Celebrate the holiday season with these eye-catching Poinsettia Pull Apart Cookies, a festive treat that's as delightful to look at as it is to eat! Crafted with a buttery, soft sugar cookie dough tinted in vibrant shades of red and green, these cookies are shaped to resemble poinsettia blooms, complete with delicate petals, leafy accents, and candy-coated chocolate centers. Perfect as a holiday dessert centerpiece or a thoughtful edible gift, these cookies combine easy-to-follow techniques with stunning results. Whether you're hosting a Christmas party or looking for creative holiday baking ideas, these charming pull-apart cookies are sure to impress with their beauty and irresistible flavor.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and beat until combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until a soft dough forms.
Divide the dough into three equal portions. Tint one portion with red gel food coloring, another with green gel food coloring, leaving the third portion plain (or you can discard if not decorating additional cookies). Mix each portion thoroughly until the color is evenly distributed.
Scoop approximately 1-tablespoon portions of the red dough and roll each piece into a ball. These will serve as the poinsettia petals. Repeat with all the red dough.
On the prepared baking sheet, arrange five red dough balls in a star shape to form the petals. Gently press each ball down slightly to flatten into a teardrop shape. Repeat to make a total of 12 poinsettia arrangements.
Roll smaller balls of the green dough (about ½ teaspoon each) to create leaves. Position 2-3 green balls per poinsettia just outside the petal group, pressing them slightly into a leaf shape.
Add a yellow candy-coated chocolate piece in the center of each poinsettia for the flower's centerpiece.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden. Avoid over-baking to keep cookies soft.
While the cookies cool, make the icing by whisking together powdered sugar and milk in a small bowl until smooth. If desired, transfer the icing to a piping bag or ziptop bag for easy application.
Drizzle or pipe icing onto the poinsettia cookies sparingly to enhance details if needed. Let cookies set completely before serving or packaging.
Enjoy these festive Poinsettia Pull Apart Cookies as a stunning centerpiece or share them as a holiday gift!
Calories |
13071 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 488.9 g | 627% | |
| Saturated Fat | 298.5 g | 1492% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 677 mg | 226% | |
| Sodium | 2696 mg | 117% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 2039.4 g | 742% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 57.8 g | 206% | |
| Total Sugars | 1521.0 g | ||
| Protein | 141.3 g | 283% | |
| Vitamin D | 1.4 mcg | 7% | |
| Calcium | 1100 mg | 85% | |
| Iron | 41.7 mg | 232% | |
| Potassium | 3426 mg | 73% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.