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 utterly joyful about biting into these buttery, tender treats—especially when they’re as vibrant and festive as this Colorful Wreath Butter Cookies Recipe. I swear, the pop of red and green dough twisted into a wreath shape makes these cookies a standout for any holiday or special occasion. Plus, they’re surprisingly easy to pull together!

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

I can’t get over how cheerful these cookies look and taste. Every time I make the Colorful Wreath Butter Cookies Recipe, my kitchen feels like it’s filled with warmth and holiday spirit—even if it’s the middle of summer!

Beautiful Visual Appeal: The swirling red and green colors create a striking, festive look that immediately brightens any cookie platter.
Buttery, Tender Texture: Made with simple ingredients, these cookies are crisp on the edges but melt in your mouth, making every bite meltaway delicious.
Easy to Customize: You can add your own twist with different food colors or sprinkles to match any holiday or party theme.
Perfect Make-Ahead Treat: These cookies hold up well stored or frozen, so you can bake ahead and impress guests anytime.

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

The magic behind the Colorful Wreath Butter Cookies Recipe lies in a handful of simple, quality ingredients that come together to create that perfect butter cookie texture and festive flair. Each ingredient serves a clear purpose, so let me break down what I love about them and why you’ll want to choose wisely.

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: This gives the cookies incredible richness and tenderness without extra saltiness, so you control the flavor intensity.
Icing Sugar: Finely powdered sugar blends smoothly, ensuring your dough is silky and free of graininess.
Egg White: It helps bind everything while keeping the dough light and perfect for piping shapes.
Vanilla Extract or Essence: Just a hint adds warm depth that complements the buttery richness beautifully.
Salt: A pinch enhances all the flavors and balances the sweetness.
All-Purpose Flour: The base that gives your cookies structure while staying tender.
Cornstarch: Critical for that tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture — it softens the bite and keeps the cookie from being tough.
Red Gel Food Colouring: You want gel food colouring over liquid to keep the dough texture just right and the colors vibrant.
Sprinkles: Adds fun and texture — plus, those tiny bursts of color complete the wreath look perfectly!

📝

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

One of my favorite things about this Colorful Wreath Butter Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to tweak. I love experimenting with different colors and sprinkle combinations — it’s like putting your own signature on every batch.

Variation: I once swapped the red gel for a deep raspberry powder and mixed in some lemon zest — the color was more muted but the flavor pop was fantastic. Feel free to play with natural colorings or flavor boosts like almond extract or citrus.

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

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar

Start by whisking together the softened butter and icing sugar until the mixture becomes light and creamy. This step sets the stage for a tender crumb, so don’t rush it. I usually use a handheld mixer for about 3 to 4 minutes — you’ll see the transformation as it goes from gritty to silky smooth.

Step 2: Add the Egg White and Vanilla

Next, add the egg white and whisk again to combine thoroughly. This helps with the cookie’s structure but keeps it delicate. Then, stir in the vanilla extract — it’s amazing how just a teaspoon can elevate the flavor instantly.

Step 3: Add Dry Ingredients

Time to add the salt, all-purpose flour, and cornstarch. I gently fold these in using a spatula so the dough stays light but holds together well. The cornstarch is my secret weapon for a melt-in-your-mouth texture that I think you’ll appreciate.

Step 4: Divide and Color the Dough

Weigh the dough, then split it evenly in two. Slowly knead red gel food coloring into one half, adding a bit at a time until you get the perfect festive hue. I like to keep the other half plain or tinted green for that classic holiday wreath contrast.

Step 5: Pipe Colors Onto Plastic Wrap

Place each dough color in separate piping bags. On a piece of plastic wrap, pipe stripes of each color — I keep two layers of each color thick enough to get dramatic color shifts without blending into a muddy mess. Rolling the dough into a cylinder with the plastic makes this easier and neater.

