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Christmas Present Cookies

These Christmas Present Cookies are the cutest holiday cut-out cookies—simple, charming, and festive enough to steal the show on any cookie platter. Decorated to look like bright red gift boxes with a hand-piped ribbon, a soft airbrushed stripe, and a darling polka-dot bow, these cookies feel like tiny edible presents.

They’re fun to decorate and absolutely perfect for gifting, parties, or Christmas cookie exchanges. Made with a classic cut-out sugar cookie dough and decorated with smooth royal icing, these cookies bake up soft, sturdy, and flavorful.

Whether you’re a beginner or experienced decorator, these Christmas Present Cookies are easy to customize with your own colors, patterns, and bows.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Festive and unique – They look like mini Christmas gifts wrapped in icing!
• Perfect for decorating – The simple square shape makes piping and airbrushing easy.
• Holiday-worthy flavor – Soft, buttery sugar cookies with the perfect amount of sweetness.
• Great for gifting – These cookies travel well and make adorable edible presents.
• Customizable – Change the ribbon color, add sparkles, make stripes—decorate them your way.

Ingredients

For the Sugar Cookies

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 ½ cups flour
• 1 tsp salt

For the Royal Icing

• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tbsp meringue powder
• 6 tbsp water (more as needed)
• Red gel food coloring
• White gel coloring
• Green gel coloring (optional for the polka dots)

Instructions

Make the Cookies

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a mixer, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add the egg and vanilla; mix until combined.
4. Add flour and salt; mix until a soft dough forms.
5. Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface to ¼ inch thickness.
6. Cut into square shapes using a present-shaped cookie cutter or a basic square cutter.
7. Transfer to the baking sheet and bake for 8–10 minutes, or until edges are just lightly golden.
8. Cool completely before decorating.

Decorating the Christmas Present Cookies

1. Mix royal icing and divide into bowls.
2. Tint the main portion red for the gift box.
3. Flood the cookie and let dry completely.
4. Once dry, lightly airbrush a darker red stripe down the center for a wrapped-gift look (optional but gorgeous!).
5. Pipe a white ribbon and bow on top.
6. Add green polka dots to the bow for a festive touch.
7. Let icing set fully before storing or packaging.

Jennie’s Thoughts

These Christmas Present Cookies might be some of my favorite holiday cut-outs ever. There’s just something extra magical about decorating cookies that look like tiny wrapped gifts.

I love the way the airbrushed stripe gives that professional bakery finish with almost no effort, and the bow with green polka dots is so cheerful and classic.

These stand out beautifully on a Christmas cookie tray, and they’re also a fun project to give kids—everyone can decorate their own “present.”

Serving & Gifting Tips

• Add them to a holiday cookie tray for parties or Christmas Eve.
• Package individually in cellophane bags with a ribbon—perfect neighbor or teacher gifts.
• Arrange them in a cookie box with tissue paper to look like real wrapped gifts.

Storage

Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 week, or freeze undecorated cookies for up to 2 months.