These awesome Lemon Glazed Christmas Wreath Cookies are a not too sweet butter cookie with a sweet but tart lemon glaze shaped like a wreath. Perfect for a holiday cookie platter, or a fun homemade Christmas decoration.
These are the type of cookie that looks fancy but is actually easy to make. They’re also the type of cookie that you’ll find yourself craving. I’ve made them many times since I originally posted the recipe about nine years ago.
Also included in this post is a Recipe Round-Up. I’ve joined a fun group of bloggers to put together a roundup of recipes on the first day of every month. This month we’re sharing Must Make Christmas Cookie Recipes.
Marcellina, Marcellina in Cucina, posted beautiful lemon glazed wreath cookies and I immediately wanted to try them.
The recipe was originally printed in Australian Women Weekly so it was in metric measurements. Maria’s Menu converted the recipe from grams to cups, and linked to a video showing how to shape the wreaths.
Instead of self-rising flour called for in the original recipe, I used regular all-purpose flour, baking powder, and a little salt. I also simplified the directions.
The first time I made these cookies, I talked my oldest son into making them with me. It’s a bit time consuming to shape them, but easier than rolling out and decorating sugar cookies.
Our first wreaths were a little misshapen but after a while, we got better at it, although they all looked pretty after they were glazed!
The glaze is pretty thick until you heat it then it will be a thin drizzling consistency. I found it was easier to dip the cookies in the glaze instead of icing them.
Can I Make Ahead and Freeze Lemon Glazed Christmas Wreath Cookies
These cookies freeze and thaw very well.
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- Bake and glaze them and then freeze them
- Freeze the glazed cookies on a baking sheet for one hour
- Place the cookies in Ziploc freezer bags with wax paper between the layers
- Thaw them on the counter for an hour or more before serving
For more information on freezing cookies, here’s a great guide for freezing cookies.
I didn’t love this cookie without the glaze because it isn’t very sweet, but after they were glazed with the tart-sweet glaze, I couldn’t get enough of them.
If you’re a lemon lover like me, I’m sure you’re going to love them too.
Lemon Glazed Christmas Wreath Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup 8 tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup milk
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 large eggs room temperature
Lemon Icing
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 4 tablespoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt, cut butter into flour mixture with a pastry blender or two knives until crumbly.
- Add milk and sugar to a small saucepan, stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved. , Add vanilla extract. Cool 5-10 mins.
- Stir warm milk mixture and egg into flour mixture.
- Knead dough on floured surface until smooth.
- Roll rounded teaspoons of dough into 5-inch ropes. Twist two ropes together then shape twist into circles and press edges together. Place about 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper or Silpats.
- Bake 15 mins until cookies are firm and lightly browned on the bottom. Let cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes and remove to wire racks to cool completely.
- When the cookies are completely cooled carefully place the cookie upside down into the icing and removed it by lifting it out with your fingers or a knife in the middle of the wreath. Place on a wire rack set in a baking sheet and let the icing dry before serving.
- Lemon Icing
- Sift powdered sugar into a heat proof bowl; stir in enough juice to make a paste.
- Place bowl on top of a small saucepan of simmering water and heat until icing is pourable.
Notes
Nutrition
MORE CHRISTMAS COOKIE RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE:
Holiday Ginger Cookies
Haystack Cookies
Iced Oatmeal Cookies
Christmas Wreath Cookies
Swedish Christmas Cookies
Santa’s Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies
Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chai Spiced Gingerbread Stars
Dark Chocolate Cherry Cordial Cookies
Raspberry Thumbprints
Also, visit my Best Christmas Cookies post for more great Christmas cookie ideas.
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Jole
Hi, cam I use lemon extract instead of lemon juice.
Melissa Griffiths
You won’t need as much of it but it should work fine, I’d try 1/2 to 1 teaspoon
Sharon Patterson
Is 1Tablespoon of baking powder correct?
Barbara Schieving
Hi Sharon – yes, 1 tablespoon of baking powder is the correct amount.
Marcellina
Hi Barbara! I still love these cookies too! Such a great recipe xx
Madonna/aka/Ms. Lemon
These sound delicate and delicious.
CJ Huang
Lovely cookies! I just learned how you made the pretty shape – I would never have thought to make the rope first. 🙂
Bob Stanley
I made these and I loved them. It would be easy to make them look really festive with silver dragees or red and green confetti.
Barbara
Thanks Bob – I really do need to make them again and dress them up for the holidays. I remember thinking last year after they were made that I wish I had some sprinkles to dress them up with. So glad you love them too!
Sarah, Maison Cupcake
These would not be safe in my house… glaze and lemon together sounds fantastic.
Jamie
What beautiful, festive cookies! So glad you made these (and passed on a great recipe) and kudos and double kudos for talking a son into helping! Now I want to taste one. Great Xmas gift cookie too!
Jamie
I think your Christmas Wreath cookies are so pretty. I would love to open up a tin of these cookies. I love anything lemon and I know I would love these lemon glazed cookies. Another great cookie to make this holiday season.
foodwanderings
Love these lemon glazed cookies!! The glaze is smooth and beautiful. I am on a search for anything that will go with my tea and these look like the perfect sweet to along with it. Shulie
Gabriella
Quiesti biscotti hanno un aspetto bellissimo, la glassa sembra perfetta, è una bella idea natalizia, mi piacciono tanto brava!!!
Juliana
Barbara, these cookies look so pretty…so elegantly presented. Love the idea of lemon glazed 🙂
Donna
Oh My! Can I come and live at your house for the holidays?
Barbara @ Modern Comfort Food
I’m just loving the 12 Weeks of Christmas series and have become quite the cookie peeper as a result. Could your wreath cookies be any prettier or more tempting? I just love everything about them, especially the lemony glaze.
Joy
THose look great. So feastive.
Nic
Wow, those are beauties! Look just like some you could buy in a very classy shop.
Katie Rose
These look so perfect! I love lemon in cookies 🙂
Sasa
How lovely these look! I’m on the hunt for recipes to fill my Chrissie cookie tins and I think these will be at the top – they look a bit ike wee doughnuts.