• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Butter Half logo

  • Recipes
    • Appetizers and Snacks
    • Breads and Pastries
    • Breakfast and Brunch
    • Desserts
    • Drinks and Smoothies
    • Main Dishes
    • Salads
    • Sandwiches and Wraps
    • Sauces and Dressings
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups and Stews
    • Instant Pot Recipes
  • About
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer & Disclosure
  • Cookbook
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers and Snacks
    • Breads and Pastries
    • Breakfast and Brunch
    • Desserts
    • Drinks and Smoothies
    • Main Dishes
    • Salads
    • Sandwiches and Wraps
    • Sauces and Dressings
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups and Stews
    • Instant Pot Recipes
  • About
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer & Disclosure
  • Cookbook
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
      • Appetizers and Snacks
      • Breads and Pastries
      • Breakfast and Brunch
      • Desserts
      • Drinks and Smoothies
      • Main Dishes
      • Salads
      • Sandwiches and Wraps
      • Sauces and Dressings
      • Side Dishes
      • Soups and Stews
      • Instant Pot Recipes
    • About
      • Work With Me
      • Privacy Policy
      • Disclaimer & Disclosure
    • Cookbook
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    The Butter Half / Recipe Index / Desserts / How to Decorate Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies (Video Tutorial)

    How to Decorate Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies (Video Tutorial)

    By Abbey Rodriguez • Published: Dec 6, 2017 • Modified: Jan 28, 2023 • Leave a Comment • This post may contain affiliate links.

    JUMP TO RECIPE Jump to Video PRINT

    Ugly sweaters are in my top five favorite things about Christmas. Cookies are somewhere on that list, but mashing the two together? That's GENIUS. And I am going to show you how to decorate ugly Christmas sweater cookies! YOU'RE WELCOME.

    How to Decorate Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies

    You know what's great about these? They can be wonky and weird, and not perfect. That's why we love ugly Christmas sweaters, right?

    (CLICK THE VIDEO BELOW TO WATCH THE STEP-BY-STEP TUTORIAL ON HOW TO DECORATE THEM!)

     

    Also, can we talk honestly about royal icing? It's... gross. For lack of a better description. Well, I think it's gross in mass quantities. I know, I showed you how to make perfect looking Christmas cookies with royal icing in this post. Does that make me a hypocrite? Probably. But at least I admit it! So, does that actually make me a hypocrite? Is this blog post turning into a philosoraptor meme?

    Allow me to expand on my royal icing conundrum! You see, I think it's a weirdly essential skill to know how to make it so you decorate cookies with it, but is it practical? And do people actually EAT those cookies at parties? NO! They are there for the photo op and Pinterest points. That's it. (Or maybe I am generally Scrooge-y and prefer to save my calories for the buttery frosting with cream cheese!)

    HOWEVER. Royal icing tastes just fine in small amounts, like it is on these ugly Christmas sweater cookies! So we have ourselves a win-win situation.

    Learn How to Decorate Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies with icing in this step-by-step tutorial. || The Butter Half #uglychristmassweater #christmascookies #decoratingcookies #thebutterhalf

    Essential Items You Need to Decorate Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies

    1. Ugly Sweater Cookie Cutter. I used this adorable set from Goodcook. It makes a nice size cookie so you have plenty of room to decorate, and it has this fun doodad where you can roll three different patterns onto the sweaters. Cute!
    2. No. 2 Round Decorating Tips. This is the tip size I prefer when using royal icing. It's small enough to make intricate details and large enough to cover larger spaces for flooding. (That's some cookie decorating vernacular for ya!) By the way, you need at least four!
    3. Icing Bags. I buy these bags in bulk from Amazon. It's nice to have about 100 extra on hand, because I always screw up the first couple when I'm putting on the tips.
    4. Gel Food Dye. I use this stuff. It's very saturated. Make sure you wear gloves when handling it though! Also, if you are morally opposed to using artificial food dyes, this makes a pretty and natural red, and this makes a great natural green.

    You ready to get to it? I thought so! Grab the recipe for the royal icing below (just don't use too much, haha) and written instructions on how to decorate the cookies. Have fun!

    How to Decorate Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies

    How to Decorate Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies (Video Tutorial)

    By: Abbey Rodriguez
    PRINT PIN RECIPE
    Learn how to decorate ugly Christmas sweater cookies with icing in this step-by-step tutorial.
    Prep Time 25 minutes
    Total Time 25 minutes
    Servings: 64 cups icing
    Calories: 30kcal

    Ingredients

    • 3 large egg whites
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 4 cups powdered sugar
    • Gel food dye in desired colors

    Instructions

    • In a mixing bowl, whisk egg whites and vanilla extract with an electric mixer on low speed, until foamy. Slowly add in powdered sugar until the shiny and stiff peaks form.
    • Divide icing into separate bowls for desired icing colors. Mix in a pea-sized amount of gel food dye until blended. Pour each color into separate piping bags, fitted with a #2 icing tip. (Pro tip: place bags in a large glass and roll down the bags to make a cuff before pouring in icing.) Twist top of bags to seal off, holding the thickest part of the icing bag to squeeze out icing. Hold near the bottom at the tip with other hand to smoothly decorate your cookie.
    • Create an icing outline on the sugar cookies first. If using the pattern tool, fill in patterns with royal icing. Add zig zags, polka dots, and stripes. Make sure to add hems and collars to the ugly sweater cookies for a finished look.
    • Allow to set for 5 minutes and then serve.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 30kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 2mg | Sugar: 7g

    Try making your own cream cheese for this recipe!


    SaveSave

    SaveSave

    Sharing is caring!

    254 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Abbey! Certified Holistic Nutritionist & Herbalist | I healed my body using holistic nutrition and herbs. And I believe you can, too. Here you will find nourishing recipes and wellness tips for the family, as well as my herbal cookbook, Root & Nourish. Because you can achieve your ultimate wellness goals using plants and whole foods.

    More about me →

    Reader Favorites

    • 15 Minute Instant Pot Italian Meatballs
    • Easy Baked Frittata Recipe with Spinach (Gluten-Free)
    • Easy No-Bake Cookies with Chocolate Chips and Peanut Butter
    • Home Remedy Ear Infection Drops That Actually Work

    Summer Recipes

    • Easy Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins
    • Easy and Healthy Chicken Salad Recipe
    • 30-Minute Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta
    • Healthy Berry Crisp (Gluten Free + Vegan)
    As seen in Pop Sugar, The Huffington Post, BuzzFeed, Shape, and more.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    As seen on...

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    Copyright © 2022 The Butter Half