(warning, jumping to recipe can result in missing important information including alternative ingredients and tips. Also, as an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases made via the links on this website.)
Tri Color Christmas Sugar Cookies are really a fun cookie.
I like that you can easily use this recipe to make a tri color cookie any time of the year!

Tri Color Christmas Sugar Cookies
This is a simple holiday sugar cookie to serve.
What makes this cookie so special is that we can make it colorful too!
Have you tried my Monster M&M Cookie recipe?
That recipe is for an oversized cookie that has M&M candy in it.
This recipe can also be made oversized too if you wanted to do so!
To make this tasty cookie recipe you can use festive cookie cutters to cut the cookies out. You can find a great selection of holiday inspired cookie cutters at good prices here.
This recipe is for anyone asking can you add food coloring to cookies.
The quick answer is yes, you can add food coloring to cookies.
It really only takes a few colors to get a colorful cookie using food coloring too.
However, there is an extra step to using more than one color to your cookies.
The goal of adding more than one color of food coloring is to keep the colors separated so that they do not bleed together. To do this, we will make the cookie dough and then separate the dough to add the different colors of food coloring.
You may be wondering what is the most popular Christmas cookie.
Yes, we all have our own opinions about what is a good tasting cookie.
This is especially true during the holiday season when there are so many cookies to choose from!
Sugar cookies are a popular cookie year round.
This means that we can serve it during the holiday season or any time.
To make this sugar cookie a Christmas cookie we are using cookie cutter and food coloring!
Tips for making holiday sugar cookies.
Like I said, it only takes a few drops of food coloring to change the color of the cookie dough.
I suggest that you add the food coloring one drop at a time, checking between additions to see if the color is right for you!
More tips for you
- Using fresh ingredients always is a good idea for best results. This is especially true with your dry ingredients such as baking powder.
- When rolling out your cookie dough, you can sprinkle a bit of powdered sugar on the surface first before rolling the dough out. This will help keep the dough from sticking and also add a bit of sweetness to your cookies.
- Another option to keep the cookie dough from sticking is to use parchment paper. Simply place one sheet of parchment under the dough and one sheet on top of the dough, rolling the cookie dough between the sheets.
Personalize your cookies!
These sugar cookies are great just the way that they are.
However, you can make them even better if you want to.
Try one of these ideas!
- Add another extract instead of vanilla extract. I like almond extract or maple extract for this recipe.
- Top your cookies using holiday sprinkles.
- Roll the cookie dough out a bit thinner that usual and make these cookies into tri-colored layers rather than one cookie layer with three colors in it.
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You may also be interested in these ideas.
About this colored cookies recipe.
This is a basic sugar cookie recipe.
After we make the cookie dough we will divide it into thirds and add different colored food coloring to two of the sections.
You can use cookie cutters to cut the dough into festive shapes.
I suggest that you refrigerate the dough before using the cookie cutters.
However, you can make a basic cookie by gently rolling the cookies in a ball and pressing it into the cookie sheet with the palm of your hand.
Ingredients needed to make tri colored sugar cookies.
- Flour- 3 cups, all purpose.
- Baking powder- ½ teaspoon.
- Baking soda- 1 teaspoon.
- Butter- 1 cup, softened to room temperature.
- Sugar- 1 cup, white granulated sugar.
- Egg- 1, at room temperature.
- Vanilla Extract- 1 teaspoon.
- Food coloring.
- Optional- powdered sugar for rolling, additional sugar for sprinkling on top, and/or holiday inspired sprinkles.
How to make Tri Color Christmas Sugar Cookies.
Step One: Make the dough.
In a medium bowl, use a whisk or a fork to mix together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
Set this bowl aside.
Next, in a mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter with the sugar until creamy. The mix in the egg and the vanilla extract. Lastly, add the dry ingredients to the mixing bowl and mix on low until just combined.
Step Two: Prepare the dough for tricolored cookies.
Split the dough evenly into three balls. Add one colored dye, on drop at a time until you reach your desired color, to one of the balls. Then repeat this process with a second ball using another color. Leave the last dough ball as is.
If you are not using cookie cutters, move on to step three.
Wrap each ball in plastic wrap or waxed paper and place in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
Step Three: Form the cookies and then bake.
If your dough has been refrigerated, remove it from the refrigerator.
Otherwise, continue with your dough as is.
Preheat your oven to 375 and prep two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Lay a piece of parchment paper down on a flat surface.
Then break up pieces of dough from each of the balls and place them in no particular order on the parchment paper to make a mosaic.
If you are not using cookie cutters, simply use a scoop or large spoon to scoop up individual cookies. Carefully roll the dough into a ball (trying not to mix the colors!) and the press the ball into the baking sheets.
For those using cookie cutters, gently roll the dough out between two pieces of parchment paper, taking care to not mix the colors. Then use your cookie cutters to cut out each shape and place it onto the cookie sheets.
Bake the cookies for eight to 10 minutes or until the begin to turn golden. Then allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a couple of minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
Tri Color Christmas Sugar Cookies, a simple recipe for colorful homemade holiday cookies that taste good too!
Tri Color Christmas Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 3 cups Flour
- ½ tsp Baking powder
- 1 tsp Baking soda-
- 1 cup Butter
- 1 cup Sugar-
- 1 Egg
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract-
- Food coloring.
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, use a whisk or a fork to mix together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Next, in a mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter with the sugar until creamy. The mix in the egg and the vanilla extract. Lastly, add the dry ingredients to the mixing bowl and mix on low until just combined. Split the dough evenly into three balls. Add one colored dye, on drop at a time until you reach your desired color, to one of the balls. Then repeat this process with a second ball using another color. Leave the last dough ball as is.
- Preheat your oven to 375 and prep two baking sheets with parchment paper.Lay a piece of parchment paper down on a flat surface. Then break up pieces of dough from each of the balls and place them in no particular order on the parchment paper to make a mosaic. Gently roll the dough out between two pieces of parchment paper, taking care to not mix the colors. Then use your cookie cutters to cut out each shape and place it onto the cookie sheets.Bake the cookies for eight to 10 minutes or until the begin to turn golden. Then let allow the cookies to cool on the baked sheet for a couple of minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
Recipe Notes
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Please note: Nutritional data has been calculated using a tool that comes with this recipe card and not by me. This means that Nutritional Information is only an estimate and can vary especially with ingredients that you use. The accuracy of this tool may differ from other tools as expected. Also note that there is no instructional value to the video that may be attached to this recipe. It is only there for visual pleasure. For more information about the images in this recipe, please refer the the recipe instructions. Thank you!
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