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; Sprinkles

There’s something magically festive about these buttery, beautifully striped cookies that instantly brighten any cookie jar. The Colorful Wreath Butter Cookies Recipe is one of my go-to treats when I want to add a pop of color and a ton of flavor to gatherings or just for a cozy afternoon snack.

The image shows multiple round cookies shaped like wreaths, arranged on a white marbled surface. Each cookie has two twisted layers, one bright red and one creamy off-white, forming a swirl pattern. Small round sprinkles in green, white, and red are scattered on the cookies and around them on the surface. One cookie has a red and white twisted string looped through it, giving a festive look. The texture of the cookies looks slightly crumbly and soft. 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

Beyond just looking delightful, this recipe combines that perfect buttery melt-in-your-mouth texture with vibrantly colorful dough, making it as fun to make as it is to eat. I always find myself smiling while piping out those playful wreath shapes — the process feels creative and rewarding!

Perfect Color Contrast: The red and cream dough swirled together creates a stunning visual effect that’s bound to impress.
Simple Ingredients: Only a handful of pantry staples are needed, making it easy for you to whip up at any time.
Fun Decorating: Adding sprinkles on top amps up the festive vibe — trust me, it’s a kidpleaser too!
Reliable Results: It’s a forgiving dough that holds shape well, so even if you’re new to piping, your cookies will look fab.

The image shows round cookies shaped like wreaths with two swirled layers, one red and one white. Each cookie has small round red, green, and white sprinkles scattered on top, giving a festive look. The cookies are placed on a white marbled surface, with some sprinkles spread around them. One cookie in the front is tied with a red and white striped string through its center hole, adding a decorative touch. The texture of the cookies looks soft and slightly crumbly. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This recipe is a brilliant example of how simple ingredients come together to create a tender, crumbly cookie with that classic buttery richness. Using both all-purpose flour and cornstarch gives the dough a delicate texture that’s absolutely addictive.

Flat lay of a small white ceramic plate with a square of pale unsalted butter, a small white bowl filled with fine white icing sugar, a whole clean uncracked brown egg, a small white bowl of clear vanilla extract, a small mound of fine white all-purpose flour, a small mound of fine white cornstarch, a small white bowl holding bright red gel food coloring, and a small white bowl filled with colorful round sprinkles, all arranged symmetrically and naturally 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: Room temperature butter is key for creamy mixing and that melt-in-your-mouth flavor.
Icing Sugar: It dissolves smoothly, ensuring your dough isn’t grainy and stays soft.
Egg White: Adds just enough moisture and binding without weighing down the texture.
Vanilla Extract or Essence: Brings warmth and depth to the flavor — I never skip this!
Salt: Enhances the sweetness and rounds out the flavor.
All-Purpose Flour: The structure builder, it helps your cookies hold shape perfectly.
Cornstarch: Lightens the dough, making each bite tender and soft.
Red Gel Food Colouring: The secret to those bold, festive stripes that make these cookies pop.
Sprinkles: Adds a playful crunch and extra holiday cheer.

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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 putting my personal touch on these cookies by playing with the colors and toppings. You can easily swap the red gel food coloring with green or even a rainbow of hues — it’s all about the festive mood you want to set!

Variation: One season, I tried using matcha powder instead of red coloring for a subtle green tint—it gave the cookies an earthy hint that paired wonderfully with the vanilla.
Dietary Mods: For a dairy-free version, try using plant-based butter; just make sure it’s solid at room temperature to keep the dough manageable.
Seasonal Changes: Swap sprinkles for crushed nuts or edible gold dust for an elegant twist at New Year’s celebrations.

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

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar Beautifully

Start by whisking your softened butter and icing sugar until it’s wonderfully creamy and fluffier than you might expect. This step is crucial because properly creamed butter creates that light texture we all love. I usually use an electric whisk—working those few extra minutes makes a noticeable difference in the cookie's tenderness.

Step 2: Add the Egg White and Vanilla

Next, whisk in the egg white gradually, ensuring it becomes fully incorporated without overmixing. Then, add the vanilla — the aroma instantly makes me smile. If you prefer, use vanilla bean paste for an even richer vanilla kick!

Step 3: Mix in Dry Ingredients With Care

Gently fold in the salt, flour, and cornstarch with a spatula. I always mix slowly here to avoid toughening the dough — the goal is a uniform texture that holds together but stays tender.

Step 4: Divide and Color Your Dough

Weigh your dough for an even divide, then gradually add red gel food coloring to one half until you get your desired shade. The gel coloring is a lifesaver here—it doesn’t thin the dough like liquid colors do and gives vibrant, consistent hues.

