Name: Colorful Wreath Butter Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 32 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 100 g unsalted butter at room temperature; 50 g icing sugar; 1 egg white; 1 tsp vanilla extract or essence; ½ tsp salt; 100 g all-purpose flour; 60 g cornstarch; Red gel food colouring; Green gel food colouring; Sprinkles

There’s something simply magical about holiday treats that catch your eye before you even taste them. This Colorful Wreath Butter Cookies Recipe brings that magic home with vibrant colors and buttery goodness baked into every bite. It's a festive twist on classic butter cookies that’s sure to brighten any cookie plate and warm up your kitchen with joy.

The image shows several round cookies with one swirl layer made from red and cream dough twisted together in a ring shape. The cookies have small green, red, and white round sprinkles scattered evenly over the surface. One cookie in the middle has a red and white twisted string looped through its center hole. The cookies are placed directly on a white marbled surface, spaced out with some sprinkles scattered around them. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Colorful Wreath Butter Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Colorful Wreath Butter Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Colorful Wreath Butter Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I adore this Colorful Wreath Butter Cookies Recipe because it merges simple ingredients with a fun, creative process that anyone can enjoy. Plus, the end result? A gorgeous cookie wreath that's almost too pretty to eat—but trust me, you’ll want to!

Eye-catching festive colors: The dual-tone dough lets you create stunning wreath designs that really stand out.
Buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture: These cookies have that perfect tender crumb I always crave.
Fun and interactive decorating: Piping the dough into wreath shapes feels like a mini art project in your kitchen.
Great for sharing and gifting: They make adorable homemade gifts or centerpiece treats for holiday parties.

The image shows several round cookies shaped like wreaths, each with two thick layers swirled together, one bright red and one white, creating a striped effect. The cookies are decorated with small round sprinkles in red, green, and white, scattered on top and around them. One cookie in the foreground is tied with a red and white striped string through the center hole. The cookies rest directly on a white marbled surface with soft natural lighting, giving a fresh and festive look. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This recipe relies on classic, trusted ingredients that blend together beautifully to give you that soft yet sturdy cookie dough, perfect for piping detailed designs. I always recommend using good quality butter and fresh vanilla to really up the flavor.

Flat lay of a small pile of pale yellow unsalted butter, a small white ceramic bowl filled with fine white icing sugar, a single whole clean white egg, a few green vanilla beans pods and a small white bowl with clear vanilla extract, a pinch of coarse salt crystals on the marble, a small mound of white all-purpose flour, a small heap of white cornstarch powder, a dollop of vibrant red gel food coloring in a small white bowl, and a scattering of multicolored round sprinkles arranged neatly around them, all placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Unsalted butter: Using unsalted allows you to control the salt level and ensures a clean, creamy butter flavor.
Icing sugar: This helps achieve a smooth texture in your dough compared to granulated sugar.
Egg white: It acts as a binder and helps create a tender, delicate texture for piping.
Vanilla extract or essence: A small splash elevates the flavor with a warm sweetness.
Salt: Just a pinch balances the sweetness and enhances the butter flavor.
All-purpose flour: Forms the cookie’s structure without making it tough.
Cornstarch: This keeps the cookies tender and slightly crisp, softening the flour’s bite.
Red gel food colouring: Gel color gives vibrant hues without thinning the dough.
Sprinkles: Adds that extra festive pop and crunch on top.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love that you can easily personalize this recipe. Once you master the basic dough, playing with colors or even flavors makes the whole baking experience more your own. I often swap out the red food coloring for green to create a truly classic holiday wreath look.

Variation: Adding a touch of almond extract instead of vanilla gives the cookies a lovely nutty aroma I like for cozy evenings.
Dietary tweaks: You can experiment with gluten-free flour blends, but watch the dough consistency as it might change your piping flow.
Seasonal colors: Try pastel shades for spring celebrations or gold and silver edible dust for a sophisticated touch.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Colorful Wreath Butter Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar

Begin by beating the unsalted butter with icing sugar until you get a smooth, creamy texture. I use my stand mixer, but a hand mixer works well too. You’ll want it light and fluffy—that’s your base for tender cookies.

