These Twinkle Light Cookies Are Pure Holiday Magic
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Category
Classic Sugar Cookie Recipes
There’s something undeniably magical about twinkle lights during the holidays - and these cookies bring that same cozy glow right to your dessert table. Made with My Better Batch’s Celebration Cookie Mix, they start with soft, chewy sugar-sprinkle cookies that already feel like a party.
Add a layer of fluffy buttercream, pipe a delicate chocolate “string,” and finish with colorful M&Ms as the glowing bulbs, and suddenly you have the cutest Christmas-light cookies without any complicated decorating skills! They’re simple enough for kids to help with, charming enough for holiday cookie boxes, and guaranteed to make everyone smile the moment they see them. Let’s make your cookie tray sparkle!
Ingredients
Cookie Ingredients
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1 pkg My Better Batch Celebration Cookie Mix
- 8 TBSP Unsalted Butter, Softened
- 1 Egg
Icing Ingredients
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1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 3 - 4 cups powdered sugar (start with 3 cups, add more for thicker frosting)
- 1 - 2 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Decorations
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1 bag M&Ms
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Chocolate Melting Wafers
Directions
Warm the oven to 375°F while you prepare the dough.
Combine the Celebration Cookie mix, softened butter, and egg in a medium mixing bowl. If using a hand or stand mixer, blend the ingredients on medium-low until the dough forms. If you don’t have an electric mixer, you can hand-knead the dough until it's soft and no dry ingredients remain
Prepare baking sheets with parchment paper - this step isn’t necessary, but we recommend it for easy cleanup!
Take approximately two tablespoons of cookie dough, roll gently into a ball, and space 2 ½ inches apart to allow for spreading. Bake for 9 - 11 minutes, until the edges of the cookies have set. Rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a plate or rack to cool.
While the cookies are baking and cooling, the icing can be prepared.
Beat the softened butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 1 - 2 minutes. Gradually mix in the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, until fully incorporated and fluffy. Add the vanilla and 1 tablespoon of milk or cream, then continue mixing until the frosting is smooth and spreadable. Add more powdered sugar if you want a thicker consistency, or a splash more milk for a softer one. Finish with a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness.
When the cookies have cooled completely, spoon or pipe the icing onto the top, spreading evenly.
Transfer the melted chocolate to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip, or into a zip-top bag. Snip a very small opening in one corner if using a zip-top bag - you want a fine, thin line.
Working with one cookie at a time, pipe a thin, wavy line of chocolate across the frosted surface. Let it loop and curve slightly to mimic the wire of a string of Christmas lights!
While the chocolate line is still soft, gently press M&Ms along the chocolate “cable,” spacing them out like little bulbs. Use a mix of colors or stick to a theme (red and green, pastels, etc.).
In no time at all, you’ll have gorgeous (and delicious) cookies to share!
Recipe Video
Recipe Note
Fun Twists on the Original.
These Twinkle Lights Cookies are so fun on their own, but you can easily switch up the look and flavor to match any holiday theme or cookie box.
Mini Winter Lights
Swap the classic M&Ms for minis – or mix and match with regular-sized and mini M&Ms!
Peppermint Lights
Add ¼ teaspoon of peppermint extract to the buttercream, then sprinkle a little crushed candy cane over the frosting before piping the chocolate string. It’s festive, minty, and perfect for December cookie trays.
Snowfall Sparkle Lights
Stir a pinch of edible glitter or shimmer dust into the buttercream. Once the cookies are decorated, they catch the light and look like they’re glowing under fresh snow.
