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These Vanilla Wreath Cookies are the simplest holiday cookie. Lightly sweetened buttery shortbread hinted with warming winter spices and finished generously with a sweet vanilla glaze. Decorate simply with sugared rosemary and your favorite holiday candies for a festive cookie “wreath”. So easy to make, so pretty, and are so especially delicious. Surely the coziest winter cookies to bake up any time this month…or to include in your holiday cookie boxes.
I love December days…especially when they include holiday cookies. It’s truly the sweetest time of the year. And I’m here to help you all bake up only the best holiday desserts. When I asked you all what recipes you wanted for December, I’d say eighty-five percent of the responses said cookies. Everyone wants cookies now, and many of them! Well, this year I heard you, and I’m sharing three new cookies recipes. I kicked things off last week and shared an extra special (and decadent) salted caramel pretzel snickerdoodles, then came my 2019 holiday cookie box (complete with tips and trick for creating the perfect cookie box). Today I’m sharing a slightly less decadent, but still sweet and delicious, shortbread style cookie.
PS. This Friday I’ll have another cookie favorite that I’m already excited to share!
These vanilla, buttery, spiced cookies, look fancy but are actually so simple, and of course, are nothing short of DELICIOUS.
Here’s the background.
It’s probably no secret, but I usually prefer a more chocolatey dessert. But…there’s always a time and place for a glazed cookie and the holidays are that time. This cookie is a cross between shortbread and a sugar cookie.
It’s buttery and flaky like shortbread, using only butter and no eggs, but glazed like a sugar cookie.
So, you get the best of both cookies.
Here’s how to make these wreath cookies.
Start with the cookie dough. It’s a mix of butter, sugar, brown sugar (for hints of molasses), and plenty of vanilla extract. Cream everything together until light and fluffy, then add the flour and spices. I wanted these cookies to have warm undertones and plenty of flavors, so I spiced them up with ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom.
Once the dough comes together, roll it out. Then cut the dough into circles with the centers cut out. I also made a few snowflakes too, so feel free to cut the dough into whatever shape you’d like.
For the glaze, I kept it simple since I didn’t want the flavor in the cookies to get lost. I made a very vanilla glaze that’s sweet and perfect atop each cookie.
Let’s talk about decorating…
I’m no professional cookie decorator. Therefore, I try to decorate my cookies as simply as possible. Enter my sugared rosemary “greens” for a true “wreath” look.
If you’ve never made sugared rosemary, this is the time. I love using sugared rosemary in my cocktails, but this is the first time I’ve used it in a dessert…and it won’t be the last. I was nervous about the flavor the rosemary would give off onto the cookie. But its earthy flavor goes so well with the warm spices and sweet vanilla throughout the cookies.
The sweetness from the sugar takes away that intense rosemary flavor and instead gives off just subtle hints. It’s delicious and so cute atop these cookies. And the best part…it’s so easy to make. Simply dampen the fresh rosemary with water, then cover in sugar, and let air dry.
To finish, I used small peppermint candies to add a pop of color. Elegant and kind of fancy, but easy and completely delicious.
I included these cookies in this year’s cookie box since they’re perfect for shipping. But I’ll also be making them throughout the remaining December days. My cousins have already requested these for Christmas week after seeing them in my cookie box on Sunday.
I think I see a family baking day in my future! Again, I’m excited!
Soo, let’s bake cookies on Tuesday, listen to Christmas music, and enjoy the most wonderful time of year!
If you make these vanilla wreath 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!
