Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, the iconic Christmas ballet, captures the hearts of children and adults with its tale of innocence, love, and Christmas magic. Whether baking for fans of wooden soldiers or those who dream of dancing, Nutcracker Sugar Cookies are sure to delight.
Why you'll love this recipe
When I was around six years old, my mother took me to see the New York City ballet production of The Nutcracker.
I remember my wonder as I watched the stage. A Christmas tree grew before my eyes. Ballerinas floated on the tips of their toes. I was transfixed.
I became a believer in Nutcracker magic. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed sharing that magic.
My first year teaching, I taught 5th and 6th grade at Holy Trinity Elementary in the inner city of Chicago. The school was a very special place with a wonderful staff and an amazing principal.
Most of my 19 students lived in the projects. I was a young, naïve, inexperienced teacher, with big ideas and no reason to believe I could fail.
When I read that a professional dress rehearsal of The Nutcracker was available for school field trips, I decided it would be wonderful to share that Nutcracker magic with my students, none of whom had ever been to a ballet.
Before thinking the idea through completely, I casually mentioned the field trip to my principal.
I am sure she thought of the many ways that taking my class to a ballet could be a disaster, but for some unknown reason, she supported my idea. The Nutcracker field trip became a reality.
For the month before our trip, I immersed my students in everything Nutcracker; the story, the music, the instruments, the ballet. A special classroom meeting was held to discuss ballet theater etiquette.
I gave my street-smart, cocky 5th and 6th graders ample opportunity to laugh and joke about men in tights, but made it clear that they needed to “get over it” before the performance.
The day of our field trip, The Nutcracker worked its magic on my students. I could not have been more proud of their behavior or more delighted with their enjoyment.
They sat mesmerized, only occasionally whispering in excitement when they recognized a piece of music or a character.
Though I taught for many years, that Nutcracker field trip was the most impactful experience of my career.
For my December Military Care Package, I shared some Nutcracker magic with my adopted soldier.
It’s always hard for our service members to be away from their loved ones, but missing holidays together is especially hard.
I sent a Santa box at the end of November, with decorations and a filled Christmas stocking to help bring a little holiday spirit.
A few weeks later, I sent this Nutcracker box, with a note summarizing the story of The Nutcracker and expressing my wish that the power of love and Christmas magic will be with him all year long.
Care package contents
After making my Thanksgiving Turkey package, I’m hooked on creating characters using the four open flaps of the box.
After lining the box with snowflake wrapping paper, I found a free printable nutcracker online and increased the size of the head, arms, and legs to fit the box flaps.
In addition to the Nutcracker Sugar Cookies, the care package includes Christmas marshmallows, packaged nut mixes, holiday flavors of protein bars, Nutcracker coloring sheets and colored pencils, Nutcracker ornaments, and Nutcracker plates and cups. Two cans of Pringles chips are wrapped in Nutcracker printables I found online.
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar just until combined.
- Mix in eggs and vanilla. Then mix in baking powder and salt. Gradually add flour, 1 cup at a time.
- Prepare the icing and divide into thirds: ⅓ skin tone, ⅓ black, ⅓ divided into 1 cup white and the remaining red. Place ⅓ of the skin tone, black and red icings into piping bags.
- Thin the remaining icing to flooding consistency (slightly thinner than white glue) and place in separate piping bags.
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Decorating instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Roll out dough ⅜” thick and cut into 2” x 3” rectangles. To create “cheat lines” that make it easier add icing uniformly to all of the cookies, divide the rectangle into 1” segments making shallow indentations in the dough. Bake for 10 minutes and cool completely before icing.
- Outline each segment using the thicker icing. Start with the center beige. Do not outline the white section.
- Fill in each segment with flooding icing. Allow the icing to firm slightly for at least one hour before adding details.
- Use the black outline icing to add the mustache and details on the shirt. Use black sequin sprinkles or the black icing for the eyes. Use the beige outline icing to create a nose. The hat details, shoulder details, and buttons can be added with the beige icing (as in the photo) and in an additional step painted with gold luster dust or the remaining beige icing can be colored yellow and used for these details. Let the icing dry at least another hour before continuing.
