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Officially kicking off the holiday season with these easy Easy Vanilla Bean Christmas Lights Cookies. Made with nutty brown butter, double the vanilla, and a little bit of chocolate. These cookies are soft, buttery, and perfectly sweet with the best vanilla flavor. They’re generously glazed with a sweet, thick, and creamy vanilla bean glaze. And decorated with sweet chocolate and delicious holiday M&M’s for truly some of the best sugar cookies around. The secret is all in the combination of brown butter and real vanilla beans, which keep these cookies incredibly flavorful. Fun to bake, delicious to eat. These make for a great homemade gift, and a festive addition to your holiday cookie box!
This is the year I’m focusing on ALL of the Christmas cookies. I have so many ideas and not enough days to share…picking the best cookies has been hard!
These were an easy choice though. They actually started out a little differently, but as soon as I had the idea to do Christmas lights, I was excited.
My goal this year is fun holiday desserts – but easy. Nothing too time-consuming and no big scary decorating projects. Just delicious, easy, cute, and extra festive. These cookies are all of those things.
My hang-up with basic sugar cookies is that they’re often flavorless and the frosting is even worse. They just taste like sugar, and I’m definitely not into that.
With these cookies, I wanted to add flavor with brown butter and real vanilla bean. The chocolate on top, just makes them even better.
Ingredients
- salted butter, at room temperature
- granulated sugar
- vanilla bean powder or vanilla extract
- hazelnut liquor (optional)
- 1 egg
- all-purpose flour, plus an additional 2-4 tablespoons, if needed
- baking soda
- kosher salt
VANILLA ICING
- powdered sugar
- maple syrup
- vanilla extract
- chocolate chips, melted
- mini holiday M&M’s and vanilla sugar for decorating
The details
Brown the butter, then let it cool off in the freezer a bit. Once it’s cooled (you only need 15 minutes), you can start mixing and baking.
Beat the butter with the sugar and vanilla bean powder. You’ll want to beat for at least a minute to really infuse the butter with the vanilla flavor. Next, add an egg and all the dry ingredients, then roll, cut, and bake. There’s absolutely nothing fancy here.
Whenever I make any kind of cut-out cookie, I always like to roll out the dough, cut the cookies, and then freeze the cut cookies on a baking sheet for a few minutes. This ensures that the cookies hold their shape. To cut my cookies, I used a simple circle cookie cutter and a holiday tree.
If you want to skip the rolling – simply slice n’ bake
I LOVE slice-n-bake cookies, and you can easily slice-n-bake with this dough!
Just divide the dough in half as directed, then roll each piece of dough into a log and chill in the fridge until totally solid.
If you have an almost empty roll of wrapping paper around, cut the roll and fit it around each log, this will prevent the dough from forming a straight edge in the fridge!
And when ready to bake, simply slice-n-bake!
Decorating is easy
I kept the icing simple, since I wanted the color to remain white but still have a nice flavor for these vanilla bean sugar cookies. I added a small amount of maple syrup and lots of vanilla.
It’s simple, but with the chocolate on top, perfect!
When it comes to cookies, I try to keep the decorating as easy as can be, and this is EASY. I used melted chocolate to draw on the cords for the lights, then used mini holiday M&M’s for the lights.
Doesn’t get easier, but looks so cute once finished!
Asher wasn’t around when I made these, so I can’t wait to make these again soon with her. She’s going to love them! They’re the perfect Christmas cookie to make with kids and for your next Christmas cookie exchange.
Looking for other Christmas cookies? Here are my favorites:
Vanilla Ginger Shortbread Wreaths
Lastly, if you make these Easy Vanilla Bean Christmas Lights Cookies, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Easy Vanilla Bean Christmas Lights Cookies
Servings: 22 cookies
Calories Per Serving: 206 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) salted butter, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean powder, or 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon hazelnut liquor (optional)
- 1 egg, at room temperature
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus an additional 2-4 tablespoons, if needed
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Vanilla Icing
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips, melted
- mini holiday M&M’s and vanilla sugar for decorating
Instructions
- 1. Add 6 tablespoons butter to a small saucepan set over medium heat, cooking until the butter begins to brown, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer to a heatproof bowl. Stick in the freezer to chill, 10 minutes, but no longer.2. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.3. In a mixing bowl, beat together the remaining 6 tablespoons butter, the cooled browned butter, sugar, and vanilla bean powder until combined. Add the egg and mix until combined. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt, beat until combined and the dough forms a ball. If the dough feels too wet to roll out, add 2-4 tablespoons additional flour.4. Divide the dough in half. Roll out the dough on a floured piece of parchment paper to 1/4 inch thickness. Make sure you're using enough flour or your dough will stick. Cut out the cookies using circle and Christmas tree cutters. Transfer the cookies to a parchment-lined baking sheet. I recommend using a floured spatula to lift the cookies. Cover the baking sheet and place in the freezer until firm, 15 minutes. Roll out the leftover scraps, and repeat with the remaining dough.5. Bake the cookies on the middle rack of the oven for 8-10 minutes or until just lightly golden. Let cool. 6. Meanwhile, make the icing. In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, maple syrup, vanilla, and 1 tablespoon water until smooth and drizzly. If needed, thin the glaze by adding water – 1 tablespoon at a time, until drizzly. 7. Spoon the icing onto each cookie, spreading it to the edges. Let sit to dry. Add the melted chocolate to a sandwich bag and cut a small portion of the corner off. Draw 2 lines onto each round cookie and then a squiggly line up the trees. Press mini M&Ms into the chocolate as "lights" (look through the photos for examples).
