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If you’re looking for a fun twist on traditional holiday baking, 3D gingerbread tree cookies are a showstopper. Made from warmly spiced gingerbread dough, each tree is built by stacking star-shaped cookies of different sizes. Once assembled, they stand tall and look like miniature snowy evergreens when dusted with icing sugar or topped with a little frosting. These cookies are as tasty as they are decorative, making them perfect for a centerpiece, edible gift or festive activity to do with family and friends.
Make 3D gingerbread tree cookies by stacking star-shaped cookies into festive edible trees. They’re tasty, eye catching and perfect for gifting or decorating holiday tables.
Also add these reindeer Rice Krispies treats, gingerbread cheesecake dip or gingerbread Linzer cookies to your festive dessert spread.
Why You’ll Love It
Full of flavor: There’s nothing quite like gingerbread cookies with their wonderful warm spices, sweet molasses and pretty royal icing decorations. This is one sweet treat the whole family will love.
Easy to make: This gingerbread Christmas tree cookies recipe comes with a gingerbread tree template so you can make each half of your 3D gingerbread Christmas tree and then bake and assemble them with ease.
A great gift: Homemade gifts are always appreciated, especially when baked with love. Christmas tree cookies would make a heartwarming gift for anyone with a sweet tooth. They are also a perfect Christmas centerpiece for the holiday season.
Gingerbread Christmas Trees Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
All purpose flour: Creates structure for sturdy cookies that stack without crumbling.
Baking soda: Helps the cookies bake evenly and maintain their shape.
Unsalted butter: Adds richness and keeps the dough tender.
Light brown sugar: Brings sweetness and moisture with a slight molasses note.
Molasses: Gives gingerbread its deep flavor and rich color.
Egg: Binds the ingredients for a cohesive dough.
Vanilla extract: Balances the spices with a warm, sweet aroma.
Spices: Ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves create the signature gingerbread flavor.
Icing sugar: Used for dusting or making icing to hold cookie layers together.
How to Make 3D Gingerbread Christmas Trees
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Combine the dry ingredients: Mix the flour with the cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda and salt.
Start the gingerbread dough: Beat the butter with the brown sugar, and then beat in the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract.
Finish making the dough: Mix the flour mixture into the egg mixture, and then divide the dough into two even pieces, wrap each in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for an hour.
Make the gingerbread tree cookie shapes: Roll the dough out and then, following the templates, cut out the tree shapes.
Chill the Christmas tree cookies: Arrange the gingerbread Christmas tree shapes on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and freeze for 10 minutes.
Bake and decorate the cookies: Bake cookies on the prepared baking sheet until puffy and trim off any unwanted parts with a sharp knife so the two parts will fit together properly. Let them cool completely before decorating cookies with icing on both sides using a piping bag and Wilton #4 piping tip or similar.
Assemble the 3D gingerbread trees: Once the icing has completely set, slot the cookies together so they stand up.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten free option: Use a 1:1 gluten free baking blend with xanthan gum and chill longer for easier handling.
Dairy free swap: Replace butter with plant based butter.
Decorating twist: Add colored icing, sprinkles or edible glitter for a festive look.
Flavor change: Swap some molasses for maple syrup for a lighter flavor.
Serving Suggestions
With a drink: These go well with a festive beverage like Santa hat cocktails or chocolate martini.
With savory bites: Enjoy Christmas tree puff pastry appetizers, Christmas tree themed antipasto and perhaps a reindeer cheese ball with your 3D gingerbread Christmas trees.
Make a Holiday Table Decoration
These holiday cookie trees can also be for decoration, too!
- Use several small gingerbread Christmas trees to create a forest outside a gingerbread house.
- Use as a table centerpiece for your holiday table.
- Use small trees as with place cards at the Christmas table setting.
How to Store 3D Gingerbread Cookies
Store: Leftovers should keep for up to 3 days in an airtight container on the countertop or up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
Freeze: You can make an extra batch of dough if you like and then thaw it to make gingerbread cookies or more of these tree cookies later. You can also freeze the baked cookies for up to 3 months.
