In the world of Christmas cookies decorated often the most memorable treats are those with a story—recipes passed down through church cookbooks or family gatherings that carry a touch of nostalgia. The Poinsettia cookie is one such gem a simple buttery biscuit transformed into a stunning ADORABLE festive flower using maraschino cherries.
Many home bakers stick to the same shapes each year missing out on the charm of these old fashioned Christmas cookies. The beauty of the Poinsettia cookie is its simplicity it requires no fancy piping skills just a careful arrangement of sliced fruit and sprinkles to create a beautiful effect.
This Poinsettia Cookies recipe is the definitive guide to recreating this delightful FESTIVE classic. The dough itself is unique using powdered sugar and no leavening agent which yields a dense buttery base perfect for holding the cherry decoration. The flavor is instantly recognizable Christmas comfort—butterscotch chips coconut and a hint of rum extract.
This recipe is a must-pin for anyone searching Christmas Cookies Decorated because it offers a stunning visual result using simple ingredients. If you are looking for the BEST holiday gifting cookie with a unique old fashioned Christmas cookies flavor this simple method is your guaranteed winner.
Why You’ll Love These Poinsettia Cookies
This recipe is a massive holiday success because it delivers a beautiful floral shape using a fun technique and incorporates surprising classic holiday flavors.
- The FESTIVE and ADORABLE Look The appeal of these cookies is entirely visual. By slicing maraschino cherries and arranging eight pieces in a spiral you easily create the petals of a poinsettia. The yellow sprinkles in the center complete the ADORABLE FESTIVE flower look making these the perfect centerpiece for your Christmas dessert platter.
- BEST Old Fashioned Christmas Cookies Flavor The flavor profile is uniquely old fashioned Christmas cookies a delicious blend of buttery sweetness butterscotch chips and shredded coconut. A small touch of rum extract enhances the cherry flavor and gives the cookie a warm complexity that keeps people guessing.
- A Simple No-Leavening Dough This recipe uses no baking powder or baking soda. The dough relies entirely on the creaming of butter and powdered sugar to provide structure. This technique results in a dense buttery disk that prevents spreading and perfectly supports the heavy cherry and sprinkle topping.
- Ideal for Holiday Gifting These cookies are sturdy and hold their shape and topping well after baking. This makes them perfect for holiday gifting and cookie swaps ensuring your ADORABLE handmade treats arrive intact and beautiful.
Ingredients and Instructions The Cherry Decoration
The key to the FESTIVE Poinsettia Cookies is using powdered sugar in the dough for a tender crumb and prepping the maraschino cherries correctly to prevent color bleeding.
| Component | Quantity | Notes |
| Powdered Sugar | 2 cups | Used in the dough for a soft texture |
| Unsalted Butter | 1 cup | Softened to room temperature |
| Large Eggs | 2 | |
| Vanilla Extract | 1 teaspoon | |
| Rum Extract | 1/2 teaspoon | Can substitute with almond or vanilla |
| All-Purpose Flour | 3 cups | |
| Salt | 1 teaspoon | |
| Sweetened Coconut | 1 cup | Shredded |
| Butterscotch Morsels | 1 cup | Or chocolate chips |
| Maraschino Cherries | 1 cup | Sliced into 8 pieces |
| Yellow Sprinkles | As needed | Or a butterscotch chip for the center |
- Prep Cherries Slice each maraschino cherry into 8 even slices. Place the slices on a paper towel to drain the excess juice. This prevents color bleeding onto the dough.
- Cream Dough Base Place the powdered sugar and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs vanilla and rum extract and beat until just combined.
- Form Dough Add the flour and salt and stir until combined. Fold in the shredded coconut and butterscotch chips. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours. Chilling is mandatory.
- Shape and Flatten Preheat oven to 375°F. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls. Dip a drinking glass in granulated sugar and use it to gently flatten each dough ball into a disk 1/3-1/2 inch thick.
- Decorate and Bake Arrange 8 cherry slices on top of each disk in a spiral pattern to resemble a poinsettia. Place yellow sprinkles or one butterscotch chip in the center. Bake for 12 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
- Cool Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step by Step Mastering the Poinsettia Design
The challenge with these Poinsettia Cookies is creating the perfect floral shape that remains FESTIVE and ADORABLE without the cherry juice running. My early attempts sometimes had juice streaks; I learned the draining step is vital.
