Technicolor Christmas tree cookie bars — the Studio DIY twist on a classic holiday treat. I like to call these technicolor rainbow unicorn Christmas trees, but feel free to choose your own fun descriptor. Growing up I loved seeing cookie and brownie shapes turned into cute little trees with candy cane trunks, and this version gives that nostalgic idea a colorful modern makeover. Have you tried something like this before?
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe
Rate this Recipe
Technicolor Christmas Tree Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- For the sugar cookie bars:
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1 17.5 oz package sugar cookie mix
- 1 egg
- Bright candy canes about 3 to 5
- For the buttercream:
- 1/3 cup butter softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 to 2 tablespoons milk
- Gold star sprinkles
Instructions
-
Heat the oven to 350°F and grease the bottom of a 13 by 9-inch baking dish.
-
In a bowl, combine the softened butter, sugar cookie mix, and egg. Mix until a soft dough forms.
-
Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
-
Bake for about 20 minutes, until the top is lightly browned. Let cool completely.
-
Remove the baked slab from the pan. Cut it in half lengthwise to form two long rectangles, then cut each rectangle into 5 to 7 triangular tree shapes.
-
Break the candy canes into 1-inch pieces and gently insert one piece into the base of each triangle to act as a trunk. Use a dab of frosting to secure them if needed.
-
To make the buttercream, cream the softened butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until smooth.
-
Add the powdered sugar and vanilla, mixing until incorporated. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk as needed to reach a light, fluffy texture. Beat on medium for another minute.
-
Divide the frosting into six small bowls and color each with food coloring: bright pink, mint green, bright blue, yellow, orange, and light purple.
-
Spoon small drops of the different colored frostings onto each triangle. With a small offset spatula, lightly smear and blend the colors together to create a tie-dye effect, covering the top completely. A slightly bumpy texture is fine. Chill the cookies in the fridge to set the frosting.
-
Once the frosting has set, lay a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of each frosted cookie and gently press with your fingers to smooth the surface and create a polished technicolor finish.
-
Fill a piping bag fitted with a small round tip with the bright pink frosting and pipe a swag down each tree from top to bottom. Finish by sprinkling gold stars over the trees.
Photos by Jeff Mindell | Recipe by Theresa Rountree
Those rainbow candy canes really make my heart explode.
I’ll also say it plainly: bars are superior to cookies. My mom always makes chocolate chip bars instead of individual cookies, and I love them — especially if you prefer the soft, gooey center. If you’re an edge person, well, that’s a different debate. (Kidding… mostly.)
p.s. Tie Dye Yule Log Cake inspiration lives on in other holiday treats.