Notes
To Slice n’ Bake: divide the dough in half as directed, then roll each piece of dough into a log about 5 inches long and wrap in parchment paper. Chill in the fridge 4 hours or until ready to bake. Alternately, you can freeze 45 minutes if in a hurry. Slice the logs into 1/4 inch rounds and bake as directed.Â
Tip: If you have an almost empty roll of wrapping paper around, cut the roll down the center, then fit it around each log, this will prevent the dough from forming a straight edge in the fridge.Â
Made these cookies, which were soo simple and came out so great! I didn’t have the vanilla bean powder nor the hazelnut liquor and they were the perfect buttery sugar cookie! ?
Hi Patricia,
Thanks so much for trying this recipe out, I am thrilled to hear that it was enjoyed. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
So excited to try these! Where does the optional hazelnut liquor come in? I don’t see where to add that in the recipe.
Hi Lauren,
You can add that in step 3. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
These are my new go to cookie!!! The brown butter really makes them extra special and delicious.
Where do you get the tree cutout? I love the shape!!!
After reading through the comments I noticed you drew the stencil by hand!! So impressive… can you walk us through the steps for creating our own cut outs?
If you sold that cookie cutter, I would most definitely purchase it!
Thanks so much! I literally just drew the tree on a piece of cardboard, cut it out, and then traced with a knife in my dough. Super easy!
Hey Jo,
Thanks so much for trying this recipe out, I am thrilled to hear that it was enjoyed. I drew the stencil for the tree. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Loved the brown butter! New staple Christmas cookie… delicious and perfect!
Hey Kelly,
Happy Sunday! So glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! xTieghan
Just made these and they are so cute! Brown butter certainly wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be 🙂 Added a nice nutty flavor! Didn’t have vanilla bean so I used good vanilla extract I made, as directed in recipe. They did take a little longer to bake, but that’s ok – just keep an eye on them once they are close to done! Found the mini M&M’s by the check out counter! Not on the candy aisle. Thank you for a great recipe!
Hi Ellie,
Happy Sunday! So glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! xTieghan
The cookies will need at least 15 min to bake, and on higher temperature. (unless you prefer them raw).
I placed the baked cookies into a sealed container. By the next day all turned rock hard and I had to throw them away. This was a complete waste of time and money. I do not expect ‘Crumbl Cookies’ quality, but also do not want to break my teeth.
I wonder what you did wrong? I made them and they turned out absolutely perfect!
Hey there,
So sorry you did not enjoy this recipe. Was there something you may have adjusted? I am shocked that they would be hard, if anything they would get even softer in the container overnight. Did you allow the cookies to fully cool on your baking sheet? Let me know how I can help! xTieghan
Just made these for our holiday cookie bake. Instead of spreading the icing, I dipped the fronts and dried and they turned out wonderful. The next day they were just perfect texture.
Hi Mindy,
Thanks so much for trying this recipe out, I am thrilled to hear that it was enjoyed. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
How far in advance can you make these? Also could you freeze them after you decorate them?
Hi Sara,
I would freeze before decorating, I would store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Made these with my kids last week. Best sugar cookies ever! We did not do the m&ms or melted chocolate because we didn’t have any, just used sprinkles and the icing recipe instead. This will from now on be my go-to Christmas cookie recipe!
Hey Lauren,
Awesome!! I am so glad to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! Have the best weekend! xTieghan
Is there a way to substitute vanilla bean if I don’t have vanilla bean powder?
Hey Shelby,
You could use the seeds from one vanilla bean. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Thanks so much! Gonna try them with my little guy next week and really wanted the vanilla bean look/flavor but wasn’t sure how to convert! Thanks again! I’ll let you know how they turn out!
What are the chocolate chips for in the icing ingredients?
Hi Lauren,
Those are used as the string for the lights:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Can you freeze these before frosting them? If so, how long to they take to defrost before you can put icing on them?
Hi Jennifer,
I’ve never frozen these, I’m sure it would be fine to do! Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
That cookie cutter is on Amazon. I just ordered one.
Hi Nancy,
I drew the stencil for this exact cutter, but maybe there is something similar on Amazon?
There is hazelnut liqueur in the ingredients but not in the recipe. Did you add alcohol to them? If so what did you use?
Hey there,
The hazelnut liquor is optional, I like to use Frangelico, and you can add it with the wet ingredients in step 3. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
These are beyond adorable, festive and fun. It took me all day. I had a really hard time sourcing the mini holiday m&m’s which I did not expect. It took me all day and now I have 20 beautiful cookies to give away. I have Celiac Disease and did not make these gluten-free so I can’t really comment on the recipe but frankly I don’t care because they are so darn cute. They may be a wee bit difficult to package due to the three dimensional aspect but I think they are worth the time and effort!
Hey Cari,
Wonderful! Love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks for making it! Have the best week:) xTieghan
These were a huge hit this past weekend with the moms and my bridesmaids for wedding dress shopping. I will say I was worried because I ran out of vanilla so the icing didn’t have very much but it worked out – the cookies were just the right amount of sweet for us that way. I should have saved some because they didn’t last long!
Hey Nichole,
Wonderful! Love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks for making it! Have the best week:) xTieghan