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No-Bake Christmas Tree Cookies

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So I was determined this year to get a really good amount of Christmas baking done.

No-Bake Christmas Tree Cookies: SO easy, just a few ingredients! Perfect for decorating with the kids. www.thereciperebel.com

In fact, I started Christmas baking in July.

Last year, I didn’t do any Christmas baking. I didn’t even get a Christmas tree or any decorations.

We moved into our new house December 28 last year, so we were pretty much living out of boxes by that point, and things were pretty crazy.

I was determined to do better this year. Get a good early start and just go all out.

But this year, I’m expecting our second child right around December 15. Which really means probably sometime between December 1 and December 31 I’ll have a baby. That makes things a little hard to plan for.

However, it’s been just the push I needed this year to get a good early start, because I definitely wanted to have some recipes to share with you guys throughout December, regardless of when baby decides to make his or her appearance.

No-Bake Christmas Tree Cookies: SO easy, just a few ingredients! Perfect for decorating with the kids. www.thereciperebel.com

So just because you haven’t been seeing them until now doesn’t mean I have been baking all things red and green and peppermint/white chocolate/gingerbread/cranberry – I’ve just been hiding them on you until the time was right.

That is, I’ve been saving them for you so that when the rest of the world starts Christmas baking, I’ll be ready with some awesome treats for you guys.

My mom made these for Christmas when we were still at home (though she tells me only once), and I knew I wanted to recreate them. I’ve been seriously lacking in the cute-and-seasonal category for pretty much every holiday up until now, and I wanted to fix that.

Plus, I really, really like Christmas.

The original recipe didn’t have the mini M&M’s, but I thought it might add more of a Christmas touch to my snow-capped trees.

Plus, chocolate.

When I was decorating them my husband came in and I told him I was only going to put the M&M’s on enough for my daughter’s day care friends, as a little farewell gift before I was at home with 2 kids.

He says to me, ” you’re only putting the M&M’s on those ones??”

I could hear his disappointment.

I explained to him that it was a little fussy and time-consuming, with the gooey chocolate getting on your fingers and then making it difficult to get the M&M’s on the trees…. etc., etc., etc..

And after he left I added M&M’s to all of them. Because baking for men is a lot like baking for children, I find. They get kind of excited about bright colors and such.

No-Bake Christmas Tree Cookies: SO easy, just a few ingredients! Perfect for decorating with the kids. www.thereciperebel.com

And plus, chocolate.

So they might not look super fancy, or even neat, but you should see the way my husband’s girl’s eyes lit up when she saw them. I have a feeling I’ll be making a few batches!

See how easy they are to make and follow me on YouTube!

Print Pin Recipe

No-Bake Christmas Tree Cookies

No-Bake Christmas Tree Cookies: SO easy, just a few ingredients! Perfect for decorating with the kids. www.thereciperebel.com
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 24 cookies
Calories 162kcal
Author Ashley Fehr

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter or margarine
  • 2 cups powdered icing sugar
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • 3 cups shredded coconut I used sweetened, but unsweetened would work fine
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla or mint extract
  • green food coloring
  • 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1 tsp butter or margarine
  • 1 tbsp milk
  • mini M&Ms

Instructions

  • In a large pot, melt butter. Remove from heat.
  • Stir in icing sugar and milk. Stir in coconut, vanilla/mint and enough food coloring to make the mixture green.
  • Shape into small balls, and using the tips of your fingers gently squeeze one side of the ball until it takes on a cone shape. It might take a few tries to get them how you like them, but if the mixture gets too cool to work with you can always heat on low a minute or 2.
  • If you see any later you want to reshape, they are easily reshaped at room temperature.
  • Put uncovered on a baking sheet to set either in the fridge for 2-3 hours or the freezer for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
  • In a small pot, melt chocolate, 1 tsp butter and 1 tbsp milk over low heat, stirring, until smooth. Dip the tops of the cookies in the white chocolate to look like snow. Add mini M&M's if desired.
  • Set in the fridge or freezer to set before storing in an air tight container.

Nutrition (this is an estimate)

Nutrition Facts
No-Bake Christmas Tree Cookies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 162 Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g 14%
Saturated Fat 7g 35%
Cholesterol 11mg 4%
Sodium 70mg 3%
Potassium 55mg 2%
Total Carbohydrates 18g 6%
Sugars 18g
Vitamin A 2.5%
Vitamin C 0.1%
Calcium 1.6%
Iron 1.3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Tag @thereciperebel or hashtag #thereciperebel -- I love to see what you're making!

You might also like these Brown Sugar Pecan Cookies!

Brown Sugar Pecan Cookies

Or this Spanish Omelette for an easy holiday breakfast!

This Spanish Tortilla is really just a Spanish omelette -- made with sliced potatoes, onions and peppers fried together before being topped with beaten eggs and baked. It's perfect festive holiday breakfast!

 

No-Bake Christmas Tree Cookies
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 2 dozen
No-Bake Christmas Tree Cookies: SO easy, just a few ingredients! Perfect for decorating with the kids. www.thereciperebel.com
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter or margarine
  • 2 cups powdered icing sugar
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • 3 cups shredded coconut (I used sweetened, but unsweetened would work fine)
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla or mint extract
  • green food coloring
  • 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1 tsp butter or margarine
  • 1 tbsp milk
  • mini M&Ms
Instructions
  1. In a large pot, melt butter. Remove from heat.
  2. Stir in icing sugar and milk. Stir in coconut, vanilla/mint and enough food coloring to make the mixture green.
  3. Shape into small balls, and using the tips of your fingers gently squeeze one side of the ball until it takes on a cone shape. It might take a few tries to get them how you like them, but if the mixture gets too cool to work with you can always heat on low a minute or 2.
  4. If you see any later you want to reshape, they are easily reshaped at room temperature.
  5. Put uncovered on a baking sheet to set either in the fridge for 2-3 hours or the freezer for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
  6. In a small pot, melt chocolate, 1 tsp butter and 1 tbsp milk over low heat, stirring, until smooth. Dip the tops of the cookies in the white chocolate to look like snow. Add mini M&M’s if desired.
  7. Set in the fridge or freezer to set before storing in an air tight container.