Vanilla Ginger Wreath Cookies
Servings: 22 cookies
Calories Per Serving: 211 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 sticks (1 cup) salted butter, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
Vanilla Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- sugared rosemary, for decorating (below)
- assorted candies, for decorating (optional)
Instructions
- 1. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, brown sugar, lemon zest, and vanilla until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Add the flour, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom. Beat until combined, and the dough begins to form a ball. If the dough is crumbly, add 1-2 tablespoons milk or water until the dough comes together. 2. Roll out the dough between 2 sheets of lightly floured parchment to 1/4 inch thickness. Make sure you're using enough flour or your dough will stick. Cut out the cookies using a 3 inch circle cookie cutter or your favorite shape. Using a 1 inch circle cookie cutter, cut out the center of each cookie. Carefully transfer the cookies to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap and place in the freezer. Freeze until firm, about 10-20 minutes. Roll out the leftover scraps, and repeat with the dough.3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the cookies on the middle rack of the oven for 12-14 minutes or until just lightly golden. Cool on the baking sheet 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.4. To make the glaze. In a medium bowl, beat together the powdered sugar, vanilla, and 1 tablespoon water until smooth and drizzly. If needed, thin the glaze by adding water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until drizzly. 5. Dip the tops of cookies into the glaze, letting the excess drip off. Transfer to a wire rack and decorate as desired with candied rosemary and holiday candies. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
CANDIED ROSEMARY
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Gently run rosemary sprigs under a little water to dampen and place onto the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle the rosemary with granulated sugar on all sides, making sure the rosemary is thoroughly coated in sugar. Allow to dry on the baking sheet for 1 hour. The rosemary can be made 1 day in advance and stored at room temperature.
The only fresh rosemary at my store was much larger than pictured. When I sugared them they turned dark and I thought they’d be unattractive, not to mention inedible. So I searched for a different option. The glaze hardened beautifully. Then I piped buttercream frosting through a grass tip which worked amazingly well to resemble evergreens. Darling and VERY TASTY!
Thanks so much for trying out the recipe! Have a wonderful holiday season! xT
Hi there! Wondering about the glaze. Does it harden at room temperature? Should I put in the fridge if I’m not serving the cookies for a couple of days? Will it remain runny/sticky if left out? I’m going to decorate with crushed pistachios!
Doing these in two parts. Baked tonight – smells outstanding!
Hi Jaclyn! Yes, it will probably harden both at room temp and also in the fridge! xT
I am going to make these cookies for my cookie exchange, I was wondering if you can freeze the cookies afterwards?
Thank you
Yes, definitely! xT
Hi! Love making these for our yearly cookie swap. Can you freeze the dough ahead of time (after cutting with cookie cutter) and then bake straight from frozen? Or do you think I would need to thaw them slightly?
Hi Karlee,
Thanks so much for making this recipe each!! I think they would probably be fine to make from frozen! Let me know how they turn out! xx
I too adore these cookies, how they taste and how they look. Wanted to mention though, using a 3.5” diameter wreath cookie cutter and rolling dough out to 1/4” thickness, I only get 13 cookies, not 22. 🤶🏻🎄❣️
Hey Cindy,
Happy Friday!!☃️ I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks so much for making it and your comment! xT
what size cookie cutters did you use?
Hey Nancy,
I would say they are about 3 inches across. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xx
I have made these several times and each time they are a big hit!
Hey Mary,
Thank you so much for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Have the best weekend:) xT
Hi. How does the the rosemary look after a few days? I want to make these for a Christmas Eve party but I have to make them a few days in advance. Thanks!
Hey Laura,
That will be just fine to do! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
I made these last year twice. They were so yummy. My family loved them. And they we’re so pretty. I couldn’t find my recipe this year and I was so upset. But I searched google and finally found it. I’m hoping to bake some soon. Merry Christmas!
Hey Maranda,
Awesome!! Thanks a bunch for making this recipe, I am so glad to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Looking forward to making these for my cookie boxes this season! Where did you buy the wreath and snowflake cookie cutters? Thanks!
Hi Amanda,
Honestly, most of my cutters are so old I don’t remember where they are from. My favorite places to look for cookie cutters are Target, Crate and Barrel, and Williams Sonoma. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try! xTieghan
I made these tonight and they are SO GOOD! I didn’t have any issue with the dough coming together; I think those who had issues added too much flour so make sure to do the spoon & level method instead of the scoop.
I love the sweetness level of the cookie and chose to do a cream cheese glaze instead of sugar and I think it worked well for those who like a less-sweet cookie.
Thanks for the great recipe!
Hey Hallie,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad you enjoyed! Happy Holidays! xTieghan