Buttery Christmas Trees Cookie Recipe

As featured in Holiday 2023 issue of The Applegatarian.

"My mother always made a lot of different cookies around Christmas, and my brother and I would fight over which ones were the best. He loved her candy cane cookies, while these buttery Christmas trees, made with a cookie press, were my favorite. I was homeschooled until high school and would always help my mom make these when I was younger. My grandfather, who also lived with us, always helped out as well-these cookies certainly bring back lots of fond childhood memories. My mother lives in California these days, but she spends most Christmases at my house in New Jersey and now makes these cookies with my three daughters." - Michael Fedorak, Applegate Senior Consumer Relations Manager

The Applegatarian, an outlet where employees and advocates of the nation’s leading natural and organic meat brand dish about their favorite recipes, tips, products, partners and more.

MAKES ABOUT 8 DOZEN COOKIES | Total Time: Less Than 15 Mins

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup (2 sticks) granulated sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
Green food coloring
Colored sprinkles, for decorating (optional)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, cream butter with sugar until light in color. Add the egg and mix well. Mix in almond extract.
In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. When it is almost completely incorporated, add enough green food coloring until you get the color you wish.
Fill a cookie press fitted with a tree-shaped disc. Following the package instructions, press cookies onto the lined baking sheets. If using, decorate with colored sprinkles.
Bake cookies until the edges just begin to brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. Repeat with remaining dough.