Snowflake cookies are a festive and simple option for holiday baking. Made from store-bought sugar cookie dough, decorated with pale blue piping and a small blue sugar bead at the center, these cookies look beautifully arranged on cookie platters or a Christmas cookie charcuterie board. They’re an easy way to achieve a polished, seasonal look without spending hours on dough from scratch.
This method for making snowflake cookies is flexible. Swap the cutter and colors to suit other holidays or celebrations—hearts for Valentine’s Day, eggs for Easter, or stars for a birthday—while keeping the same straightforward approach.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
If you love decorated cut-out cookies but want to save time, this shortcut sugar cookie recipe delivers beautiful results with minimal effort. Using pre-made Pillsbury sugar cookie dough and canned whipped frosting eliminates the need for lengthy mixing and chilling steps. That means less prep and more time for decorating—an advantage when you’re juggling holiday schedules or baking with kids.
Because the steps are simple, this recipe also makes a great holiday activity for children. Little hands can help press out shapes and add the finishing details, making the process part of the fun.
Ingredients
For the exact measurements, see the ingredient list below. These quantities yield approximately 24 cookies depending on cutter size.
- 1 package Pillsbury sugar cookie dough
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (for kneading and rolling)
- 1/2 container whipped vanilla frosting (canned)
- 1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar
- 2 drops blue food coloring and 1 drop green food coloring (adjust to achieve the desired shade)
- Blue sugar pearls or blue sugar crystals for centers
Instructions for the Snowflake Sugar Cookies
- Prepare the dough according to the package directions, then knead in 1/4 cup flour to make it easier to roll.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out half the dough to about 1/2 inch thickness (use parchment or sandwich the dough between sheets of parchment for less sticking).
- Cut out snowflake shapes (or star shapes if you prefer) and place them on parchment-lined baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
- Repeat with the remaining dough.
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 12–14 minutes, or until the cookies show just a hint of golden color around the edges.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 1 minute, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
Instructions for the Frosting
- Mix 1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar into 1/2 of a container of whipped vanilla frosting until it reaches a piping consistency—thick enough to hold shape but still pipeable.
- Add 2 drops blue food coloring and 1 drop green food coloring, stirring until the color is even. Adjust drops for a paler or deeper hue.
- When the cookies are completely cool, transfer the icing to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip (or use a resealable plastic bag with a tiny corner snipped off).
- Pipe straight lines and small V shapes to form snowflake designs and finish each cookie with a blue sugar pearl in the center.
Tips & Tricks
- Roll dough between two sheets of parchment to prevent sticking and make clean, even shapes.
- Always let cookies cool completely before piping to avoid melted or smeared icing.
- Adjust the frosting consistency: add more powdered sugar if it’s too thin, or a bit more canned frosting if it’s too thick.
- No piping bag? Use a gallon-size zip-top bag and cut a tiny corner for piping—an easy option for kids.
- For softer cookies, remove them from the oven at the very first hint of golden edges rather than waiting for a deep color.
Substitutions
If you don’t have a snowflake cutter, a small star cutter works nicely and reads as a snowflake once piped with lines and dots. If piping is more effort than you want, spread a thin layer of tinted frosting and sprinkle blue sugar crystals for a pretty, simpler finish. You can also substitute canned frosting with a quick homemade buttercream if preferred.
Variations
Experiment with color palettes—white-on-white looks elegant, while silver or gold sugar beads add sparkle for a more glamorous tray. You can also create multi-colored sets by dividing the frosting into small bowls and tinting each one a different shade.
Equipment
Helpful tools include snowflake cookie cutters, a rolling pin, parchment paper, a wire cooling rack, piping tips and bags (or a zip-top bag), and a baking sheet. Disposable piping bags and small round tips make detailed piping quick and tidy.
Storage
Because the icing on these cookies does not fully harden, store them in a single layer or in a flat container to avoid smudging. Freeze un-iced cookies between sheets of parchment if you want to prepare dough ahead of time, then frost them after thawing for best results.
Need more help with Christmas cookie making?
This snowflake cookie recipe is part of a holiday cookie collection featuring a mix of classic and modern recipes. If you enjoy quick, attractive holiday treats, look for collections of cookie recipes and printable guides that make planning and gifting easier.
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