Top Tips
Chill thoroughly: Cold dough rolls cleanly and holds crisp edges when baking.
Cut evenly: Use uniform star cutters so the tree stacks neatly.
Cool completely: Assemble only when cookies are fully cooled to prevent icing from melting.
Secure layers: Use enough icing between cookies to keep the tree stable.
Gingerbread Cookies for Christmas FAQs
Yes, absolutely. In fact the dough is ideal for making traditional gingerbread men as well, so you can go with whatever shape, size or design you prefer. For these 3D gingerbread cookies, it’s best to roll the dough out about ¼-inch thick. If the shapes are thicker, they might not slot together properly, and if they’re thinner they’re likely to break.
Freezing them for 10 minutes helps set the butter until the cookies begin to bake. If you skip this step the butter will melt right away in the oven and the cookies won’t hold their shapes.
Christmas Tree Cookies Recipe
3D Gingerbread Tree Cookies
Equipment
- Stand Mixer or Electric Mixer
Ingredients
- 3 ¼ Cups all purpose flour
- 1 Tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 Tablespoon ground ginger
- ¾ Teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ Teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 Teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ Teaspoon salt
- ¾ Cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ¾ Cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 egg
- ¾ Cup molasses
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 to 2 Cups white royal icing, for decorating
- assorted Christmas sprinkles, optional
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves, ground nutmeg, baking soda and salt. Set aside for later.
- In a large mixing bowl or the bowl to the stand mixer, beat together the butter and brown sugar on high until smooth, about 3 minutes.
- Add the egg, molasses and vanilla and continue beating on high until just blended, about 2 minutes. The dough will look a little strange and may appear that it is separating. This is completely expected and will change as you add the flour mixture.
- Add the flour mixture slowly as you keep beating on high until a dough starts to form.
- Split the dough in half and wrap each in plastic wrap. Place in the fridge to chill for an hour. This makes it easier to roll out.
- Roll the chilled dough to a ¼-inch thickness. Use the template and a knife to cut out the 2 shapes. You will need one of each shape to make 1 tree.
- Place the dough cutouts onto the prepared cookie sheet approximately 1 ½ to 2 inches apart. Put the entire cookie sheet in the freezer for 10 minutes. This is done to keep the shapes intact, otherwise the butter will melt too much in the oven and the shape will spread.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and bake for 9 to 10 minutes. The cookies will be puffy when you first pull them out. Allow to cool for 5 minutes.
- If the shape needs to be trimmed now is the time to do it, when it is warm. If necessary, trim the cookie with a sharp knife to ensure the two pieces will fit together. Transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Now comes the fun part! Ice and decorate one side of each cookie. Allow the icing to set. Flip the cookies over and ice the other side and allow the other side to set. Setting time is completely dependent on the brand of royal icing you are using.
- Slid the 2 cookies together and stand them up. This makes a wonderful and tasty Christmas centerpiece.
Notes
Cut evenly: Use uniform star cutters so the tree stacks neatly.
Cool completely: Assemble only when cookies are fully cooled to prevent icing from melting.
Secure layers: Use enough icing between cookies to keep the tree stable.
Nutrition
3D gingerbread tree cookies are the perfect blend of festive flavor and decorative charm. The warmly spiced gingerbread holds its shape beautifully, and stacking the stars into trees makes them as eye catching as they are delicious. Whether you serve them as a centerpiece, package them as gifts or enjoy decorating them with family, they’ll quickly become a holiday tradition. Making these cookies is as much fun as eating them.
Other Recipes to Try
- You might enjoy this Eggnog Tres Leches Cake!
- Or how about whipping up some of these flavorful Orange Bars?
- This Brie and Pineapple Wreath is fabulously festive.
- Treat your sweet tooth to some of these yummy Carrot Cake Cupcakes.
- Have you ever made your own Cherry Jam or Blueberry Jam?
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
I’m glad i made this yesterday! It was a hit! So perfect! 🙂