Step 5: Pipe Colorful Stripes Onto Plastic Wrap

Place each colored dough into separate piping bags. Pipe stripes back and forth in alternating colors onto a piece of plastic wrap, keeping it simple with two layers per color. I’ve found that thinner stripes tend to blend more during piping, making the color contrast less dramatic, so keep those stripes bold!

Step 6: Roll into a Cylinder and Prepare for Piping

Roll the plastic wrap tightly to form a dough cylinder. Trim any excess wrap at the ends with scissors for a clean finish. Then insert this tube into a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle around 1cm (or ⅓ inch) — avoid smaller nozzles or the dough may clog and lose definition.

Step 7: Pipe Your Wreaths Onto a Baking Sheet

Now the fun part: pipe each cookie directly onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, shaping circles to mimic wreaths. Don’t worry if the seam isn’t perfect—gently tap the place where you finish with your finger, and the dough will smooth out beautifully. It feels like a little artistic moment I always look forward to.

Step 8: Add Sprinkles and Bake

Sprinkle your chosen decorations generously before slipping the cookies into the oven at 180°C / 350°F. Bake for 10-12 minutes, keeping an eye out for when the cookies look dry but not golden. This keeps them soft and tender rather than crunchy, which is exactly how I like them.

Top Tip

Over time, I’ve learned a few tricks for nailing this Colorful Wreath Butter Cookies Recipe every single time. These tips come straight from my kitchen experiments — seriously, they’re lifesavers if you want your cookies to be show-stoppers.

Dough Temperature Control: Always work with butter at room temperature but not melted — soft enough to cream, firm enough to hold shape.
Piping Consistency: Avoid piping too thin stripes as they merge and dull the two-tone effect I adore.
Star Nozzle Size: Using a nozzle about 1cm wide prevents clogging and ensures the pretty ridged texture on your wreath.
Watch the Bake, Not the Clock: Ovens vary—start checking around 10 minutes because these cookies should be pale and dry, not browned.

How to Serve Colorful Wreath Butter Cookies Recipe

Colorful Wreath Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually stick with classic rainbow or red-and-green sprinkles for that extra holiday cheer. But I also love squeezing on some royal icing or dusting with fine powdered sugar for a snowy effect. The sprinkles not only add crunch but make these cookies extra festive when setting out for guests.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair beautifully with simple accompaniments—think steaming mugs of hot cocoa, peppermint tea, or even a creamy vanilla latte. I enjoy serving them alongside fresh fruit or a cheese plate for a more sophisticated spread during holiday gatherings.

Creative Ways to Present

For a centrepiece, I’ve arranged these wreath cookies standing around a glass jar filled with candy canes or holiday treats—visually stunning and oh-so-inviting. Another fun idea is tying individual cookies with festive ribbon for charming edible gifts your friends and family will adore.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

After they’ve completely cooled, I keep leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay fresh and tender for up to a week, though I rarely have leftovers since they tend to disappear fast!

Freezing

I sometimes freeze the raw dough cylinder wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and stored in a freezer bag. When I want fresh cookies, I just thaw the dough for about 30 minutes, then pipe and bake as usual. This trick saves time and keeps the cookies tasting fresh.

Reheating

If you want just-baked warmth, a quick 5-10 second zap in the microwave softens the butter cookies nicely without drying them out. Avoid reheating in the oven, which can make cookies too firm or crisp.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use liquid food coloring instead of gel?

Gel food coloring is recommended because it provides vibrant color without affecting the dough’s consistency. Liquid coloring may make the dough too soft or sticky, which can be tricky when piping.

What if I don’t have a star nozzle for piping?

A star nozzle gives the wreaths their beautiful ridged texture, but if you don’t have one, a large round nozzle can work. Just expect a smoother finish on your cookies, which is still lovely!

How do I prevent colors from blending too much?

Pipe thicker stripes of dough onto the plastic wrap rather than thin ones. Thinner stripes tend to mix during piping, reducing the dramatic color contrast. Rolling the dough cylinder tightly also helps keep the colors distinct.

Can these cookies be made ahead for a party?

Absolutely! You can pipe the cookies onto sheets, freeze them unbaked, then bake fresh on party day. Or freeze the dough cylinder for quicker piping and baking. This flexibility makes them a go-to for holiday prep.

Final Thoughts

This Colorful Wreath Butter Cookies Recipe captures the joy of baking with a bit of whimsy and the simple pleasure of buttery, delightful treats. It’s one I turn to every holiday season because it never fails to bring smiles and a little sparkle to my kitchen. I hope you have as much fun making and sharing these cookies as I do — they’re truly a festive classic worth keeping in your recipe box!