Step 6: Insert Cylinder into Star Nozzle Bag

Trim excess plastic from the dough cylinder, then slip it inside another piping bag fitted with a star nozzle—pick one about 1 cm (⅓ inch) diameter or bigger. This size lets the wreath’s ridges show beautifully and helps maintain the swirl pattern.

Step 7: Pipe Your Wreath Cookies

Now for the fun part—you pipe! On lined baking sheets, squeeze the dough into circular wreath shapes. Don’t worry if the ends don’t look neat right away; a gentle tap with your finger smooths them out. Remember to keep each wreath about the same size so cookies bake evenly.

Step 8: Add Sprinkles and Bake

Top your wreaths with sprinkles for that extra festive sparkle. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for 10-12 minutes until the cookies are dry and set but not browned. Overbaking can make them too crisp, so keep an eye on them near the end.

Top Tip

I learned the hard way how sensitive this recipe is to ingredient measurements — trust me, weighing the flour and cornstarch makes a huge difference. Also, don't skimp on the star nozzle size; smaller tips can squish the pattern and make the cookies look less wreath-like.

Weigh Ingredients Accurately: Using grams rather than cups ensures your dough’s texture is spot on every time.
Pipe Thick, Not Thin: Wider dough layers keep the colors from blending too much for that dramatic wreath effect.
Use a Generous Star Nozzle: It helps maintain the dough’s swirl and adds pretty ridges to your cookies.
Watch Your Bake Time: Cookies should be dry but not browned; pulling them out at the right time keeps them tender.

How to Serve Colorful Wreath Butter Cookies Recipe

colorful wreath cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love to sprinkle these cookies with classic red and green sugar sprinkles or tiny white pearls—it enhances the festive vibe and provides a bit of crunch contrast to the buttery bite. For extra flair, you could dust them lightly with powdered sugar to mimic a snowy wreath look.

Side Dishes

Pair these cookies with a hot cup of spiced tea, rich hot chocolate, or even a glass of cold milk. During holiday gatherings, I like to set them alongside tangy fruit preserves or a creamy cheese plate to balance out the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

For festive parties, I sometimes arrange these colorful wreath cookies around a big iced bundt cake or serve them in clear cellophane gift bags tied with ribbon as charming party favors. They also look gorgeous stacked in glass jars, adding color and charm to your dessert table.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover cookies keep beautifully in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. I always separate layers with parchment paper to keep the sprinkles intact and prevent them from sticking together.

Freezing

If you want to prep ahead, these cookies freeze wonderfully. I wrap them tightly in plastic wrap after baking and place them in a freezer-safe container. When ready to enjoy, just thaw at room temperature for a couple of hours, and they taste just as fresh.

Reheating

If you’d like to refresh slightly crisped leftovers, pop them in a warm oven at 150°C (300°F) for 3-5 minutes. This brings back the fresh-baked scent and softens any overly firm edges—but be careful not to overheat!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use liquid food coloring instead of gel?

You can, but I don’t recommend it because liquid colors add extra moisture, which can change the dough’s texture and make it too soft to hold the wreath shape well. Gel food coloring keeps the dough firm and vibrant.

What’s the best way to prevent the colors from blending too much?

Pipe the colored dough in thick enough layers as stripes, then roll gently without squishing too hard. Using a wider star nozzle also helps keep the color stripes defined and prevents excessive mixing during piping.

Can these cookies be made ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can prepare and freeze the cookies after baking or even freeze the dough logs before piping. This makes it super convenient to have festive treats ready whenever you want.

Why is cornstarch used in this recipe?

Cornstarch helps give the cookies a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture by softening the structure. Without it, the cookies would be firmer and less tender.

Final Thoughts

This Colorful Wreath Butter Cookies Recipe holds a special spot in my baking repertoire because it combines simple ingredients with a fun, artistic twist that everyone admires. Whether you're making them for a holiday party or just a sweet treat, these cookies never fail to bring a smile. Trust me, once you try piping these festive wreaths yourself, you’ll find it’s as satisfying as eating them—give it a go and watch your cookie game rise to a whole new level!