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Decorated Christmas Candy Cookies

These adorable Christmas Candy Cookies look just like old-fashioned wrapped candies — the round center with the twisted candy-wrapper edges.

They’re festive, nostalgic, and so fun to decorate! I used my favorite cut-out cookie dough and decorated them with royal icing: a pink center with a red swirl, and white candy-wrapper edges.

They’re simple, whimsical, and absolutely perfect for holiday cookie boxes.

These Christmas Candy Cookies are one of those bakes that instantly make your kitchen feel magical. Something about the shapes, the soft pastel colors, and that sweet little swirl in the center gives them such a nostalgic, old-fashioned charm.

They look like the kind of treats you’d see in a vintage holiday cookbook or displayed in a classic candy shop window. And the best part? They’re surprisingly simple to decorate, even if you’re not a professional cookie artist.

If you’re making these for a party, a cookie exchange, or to package as gifts, they hold up beautifully once the royal icing sets. You can wrap them individually, box them in treat tins, or place them on platters with other holiday cookies for a stunning display.

They’re the type of cookie people comment on immediately — cute, whimsical, and just different enough to stand out from the usual Christmas shapes.

Kids especially love these because they look like real candy, and adults love them because they feel nostalgic and festive. Whether you stick to the pink-and-white theme or switch up the colors for your own style, they’ll be adorable every time.

And truly, that’s what makes this recipe worth keeping — it’s fun, memorable, and adds a little extra holiday magic to your baking season. Enjoy!

Ingredients

For the 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 tablespoons meringue powder
• 6–8 tablespoons water
• Pink gel food coloring
• Red gel food coloring

Instructions

1. Make the Cookie Dough

Cream together the butter and sugar until smooth and fluffy. Add the egg, vanilla, mixing until combined. Stir in the flour and salt, forming a soft dough. Wrap and chill for at least 30–45 minutes so the cookies hold their shape.

2. Roll & Cut

Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Roll the dough to about ¼ inch thick on a floured surface.

Using a Christmas candy cookie cutter (the shape with the round candy center and wrapper ends), cut out all your cookies and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

3. Bake

Bake for 8–10 minutes, depending on thickness.
You want the edges set but not browned so they stay soft but sturdy for decorating.

Cool completely before decorating.

4. Make the Royal Icing

Whisk the powdered sugar and meringue powder together, then add water a spoonful at a time until your icing reaches a smooth piping consistency.

Divide into three bowls:

• Pink icing for the candy center
• Red icing for the swirl
• White icing for the wrapper edges

Fill each color into a piping bag.

5. Decorate

1. Pipe the pink icing into the round center of each cookie.
2. Immediately pipe a tiny swirl of red icing on top, using a toothpick to drag it gently into a peppermint-style swirl.
3. Fill in the candy-wrapper edges with white icing.
4. Let the cookies dry completely until the icing is fully set — several hours or overnight works best.

Jennie’s Thoughts

These little Christmas Candy Cookies feel like they belong in a vintage holiday candy shop window. They’re whimsical, old-fashioned, and so cheerful on a cookie tray.

I love how simple they are to decorate — the pink center with the red swirl gives them that sweet nostalgic look, and the white wrappers make them pop against greenery and holiday décor.

These also look adorable as mug toppers, party favors, or slid into cellophane bags with a ribbon. They’re such a fun way to bring the magic of Christmas straight into your kitchen.