Here is the detailed human-written guide to mastering this spectacular Christmas cookies decorated recipe:
- Slice Thinly and Drain The key to the poinsettia petals is slicing the cherries very thinly—into 8 pieces per cherry. After slicing you must place them on a paper towel for 30 minutes. This draws out the excess moisture and red juice which is the primary cause of bleeding onto the light-colored dough.
- Use Powdered Sugar in the Dough Using powdered sugar instead of granulated sugar in the dough contributes to the BEST texture. Powdered sugar dissolves faster creating a tender dense and melt-in-your-mouth cookie base perfect for this type of heavily decorated old fashioned Christmas cookies.
- The Sugar-Dipped Flattening Dipping the bottom of the glass in granulated sugar before pressing the dough serves two purposes. It prevents the dough from sticking to the glass and it adds a light sprinkling of granulated sugar to the surface which slightly helps the dough hold its shape and adds a subtle crunch.
- Arrange Petals Carefully When arranging the 8 cherry slices on the flattened disk gently overlap them slightly in a pinwheel or spiral pattern to create the natural look of poinsettia petals. Place the yellow center (sprinkles or butterscotch chip) last right before baking.
- The Rum Extract Flavor Secret The addition of rum extract (or almond extract) is the flavor secret of these cookies. It complements the maraschino cherry flavor beautifully giving the cookie a distinct FESTIVE and nostalgic taste often found in old fashioned Christmas cookies.
Variations Serving and Storage Tips
This core Poinsettia Cookies recipe is a stunning Christmas cookies decorated showpiece for holiday gifting.
Delicious Variations to Try
- Mint Poinsettias Substitute the butterscotch chips with white chocolate chips. Add 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract instead of rum extract.
- Nutty Center For a less sweet center use a blanched almond half instead of the yellow sprinkles or butterscotch chip.
- Simple Sprinkles If skipping the cherry petals roll the dough balls in granulated sugar and sprinkles before baking for a simple colorful finish.
- Gluten-Free Substitute the all-purpose flour with a 11 gluten-free baking blend that contains xanthan gum. The dense nature of the dough works well with this substitution.
Serving Suggestions
These ADORABLE cookies are perfect for:
- Holiday Gifting Package them individually or layered between wax paper in holiday tins. Their unique floral design makes them a standout homemade holiday gift.
- Dessert Platter Arrange them alongside green and white cookies to complete the red and green FESTIVE theme.
- Classic Treat Serve with coffee or tea.
Storage and Recipe Notes
| Item | Details |
| Keep Fresh | Store in an airtight container at room temperature for several days |
| Freezing Baked | Freeze for up to 3 months layered between wax paper |
| Dough Make Ahead | Dough can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours |
| Cherry Prep | Must slice cherries into 8 pieces and drain thoroughly to prevent bleeding |
Conclusion Your Most FESTIVE Christmas Cookie Recipe
The Poinsettia Cookies recipe is the perfect blend of nostalgic flavor and unique visual charm. It’s the BEST old fashioned Christmas cookies solution that guarantees a FESTIVE ADORABLE and delicious Christmas dessert every time.
By embracing this simple no-leavening dough and cherry decorating technique you ensure your holiday platter is filled with beautiful Christmas cookies decorated with ease.
Pin this holiday gifting recipe today and enjoy the BEST FESTIVE Poinsettia Cookies
The FESTIVE Poinsettia Cookies
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Slice each maraschino cherry into eight pieces. Spread on a paper towel and let drain for at least 30 minutes to remove excess juice and prevent color bleeding.
- In a stand mixer, beat powdered sugar and butter together until light and fluffy. Add eggs, vanilla, and rum extract; mix until combined.
- Stir in flour and salt until a soft dough forms. Fold in coconut and butterscotch chips. Cover and refrigerate for 2–24 hours to firm the dough completely.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Roll chilled dough into 1-inch balls. Dip the bottom of a glass in granulated sugar and gently flatten each ball into a disk about 1/3-inch thick.
- Arrange 8 cherry slices on each disk in a spiral to resemble poinsettia petals. Place yellow sprinkles or a butterscotch chip in the center. Bake for 12 minutes until edges are light golden brown.
- Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in airtight containers once cooled.