Cookie Christmas Tree

Name: Cookie Christmas Tree
Prep time: 1 h 25 min
Total time: 3 h 10 min
Yield: 40
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups sugar; 1/3 cup butter, melted; 1 tablespoon milk; 2 teaspoons vanilla; 1 egg; 6 oz cream cheese, softened; 2 1/4 cups Gold Medal™ All Purpose Flour; 1/2 cup chopped pistachio nuts; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 3 cups green candy melts (from two 12-oz bags); 1 square vanilla flavored candy-coating (from 14-oz package); 1 teaspoon red, white and green candy sprinkles; 1 bar (1.55 oz) milk chocolate candy; 1 large yellow gumdrop

Ingredients:16
Servings:40

By Betty Crocker Kitchens(Opens in a new tab)Updated 12/11/2025

Cookie Christmas Tree

Ingredients:16
Servings:40

Introducing the most adorable edible Christmas tree ever! This eye-catching and tasty recipe comes to us from our Betty Crocker Cookie cookbook. How are cookie balls created? You wouldn’t believe how easy and fun they are to make. Irresistibly rich cookies, homemade with cream cheese and pistachio nuts, are transformed into delightful cookie balls by enlisting the help of your food processor to make cookie crumbs that get mixed with even more luscious cream cheese. These scrumptious balls get a dive into melted green candy melts and stacked to form a charming tree shape.

If you like, make the cookies the day before and then make the cookie balls and the Christmas tree from them the next day. It’s a great activity to do with your family. After you’ve assembled the tree, a touch of white vanilla candy coating adds a festive drizzle, while a candy bar serves as the tree trunk and a gumdrop makes the perfect star for the top. This festive creation is not only a show-stopping holiday centerpiece but also a delicious treat that’s perfect for after dinner. Bring it to your next holiday party and watch the oohs and ahhs roll in!

Cookie Christmas Tree

Prep time:1 hr 25 min
Total time:3 hr 10 min
Ingredients:16
Servings:40
Calories per serving:160

Ingredient

Cookie Balls

1 1/2 cups sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 egg
6 oz cream cheese, softened
2 1/4 cups Gold Medal™ All Purpose Flour
1/2 cup chopped pistachio nuts
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Coating and Decorations

3 cups green candy melts (from two 12-oz bags)
1 square vanilla flavored candy-coating (from 14-oz package)
1 teaspoon red, white and green candy sprinkles
1 bar (1.55 oz) milk chocolate candy
1 large yellow gumdrop

Instructions

Step 1
Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat sugar, butter, milk, vanilla, egg and 2 ounces of the cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed 1 to 2 minutes or until well mixed. Stir in flour, pistachio nuts, baking powder, baking soda and salt until well mixed.

Step 2
On large ungreased cookie sheets, drop dough by tabelspoonfuls 2 inches apart.

Step 3
Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until edges are set. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Step 4
Line large cookie sheets with waxed paper. In food processor bowl with metal blade, place one-third of the cookies. Cover; process to fine crumbs. Remove and set aside; continue to process remaining cookies to fine crumbs. Place all of cookie crumbs in food processor. Add remaining 4 ounces of the cream cheese. Process 3 to 4 minutes or until well mixed and can be pressed together. Roll rounded tablesooonfuls of cookie mixture into 40 (1 1/4-inch) balls; place on cookie sheets. Cover loosely and refrigerate 15 minutes. or until firm.

Step 5
In medium bowl, microwave green candy melts uncovered on High 1 to 2 minutes; stir. Continue microwaving and stirring every 15 seconds until melts are softened and can be stirred smooth.

Step 6
Remove one-fourth of the cookie balls from refrigerator. Using 2 forks, dip and roll cookie balls, one at a time, in green candy melts, shaking off excess melt. Place balls on waxed paper-lined cookie sheets. Continue with remaining candy melt and cookie balls. Let stand 15 minutes or until candy is set.

Step 7
On serving tray, arrange 21 of the balls into a triangle shape, starting with 6 balls as the base of the triangle. Continue arranging descending rows until all balls have been used. Arrange another 10 balls in a second layer on top of balls on platter, starting with 4 balls as the base of the triangle and arranging descending rows until all 10 balls have been used. Reserve remaining balls for another use.

Step 8
In small microwavable bowl, microwave vanilla-flavored candy coating uncovered on High 30 to 60 seconds, stirring once, or until coating is softened and can be stirred smooth. Spoon melted candy coating into a 1-quart resealable food storage bag. Cut a tiny corner from bag. Pipe onto balls for garland. Immediately sprinkle white coating with sprinkles.

