Quick Summary: Cookie ornaments are ornament cut out cookies, cutout gingerbread or sugar cookies with a small hole punched near the top before baking, so you can thread a ribbon through and hang them on the Christmas tree. This easy, one-bowl Christmas cookie ornaments recipe uses almond flour and bakes at 300°F (150°C).
What are cookie ornaments?
Cookie ornaments are Christmas cookies designed to hang on the tree, and they come in two types: edible and non-edible. Before you start, decide which one you want to make.
Edible cookie ornaments are ornament cut out cookies made from real gingerbread or sugar dough, cut into festive shapes and baked with a small hole for hanging, so you can eat them straight off the tree.
Non-edible ornaments (such as salt dough ornaments) are made from spices, applesauce, and white glue, dried in the oven, then tied with twine or ribbon to hang. They are for decoration only.
Both are fun to make with kids, but edible ones are tastier and safer if little hands want to taste the dough or the finished cookie.
Edible ornaments also make a thoughtful holiday gift, and this recipe makes the edible kind.
Why you'll love this recipe
- This one-bowl cookie ornament recipe is great during a busy holiday season.
- It yields a batch of cookies that will please the crowd.
- These cookies make a pretty edible gift during the holidays. Bake cookies and make a Christmas ornament cookie jar to give to your family and friends.
- Making a small hole in each cookie before baking makes unique, edible Christmas tree decorations.
- Cookies are fully customizable: leave them plain or create and decorate them any way you desire.
- This recipe for homemade ornaments is basic. Turn it into making pretty ornaments or simple gingerbread cookies to enjoy with a cup of hot chocolate. If desired, omit ground allspice and bake regular almond cookies.
Ingredients
For ingredients and detailed instructions, refer to the recipe card below.
- Butter: Use unsalted softened butter. Take it out of the fridge 1 to 2 hours before you start.
- Almond flour gives these cookies a tender texture. If desired, hazelnut flour is a great substitute for almond flour.
- Icing sugar: Make it yourself with a coffee grinder, or buy store-bought confectioner's sugar.
- Salt enhances the flavor of cookies.
- Flour: The recipe calls for all-purpose flour.
- Egg: Use one large egg.
- Ground allspice: Use it or replace it with a mixture of ground clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
Equipment
You need only a few basic tools to make these Christmas cookie ornaments:
- Electric mixer or stand mixer
- Rubber spatula
- Rolling pin
- Christmas cookie cutters
- Plastic straw or chopstick (to make the hanging hole)
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper
- Wire rack
How to make Christmas cookie ornaments
Step 1. To make the cookie dough, place softened butter in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix at medium-high speed until smooth. Add almond flour (photo 1) and mix.
Step 2. Add the icing (powdered) sugar, ground allspice, salt, flour, and egg, and mix on low speed until the dough is homogeneous (photo 2).
Step 3. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough between two sheets of parchment paper to about ⅕ inch (5 mm) thick. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
Step 4. Heat oven to 300°F (150°C). Take the cookie dough out of the fridge and cut cookies into different cookie cutter shapes.
Step 5. Save, press together, and re-roll the dough scraps: chill the rolled dough before cutting the cookies again.
Step 6. Make a small hole in each cookie using a plastic straw, but not close to the cookie edge.
Step 7. Place cutouts on cookie sheets (or a large baking sheet) covered with parchment (photo 3).
Step 8. Bake cookies for 20 to 25 minutes or until the cookie edges start to turn golden brown (photo 4).
Step 9. Place ornaments on a wire rack to cool down. Then thread a baker's twine, ribbon, string, lace, or raffia through the hole in each cookie, tie the ends, and hang the cookies on the tree.
You can tie each cookie individually or use finished ornaments to make an edible holiday garland.
Expert tips
- Beat softened butter using an electric mixer. Combine the remaining ingredients with a rubber spatula or your hands if you don't have a stand mixer.
- Decorate baked cookies any way you desire.
Recipe variations
This homemade ornament recipe is easy to adapt, from the dough to the decoration:
- Nuts: swap the almond flour for hazelnut flour, hazelnut meal, or ground pistachios for a different nutty flavor.
- Spice: use 1 to 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon instead of allspice to make cinnamon ornaments.
- Shapes: play with different Christmas cookie cutters, large or small, or build a stacked cookie tree.
- Hole or hook: punch a hole in each cutout before baking for a ribbon, or shape a candy-cane-style dough hook.
- Toppings: press dried fruit or nuts on top before baking, or use alphabet cookie stamps to personalize each one.
