Buttery, colorful holiday cookies with a soft bite and festive swirl
Twisted Christmas Cookies are a timeless holiday favorite—simple, beautiful, and irresistibly delicious. With their soft, buttery texture and cheerful red-and-green twist, these cookies bring instant Christmas spirit to any dessert table. They’re easy to make, fun to shape, and perfect for baking with kids or gifting to friends and neighbors during the holidays.
Whether served with hot cocoa or tucked into a cookie tin, these classic cookies never go out of style.
🧾 Ingredients (Makes about 30–36 cookies)
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1½ tsp vanilla extract
2½ cups all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
Red food coloring
Green food coloring
Extra sugar for rolling (optional)
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Make the Dough
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla until well combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms.
2. Color the Dough
Divide the dough evenly into two bowls. Add red food coloring to one portion and green food coloring to the other, mixing until evenly colored.
Cover and refrigerate both doughs for 30 minutes to make shaping easier.
3. Shape the Cookies
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Take small portions of red and green dough. Roll each into thin ropes (about 5 inches long), place side by side, gently twist together, and form into a rope or wreath shape. Roll lightly in sugar if desired.
4. Bake
Place cookies on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10–12 minutes, or until edges are just set (do not brown).
5. Cool & Enjoy
Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
⭐ Tips & Variations
Add a drop of almond extract for classic bakery flavor.
Shape into candy canes or circles for variety.
Sprinkle with red or green sanding sugar for extra sparkle.
Dough can be frozen for up to 2 months.
🎄 Final Thoughts
These Twisted Christmas Cookies are as fun to make as they are to eat. Soft, buttery, and festive, they’re a must-have for holiday cookie exchanges and family traditions. One batch is never enough—so consider doubling the recipe!