightly chewy cookies are topped with a delicious frosting that will just melt in your mouth. If you have upcoming parties or get together for Christmas and the winter season, be sure to make these Chocolate Christmas Cookies and these Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Butter– Use unsalted butter to control the amount of salt in the recipe.
Sugar– This sugar is always used in the best desserts.
Vanilla– Use pure extract for the best flavoring.
Egg– Use these at room temperature.
Flour– Use all-purpose flour for the best results.
Powdered Sugar– Use this to make the best homemade frosting.
Milk– Use whole or 2% milk for this recipe.
Food Coloring Gel– Use black food coloring gel and not liquid food coloring.
M & M’s– Use mini M & M’s for this recipe.

How to Make Christmas Light Sugar Cookies

To start, add the butter, sugar, vanilla, and egg into a bowl of a standing mixer and combine until light and fluffy.
Then add the flour, and baking powder into another bowl and combine.
Next, a little at a time, add in the flour and combine on low until fully combined.

Combining the ingredients in a mixing bowl.

Switch the whisk attachment with a paddle and combine until smooth ball forms.

Forming the cookies

First, use parchment paper to line two cookie sheets.
Use your hands to roll the dough into 1-inch balls and arrange them onto the prepared sheets.
Place the cookie sheets into the oven for 15 minutes at 350 degrees until light brown. (check the cookies halfway through to make sure they have cracked)
Dip a flat-bottom glass into sugar and press it onto the cookies to make them flatter and give them a crinkle look.
Afterward, take the cookies out of the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool thoroughly. (while the cookies cool, make the frosting)

Using a glass to press down the cookies.

Frosting

To begin, place the powdered sugar into a bowl, and a little at a time, add in the milk.
Combine until the frosting is smooth with no lumps. (add more powdered sugar if the frosting is too thin)
Add tablespoons of the frosting into another bowl and add some black food coloring and combine. (add powdered sugar if too thin)
Top the cookies with the white frosting and allow them to sit for 45 minutes.
Next, put the frosting into the pastry bag with a small tip and add the black frosting on top of the white using a back and forth motion to create string or strands for the lights.
Finally, top with mini M & M’s to make the colored lights.

Serve and Enjoy!

Three of the Christmas Cookies on a serving plate.

How long do Christmas Light Cookies last?

These sugar cookies will need to be stored properly for the best results. Place the recipe in an airtight container for the best method. Keep at room temp or in the fridge for up to 1 week.

What kind of frosting is used to decorate Christmas Light Cookies?

The frosting used in this recipe is made with a couple of ingredients. This frosting is made with powdered sugar and milk. Frosting will be added to the cookies and then, you will need them to sit for a bit to harden.

Christmas Light Cookies