- Decoration: leave the baked cookies plain or finish them with royal icing, glaze, or sprinkles.
Storing & freezing
Store cookie ornaments in an airtight container in a cool, dry place or hang them on a Christmas tree. They last up to 4 weeks.
Can you freeze cookie ornaments? No, I don't recommend freezing Christmas cookie ornaments since they can be affected by moisture.
But you can freeze cutouts before baking and decorating. Cut your cookies, and make a hole through the top of each cookie. Arrange them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover them with plastic wrap, and freeze.
On the day of baking, thaw the cookies at room temperature, then bake. Or bake them from frozen, adding 2 to 3 minutes to the baking time.
Recipe FAQ
Can you make a cookie into an ornament?
Yes. Turn basic sugar or gingerbread cookies into ornaments by making a small hole near the top of each cookie with a plastic straw or a chopstick before baking. Once baked and cooled, thread a ribbon through and hang.
What do you use to make the hole for hanging?
A plastic drinking straw or a chopstick works well. Punch the hole before baking, since the dough is soft, and re-open it gently right after baking if it has closed up.
How do you hang cookie ornaments on the tree?
Thread a thin ribbon, baker's twine, or string through the hole and tie a loop. You can also shape a dough hook or use a candy cane as a hanger.
Can you make Christmas tree ornaments in advance?
Yes, you can bake cookie ornaments in advance. Keep them in an airtight container for up to 2 to 4 weeks, layering the cookies with parchment paper.
How long can you keep cookie ornaments?
These gingerbread cookie ornaments are a seasonal baking project and are best enjoyed within a few weeks. They are not meant to be saved for the following year.
How many calories are in a cookie ornament?
One cookie ornament has about 90 calories.
Love Christmas cookies? Try these next!
- Bredele Christmas cookies
- Zimsterne cookies
- Mini gingerbread men cookies
- Chocolate banana pecan cookies
- Or browse all the Christmas recipes
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PrintRecipe card
Christmas Cookie Ornaments
These Christmas cookie ornaments are easy, one-bowl gingerbread cutout cookies with a small hole for ribbon, so you can hang them on the tree. Fully customizable, they are ornament cut out cookies you can leave plain or decorate any way you like.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour (plus chilling time)
- Yield: 50 1x
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
For the cookie dough:
- 10.5 oz (300 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ⅓ cups (125 g) almond flour
- 1 cup (125 g) powdered (icing) sugar
- 2 pinches of salt
- 2 cups + 6 ¼ tablespoon (300 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 egg, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons (4 g) ground allspice
* If needed, please refer to Baking Conversion Charts.
Instructions
- To make the cookie dough, place softened butter in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat until smooth. Add almond flour and mix. Then add icing (powdered) sugar, ground allspice, salt, all-purpose flour, and egg, and mix until the dough becomes homogeneous.
- Using a rolling pin, roll the dough between two sheets of parchment paper to about ⅕ inch (5 mm) thick. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Take the cookie dough out of the fridge and cut cookies using Christmas cookie cutters. Save, press together, and re-roll the dough scraps. Chill the rolled dough before cutting the cookies again.
- Make a small hole in each cookie using a plastic straw. Arrange cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until light brown.
- Place ornaments on a wire rack to cool down. Then thread red-and-white striped twine, ribbon, string, lace, or raffia through the hole in each cookie, tie the ends, and hang the cookies on the tree. You can tie each cookie individually or use finished ornaments to make an edible holiday garland.
Notes
- Beat the softened butter with an electric mixer, then combine the rest of the ingredients with a rubber spatula or your hands if you don't have a stand mixer.
- Decorate the baked cookies however you like.
- Store Christmas cookie ornaments in an airtight container for up to 2 to 4 weeks.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 2.6 g
- Sodium: 44 mg
- Fat: 6.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 7.7 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1.3 g
- Cholesterol: 16 mg
The nutritional information has been calculated using an online recipe nutrition calculator such as Verywellfit.com and is intended for informational purposes only. These figures should be used as a general guideline and not be construed as a guarantee.
The recipe was adapted from Le Monde. It was originally published on December 24, 2018. The recipe has been revised to include improved content and photos.
Anita says
Such a great idea using cookies to decorate a Christmas tree. And these are good too, so they are not just for decoration. 🙂
Irina says
Yes, I made this cookies as ornament cookies, but you can easily make them, using any cookie cutter and/or cookie stamps. The cookie dough is so manageable:) Thanks for your comment.