Recipe from Company’s Coming for Christmas cookbook.

Comments

  1. My mixture kept on crumbling. I couldn’t seem to form it. Could it be because I’m in s tropical county and the temp is different?

    Reply

  3. I made these for a Christmas cookie exchange last week and won for cutest cookie. They were delicious and everyone loved them!

    Reply

  4. Can these be frozen over a period of time? I would like to make them this week since I have the time and then just freeze until next weekend?

    Reply

  5. Trying to find how much to put of each ingredients but can’t find need the no bake Christmas trees thanks so much can’t wait to make…

    Reply

        • Ashley,

          I made these last night but they were very sticky and they wouldn’t stay in shape. What did I do wrong? I’m thinking I need to ass more coconut but I’m not sure. What would you recommend?

          Reply

          • Hi Dana! I’m sorry to hear that! I’ve made the recipe a few times and I’ve never had any issues — it’s actually one my mom made when we were younger! I think it sounds like you need to add a bit more coconut. Or maybe try chilling them if your butter was very warm?

          • Hi Julie! The ingredient amounts are listed right in the recipe. If you don’t see it, just keep scrolling until you find it! If you’re on a mobile phone, you might have to click the pink “get the recipe” button. I hope that helps!

  6. hi,
    these look lovely! what can I use instead of coconut to make it nut free? my sons’ school has a not nuts policy…
    thank you 🙂
    Anu

    Reply

        • Maybe you could try a Rice Krispy Treats/marshmallow recipe. You should be able to shape it into tree shapes. I’ve already made enough coconut recipes this year, so I’ll save this for next year, and make Rice Krispy treats trees. It’s a great idea!!

          Reply

    • These are just too cute! I’ll DEFINATELY be selling these at my school’s Christmas bake sale this year to raise money for the poor! I was just wondering if there was anything else I could use as the ‘snow’ instead of white chocolate but if not that’s fine too.

      Reply

  7. Thanks for being here & sharing this Cute & Pretty No Bake Christmas Recipe! They are Darling & I have to make some for sure. I may even use some Red Hots Cinnamon Candies on some of them.

    Reply

  9. Ashley, my daughter came home from school and told me they are having a Christmas party tomorrow so what should we make?? She turned down all my suggestions of cookies and brownies, etc then she mentioned she’d like something like Christmas trees and into my head popped these no-bake Christmas trees I remembered watching your YouTube video about. So, a quick trip to the store to gather ingredients and some sticky fingers later we are done and ready for the party – Success!! Thanks for posting your recipes on fb too 🙂

    Reply

  11. These are so beautiful, but mine turned out terribly! They taste good but look awful. I just couldn’t get my trees to stick together at all when I was shaping them! They kept crumbling apart into little bits. I followed the recipe to the letter, too. 🙁 Thanks for a cute idea, I wish it had worked out for me!

    Reply

    • That’s too bad Lily! It sounds like they were a little dry. I would just add a bit of milk or melted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time until they stay together when you squeeze them. I hope that helps!

      Reply

  12. I saw the recipe for the no bake christmas tree but can t find the recipe. Even on the tutorial, you do not mention the ingredients. What is my problem?? Rachel from QUEBEC.

    Reply

  13. Are you using US cups or Metric cups? I have to convert everything to grams, so I’m trying to figure out what system you’re using. Thanks!

    Reply

  14. Thank you for posting a great recipe and I especially like the video you did…..so we can see just how you did it…..I have not seen these before and they are so pretty and rather simple to make , just time consuming…….
    Just signed up for your blog too……this recipe is a keeper 🙂

    Reply

    • Thank you so much! They are actually not too time consuming — they set up pretty quickly so you can dip and decorate! I guess the M&M’s can take a little time but totally worth it 😉 Hope you like them!

      Reply

  16. Hi, can’t wait to make this with my Granddaughter. Just a question (sorry if it’s already been addressed). Some say there is a difference between powdered sugar and powdered icing sugar. Is “powdered sugar” acceptable for this recipe? Thanks so much!

    Reply

    • I think they would last quite a while, but if you’re wanting to store them for more than a couple days I would freeze them. They freeze beautifully and thaw quickly at room temperature!

      Reply

    • Thanks Jess! I knew in a few weeks I wouldn’t have much time, so I just got right on it. I have totally been loving it though!

      Reply

  22. Hi Ashley, I’m not the type who works at the kitchen but I wanted to try this one. I’m just quit confused if shredded coconut is the same as dedicated coconut?

    Reply

    • Thanks Natalie! Only because I started long ago, and I knew I’d be 9 months pregnant when I really wanted to be doing Christmas baking! Lol

      Reply

    • Thanks Shashi! I’ve been trying to stock up on some recipes for a while now, and I’m almost ready for a “break”! Lol

      Reply

  36. You’re way ahead of the game, Ive barely started baking Christmas cookies! I love how cute these cookies are they’re seriously adorable! I can see why your daughter loved them. So fun!

    Reply

  37. These are beyond cute and seriously stunning, Ashley! I can honestly understand why your husband would love them so much, because I know I wouldn’t be able to control myself around these! 🙂 Pinning!

    Reply

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