Step 9
Break candy bar into 4 equal pieces of 3 squares each. Stack and pace at base of tree to resemble tree trunk. Flatten gumdrop to 1/4-inch thickness. Using 1 1/4-inch star cookie cutter or paring knife, cut star from gumdrop. Insert one end of a toothpick into bottom edge of star. Press other end of toothpick into top ball of tree. Cover loosely and refrigerate until serving time.

Recipe Tips

You can decorate the remaining cookie balls as desired and place around Christmas tree on platter or add to your holiday cookie tray.
Using a plastic fork with the center tines removed makes it easier to dip balls in the candy melts. Tap sides of bowl to remove any excess candy melt. If the candy melts begin to harden while dipping, microwave on High about 15 seconds or until it thins and becomes of coating consistency.
Cover tree on serving platter with plastic wrap and store in refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts

Calories
160
Total Fat
8g
Protein
1g
Total Carbohydrate
22g
Sugars
8g

Servings: 40

Serving Size: 1 Cookie Ball

Amount Per Serving Calories : 160

Nutrition Facts
Food Component / Nutrient	Amount	% , Daily Value*
Total Fat	8g	12%
Saturated Fat	5g	26%
Trans Fat	0g	% Value Not Available
Monounsaturated Fat	1g	% Value Not Available
Polyunsaturated Fat	0g	% Value Not Available
Omega-3	0g	% Value Not Available
Cholesterol	15mg	4%
Sodium	85mg	3%
Total Carbohydrate	22g	7%
Dietary Fiber	0g	0%
Soluble Fiber	0g	% Value Not Available
Insoluble Fiber	0g	% Value Not Available
Sugars	8g	% Value Not Available
Protein	1g	% Value Not Available
Vitamin D	Value Not Available	0%
Calcium	Value Not Available	2%
Iron	Value Not Available	2%
Potassium	30mg	1%
Vitamin A	Value Not Available	2%
Vitamin C	Value Not Available	0%
Vitamin E	Value Not Available	0%
Thiamin	Value Not Available	4%
Riboflavin	Value Not Available	4%
Niacin	Value Not Available	2%
Vitamin B6	Value Not Available	0%
Folic Acid	Value Not Available	2%
Vitamin B12	Value Not Available	0%
Pantothenic Acid	Value Not Available	0%
Phosphorus	Value Not Available	2%
Magnesium	Value Not Available	0%
Zinc	Value Not Available	0%
Manganese	Value Not Available	4%
Selenium	Value Not Available	4%
Copper	Value Not Available	0%
Beta-Carotene	Value Not Available	% Value Not Available
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Exchanges

Starch ½,
Fruit 0,
Other Carbohydrate 1,
Skim Milk 0,
Low-Fat Milk 0,
Milk 0,
Vegetable 0,
Very Lean Meat 0,
Lean Meat 0,
Medium-Fat Meat 0,
High-Fat Meat 0,
Fat 1&½,
Fruits 0c,
Vegetables 0c,
Grains 0oz-eq,
Meat & Beans 0oz-eq,
Dairy 0c,
Fats & Oils 0tsp

Carbohydrate Choice

Carbohydrate Choice1&½

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Recipe Tips

You can decorate the remaining cookie balls as desired and place around Christmas tree on platter or add to your holiday cookie tray.

Using a plastic fork with the center tines removed makes it easier to dip balls in the candy melts. Tap sides of bowl to remove any excess candy melt. If the candy melts begin to harden while dipping, microwave on High about 15 seconds or until it thins and becomes of coating consistency.

Cover tree on serving platter with plastic wrap and store in refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts

Food Component / Nutrient

Amount

% , Daily Value*

Total Fat

12%

Saturated Fat

26%

Trans Fat

% Value Not Available

Monounsaturated Fat

% Value Not Available

Polyunsaturated Fat

% Value Not Available

Omega-3

% Value Not Available

Cholesterol

15mg

Sodium

85mg

Total Carbohydrate

22g

Dietary Fiber

Soluble Fiber

% Value Not Available

Insoluble Fiber

% Value Not Available

Sugars

% Value Not Available

Protein

% Value Not Available

Vitamin D

Value Not Available

Calcium

Value Not Available

Iron

Value Not Available

Potassium

30mg

Vitamin A

Value Not Available

Vitamin C

Value Not Available

Vitamin E

Value Not Available

Thiamin

Value Not Available

Riboflavin

Value Not Available

Niacin

Value Not Available

Vitamin B6

Value Not Available

Folic Acid

Value Not Available

Vitamin B12

Value Not Available

Pantothenic Acid

Value Not Available

Phosphorus

Value Not Available

Magnesium

Value Not Available

Zinc

Value Not Available

Manganese

Value Not Available

Selenium

Value Not Available

Copper

Value Not Available

Beta-Carotene

Value Not Available

% Value Not Available

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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Cookie Christmas Tree

Cookie Christmas Tree

Cookie Christmas Tree