Sara Welch says
What a great recipe for the holidays! I will have to give these a try this afternoon! Looks too fun to pass up!
Irina says
Thanks Sara! It is a great baking idea this holiday season. Happy baking and enjoy!
Adriana says
Lovely idea to make edible ornaments, like the fact that you made them monochromatic. When I was a child, my mom and I were used to making gingerbread cookies to hang in the tree. Thanks for the memories and Merry Christmas.
Irina says
Adriana, I am happy to hear that these cookies brought you warm memories from your childhood. I know this feeling. Merry Christmas!
Raquel says
What a sweet idea! I don't think they'd last long on my tree:)
Irina says
Thanks Raquel! My cookie ornaments quickly disappear from a Christmas tree! One day I discover that they are gone:) I know what you mean. Happy holidays!
Haley D. Williams says
Such a fun and festive project! I remember doing this with my mom when I was younger and plan on keeping up the tradition. Thank you!
Irina says
Haley, I agree that making cookie ornaments is fun with kids. Thanks for your comment. Happy holidays!
Claire Cary says
These are too cute!! and I love this simple recipe!
Irina says
Thanks Claire! This simple recipe brings so much fun and a whole batch of Christmas tree cookie ornaments!
Cindy Smith says
I was looking for a fun activity to do with my kids and some extended family that came in for Christmas! This was so much fun for my family of ALL ages! We loved this!
Irina says
Thanks Cindy! I am happy to hear that I gave you a great idea of making these cookie ornaments during the family gathering!
Veena Azmanov says
Thanks for your recipe and great idea and delicious cookies. Love the combination of ingredients making these cookies so delicious and yum.
Irina says
Thank you Veena! Still, there is some time this holiday season to make Christmas tree cookie ornaments. Enjoy!
Dannii says
These are so pretty. I love anything with ginger in.
Irina says
Really? In this case, Dannii, you will enjoy these Gingerbread cookies.
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
I love these gingerbread ornaments, they're so cute and perfectly festive! What a wonderful idea.
Irina says
Yes, these cookies are fun to make! Moreover, they are multi-functional: they make a great edible gift and work as Christmas tree ornaments. Thank you Bintu!
Morgan Eisenberg says
What a perfect hostess gift! Pinning this one for 2020.
Irina says
Thanks for saving the recipe! Happy holidays and enjoy!
thisiswholesome says
These look so pretty! Do you think I could swap the butter with oil?
Irina says
To answer to your question, you can't switch the butter for oil in this recipe. Butter is a solid at room temperature, while oil is a liquid. This cookie dough has be chilled for two hours and needs to be relatively solid for cutting cookie ornaments. That is why you can't substitute butter for oil. Shortening might be a better option, but I have not tried such the variation.
Beth says
We made these for the kids this holiday and they were just perfect! Loved it!
Irina says
I can imagine how much fun you had making these cookies with kids. Beth, thank you for letting me know:)
Alison says
These turned out so cute, and my kids and I had a blast making them together.
Irina says
What could be a better family activity around the Christmas time than to make these Christmas tree cookie ornaments?! I am glad that you enjoyed, Alison! Thanks.
Jessie says
I love this!! And this can make for some amazing family time!
Irina says
Thanks, Jessie. It can be a baking project for a whole family 🙂
Dannii says
These are super cute. I think my kids would love making these and hanging them on the tree.
Irina says
Sure thing, Dannii. These cookies are fun to make, fun to hang on the tree, and fun to eat 🙂
Chris Collins says
These are so fun! Perfect for the kids to get involved and help 🙂
Irina says
You are right, Chris. Please, have fun 🙂
Danielle Wolter says
What a cute idea! This would be a great family project for Christmas.
Irina says
I agree with you, Danielle. Please, enjoy the recipe 🙂
Beth Sachs says
I'm definitely adding these to my Christmas bake list. The kids will love helping me make them.
Irina says
Yes, it is one of the best baking projects with kids, Beth. Please, enjoy it!
John says
When I was little, we used to make cinnamon ornaments. I believe the recipe was 1 c. of cinnamon and 1 c. of store-bought applesauce. It makes a dough that can be rolled out and cut into shapes. Dry in a low oven for a few hours. They smelled amazing and probably look a lot like gingerbread!
Irina says
Oh, John, you are talking about non-edible cookie ornaments. Yes, I agree with you. Please try edible cookie ornaments this time. 🙂 Please, enjoy the recipe.
Patricia Ann Honeycutt says
I am excited to make the cookies!