Step 2: Add the Egg White and Vanilla

Slowly whisk in the egg white, which helps bind the dough while keeping it tender. Stir in the vanilla extract for that warm, inviting scent. Mix just enough to combine—avoid over-beating here.

Step 3: Fold in the Dry Ingredients

Sprinkle in salt, all-purpose flour, and cornstarch. Use a spatula to fold gently until dough comes together. This gentle folding keeps the dough tender rather than tough.

Step 4: Divide and Color the Dough

Weigh the dough and split it evenly into two portions. Add red gel food coloring little by little into one half until you reach a bright, festive tone. You can leave the other portion plain or add green for that classic wreath vibe.

Step 5: Shape Your Dough and Prepare to Pipe

Place each colored dough portion into separate piping bags. Pipe the dough onto plastic wrap in stripes, layering two stripes per color to keep colors distinct but connected. Roll the wrapped dough into a tight cylinder. Trim excess plastic wrap and place this into a larger piping bag fitted with a star tip around 1cm wide—crucial for that clean wreath shape.

Step 6: Pipe Your Wreath Cookies

On a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, pipe dough circles about 6cm wide to form wreath shapes. Don’t worry if the circle doesn’t look perfect right away—you can gently tap the cookie with your finger to smooth edges.

Step 7: Add Sprinkles and Bake

Sprinkle your wreaths with festive sprinkles—go wild or keep it simple! Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for 10 to 12 minutes. The cookies should look set and dry to the touch but not browned.

Top Tip

From my many batches, I’ve learned that the dough consistency and proper piping bag size are game changers. These tips will make sure your colored layers don’t blend too much and your wreaths keep their festive appeal.

Choose the right star tip size: Using a nozzle about 1cm (⅓ inch) wide is perfect—it’s large enough for clean lines but still gives you good control.
Don’t over-layer colors: Keep your dough stripes to two layers to prevent the colors from blending during piping.
Work quickly but gently: Once the dough is colored, pipe it soon after to avoid hardening that makes shaping tough.
Cool the cookies slightly before handling: They firm up after baking, making removal from the sheet easier without breaking.

How to Serve Colorful Wreath Butter Cookies Recipe

colorful wreath cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like to top mine with simple festive sprinkles—just enough shine and crunch without overshadowing the colorful pattern. Tiny silver balls or red and green sanding sugar add just the right sparkle for holiday cheer.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair wonderfully with a cup of hot cocoa or a spiced chai latte to balance the rich butter flavor. For gatherings, I serve them alongside a cheese platter or fresh fruit for a nice contrast.

Creative Ways to Present

For my last holiday party, I arranged several cookies on a cake stand in layers to resemble a full wreath centerpiece. You could also tie individual cookies with festive ribbons and give them as edible gifts—trust me, everyone loves that personal touch.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay crisp on the outside and tender inside for up to a week—perfect for savoring little bites throughout the holidays.

Freezing

These cookies freeze beautifully. I pop cooled wreaths into a freezer bag with parchment layers, and when I’m ready, I thaw them at room temperature. Freezing keeps that fresh-baked taste intact for a couple of months.

Reheating

If you want that just-baked warmth, a quick 5-7 second zap in the microwave revives the softness nicely—just avoid overheating or they’ll get too soft and lose their shape.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use regular liquid food coloring instead of gel?

Using gel food coloring is best because it won’t change the dough’s consistency. Liquid coloring may make the dough too soft and harder to pipe.

How can I prevent the colors from blending together?

Pipe the dough in no more than two stripes per color on plastic wrap and work quickly to avoid dough softening and blending. Also, use the recommended piping tip size for control.

Can I make these cookies gluten-free?

You can try substituting with a gluten-free flour blend, but results may vary. Pay attention to dough consistency since gluten-free flours absorb moisture differently.

Why is it important not to overbake these cookies?

These cookies should stay pale and just firm, not golden. Overbaking dries them out, losing the tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture that makes this recipe special.

Final Thoughts

This Colorful Wreath Butter Cookies Recipe is one of those comforting yet exciting recipes that brings people together—whether you’re baking with kids or prepping ahead for a gathering. I treasure that moment when you see the bright colors come alive in the oven and how these simple shapes turn into sweet memories. Give it a try and share your wreath creations—I promise it’s as fun to make as it is to eat!