Name: Marbled Christmas Cookies
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 11 min
Total time: 41 min
Ingredients: ¾ cup butter (softened (180g)); 1 ½ cup powdered sugar (180g); 1 egg; 2 tsp vanilla extract; 2 cups all-purpose flour (450g); ¼ tsp baking powder; ¼ tsp salt; 2 ½ cups powdered sugar; 1 ¼ TBSP meringue powder; 3 - 4 TBSP lukewarm water; Gel food coloring (red, green, blue ); ½ tsp clear vanilla extract

Marbled Christmas Cookies are tender, buttery sugar cookies dipped in royal icing with swirls of color to give the cookies a lovely marbled look!

If you are looking for some unique Christmas cookies to make and share this year, then this is the recipe for you. These tasty cookies are decorated with marbled royal icing giving them a very distinct look for your cookie tray!

Marbled Icing Cookies- A festive & Delicious Treat

Marbled icing cookies are a delightful addition to your next holiday celebration. With their colorful swirls and soft texture, these cookies are visually appealing and tasty too!

The cookie dough is simple to prepare, it requires basic ingredients such as butter, powdered sugar, an egg, and flour. Each ingredient plays a key role in creating a soft and flavorful cookie. The icing for these cookies is just as important as the dough itself. It combines powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water to create a smooth finish, while gel food coloring adds a vibrant touch. This simple yet effective icing elevates the cookies, making them perfect for gifting or sharing at holiday gatherings!

Why you’ll love this Easy Christmas Cookie Recipe

Rich flavor profile: The combination of butter and powdered sugar creates a rich, tender cookie that melts in the mouth. The addition of vanilla extract enhances the cookie’s overall taste, making each bite enjoyable. The icing adds an extra layer of sweetness and visual appeal!
Simple steps: This recipe is also straightforward, ideal for bakers of all levels. It requires familiar ingredients that many already have at home.
Great for Parties: These cookies are a fun and unique addition to any holiday party or gathering. They are sure to impress your guests and leave them wanting more!

Ingredients for Marbled Christmas Cookies

Butter: Use ¾ cup of butter, softened (180g) in this cookie recipe.

Powder sugar: For soft, pillowy cookies add in 1 ½ cup of powdered sugar (180g).

Egg: Bind the ingredients with 1 egg.

Vanilla extract: 2 tsp of vanilla extract enhances the flavors nicely.

Flour: You will need 2 cups of all-purpose flour (450g) for this cookie dough.

Baking powder: Adding ¼ tsp of baking powder helps the cookies rise as they bake.

Salt: Use ¼ tsp of salt.

Icing

Powder sugar: The base of this icing is 2 ½ cups of powdered sugar.

Meringue powder: You need 1 ¼ TBSP of meringue powder for this icing.

Water: Add 3 – 4 TBSP of lukewarm water to achieve the desired consistency.

Gel food coloring: Use your choice of gel food coloring to give these cookies a festive appearance.

Vanilla extract: Add in ½ tsp of clear vanilla extract to the icing.

Step by step on how to make Marbled Cookies

Cookie dough

In a bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar, at medium speed, until creamy. Add in the egg and vanilla extract, mix again to combine.

In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, salt, and baking powder together. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients little by little, mixing at low speed until well combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl down as you go, so it is all mixed in.

Chill

Roll the dough onto parchment paper until the dough is 1/4” thick. Then transfer it to a pan and place the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Bake

Preheat the oven to 350°F, then line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and set it aside.

Remove the sheet of cookie dough from the fridge. Use cookie cutters to cut the cookie shapes and place each one on the parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Place them in the preheated oven and bake for 9-11 minutes, or until the edges are golden. Let them cool for at least an hour before adding the icing.

Marble Icing

Mix your powdered sugar, meringue powder, 3 tablespoons of water, and vanilla with a standing mixer using a whisk attachment. Beat the ingredients together on high speed for about 2 minutes. Place a spoon or knife into the icing and lift it up. It should drizzle down and smooth out in about 5 – 8 seconds. If it looks too thick, add a bit more water little by little because it could easily get too thin. If it’s too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar. The icing should be about a flooding consistency (like honey, should be a little runny, but not watery.)

Separate the frosting into three bowls and using a toothpick, add a drop of coloring onto it and swirl it on the white icing. If you are using two colors, repeat the same with another color in that bowl. You will notice the first color in this case, I used green, and as you swirl you will notice different shades across the icing. Continue by adding your second color onto the toothpick, in this case red, and do the same. Swirl it around the icing. Keep in mind that the icing will harden quickly, so make sure to cover anything not being used right away.

Dip the whole top of the cookie in the royal icing mixture, making sure all the edges are covered. Lift the cookie carefully and let the extra icing drip off the cookie by holding it over the bowl. Place the cookie on a cooling rack to set, but keep in mind some of the icing might drip a bit.

Continue to do this step for the color you like in each of the bowls. In the other one, I only used blue coloring on the white icing, and the last one I only used red coloring. Repeat the process for the cookies, until you have finished marbling them all. Let the cookies sit until the frosting has set for about 2 hours.

Serve and enjoy!

How to Store Iced Christmas Cookies?

When it comes to storing iced cookies, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure they stay fresh and delicious for as long as possible. Here are some tips for storing your cookies:

Room Temperature: If you plan on eating your cookies within a few days, storing them at room temperature is perfectly fine. Just make sure to keep them in an airtight container to prevent them from becoming stale or dry.
Refrigerator: If you live in a hot or humid climate, it might be best to store your cookies in the refrigerator. This will help keep them fresh for longer. However, keep in mind that refrigeration can cause some cookies to become hard or lose their texture.
Separate Layers: When storing cookies, it’s important to separate them with layers of parchment paper or wax paper. This will prevent them from sticking together and becoming a messy clump.

Marbled Christmas Cookies are tender, buttery sugar cookies dipped in royal icing with swirls of color to give the cookies a lovely marbled look!

Is it better to use powdered sugar or granulated sugar in sugar cookies?

Powdered sugar is often preferred for sugar cookies because it creates a softer texture. It dissolves more easily during mixing, resulting in a finer crumb. Granulated sugar may lead to a denser cookie due to its larger granules.

What happens when you overmix butter and sugar for cookies?

Overmixing butter and sugar can incorporate too much air, leading to cookies that spread excessively while baking. This can result in a drier texture and less desirable consistency. It is important to mix just until combined for optimal results.

What is the purpose of meringue powder in cookie icing?

Meringue powder stabilizes icing, allowing it to hold its shape and dry firmly. It creates a glossy finish and enhances the icing’s structure, which is beneficial for decoration. Using meringue powder can also improve the shelf life of the icing.

Check out more of our favorite holiday cookie recipes here:

Marbled Christmas Cookies are soft, buttery cookies covered in a sweet royal icing with swirls of color! These unique Christmas cookies are easy to make, the dough comes together easily and the icing involves simple steps to create.

MARBLED CHRISTMAS COOKIES

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Marbled Icing Cookies- A festive & Delicious Treat

Why you’ll love this Easy Christmas Cookie Recipe

Ingredients for Marbled Christmas Cookies

Icing