5. Place the cookie on a baking pan with sides. Draw a stripe of white icing between the hat and the face.
6./7.Sprinkle white nonpareil sprinkles over the wet white icing stripe to cover completely. Gently pick up the cookie and dump excess sprinkles into the pan.
- If using gold luster dust, mix a tiny amount of alcohol (vodka works well) with luster dust to form a paintable paste, and paint the beige details.
Dry the Nutcracker Sugar Cookies overnight to allow the icing to harden before packing. I enclose each cookie in a self-sealing cellophane cookie bags, but plastic wrap would also work. The cookies are then securely packaged for shipping in a freezer weight ziplock bag or plastic storage container. When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, Nutcracker Sugar Cookies stay fresh for at least 2 weeks.
New recipe for this theme
Cinnamon Chip Biscotti are the new recipe created for this care package. The biscotti are part of the Time Saver Recipe series.
Starting with a box of yellow cake mix as a shortcut, ground cinnamon and cinnamon chips spice up the dough.
Creamy cinnamon-white chocolate coating on the bottom is the finishing touch.
Related recipes
Any recipe made with nuts would certainly go well with this theme, but there are no tree nut recipes on The Monday Box due to my allergies. Instead, here are some decorated Christmas cookies and fudge that would make anyone’s sweet tooth happy.
Chocolate Covered Oreos (Christmas Trees and Rudolph)
Snowflake and Christmas Wreath Fudge
More care package themes
Send a Christmas Care Package with a Santa Claus theme for smiles, joy and a merry Christmas to anyone far from home this holiday season.
Thoughts of snow and winter inspire this cozy Snowman Care Package. This theme makes great college care packages all winter.
An Elf on the Shelf Care Package is sure to create mischief!
A Penguins and Polar Bears themed care package is an adorable theme for a winter care package or any other time of year!
Wishing everyone a magical and peace-filled holiday season!
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Nutcracker Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
Cookie dough
- 1 batch Cut Out Vanilla Sugar Cookies
Icing
- 4 cups confectioners' sugar
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 3 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Decorating
- food coloring gel (beige, red, black)
- 1 tablespoon cocoa
- white nonpareil sprinkles
- black sequin sprinkles
Instructions
Cookies
- Prepare the cookie dough according to the Cut Out Vanilla Sugar Cookies recipe.
- Between two sheets of parchment paper, roll out dough ⅜” thick and cut into 2” x 3” rectangles. To create “cheat lines” that make it easier add icing uniformly to all of the cookies, divide each rectangle into 1” segments making shallow indentations in the dough.
Icing
- In a medium bowl, combine sugar and milk until smooth.
- Add corn syrup and vanilla. Continue beating together until smooth and glossy. Add additional milk in tablespoon increments until desired consistency. (Icing consistency should be thin enough to spread easily but thick enough not to drip excessively off the cookies.)
- Remove about 1 cup of the icing to leave white.Divide the remaining icing evenly into 3 bowls. Color one third icing beige (Americolor gel Beige), one third icing red (Americolor gel Super Red), and the remaining third icing mix with the tablespoon cocoa and color black (Americolor gel Black).
Decorating
- For the beige, red, and black icing: Place ⅓ of each color of icing in separate piping bags with #3 tips. Thin the rest of each icing to flooding consistency, slightly thinner than white glue, and place in separate piping bags with a small piece of each tip cut off.
- The white icing should all be thinned to flooding consistency and placed in a piping bag with a small piece of the tip cut off.
- Outline each segment of the cookie using the thicker icing. Start with the center beige, the top black and the bottom red. The white isn’t outlined.
- Fill in each segment with flooding icing. Allow the icing to firm slightly for at least one hour before adding details.
- Use the black outline icing to add the mustache and details on the shirt. Black sequin sprinkles or the black icing can be used for the eyes. Use the beige outline icing to create a nose. The hat details, shoulder details, and buttons can be added with the beige icing and in an additional step painted with gold luster dust or the remaining beige icing can be colored yellow and used for these details. Let the icing dry at least another hour before continuing.
- To add nonpareil sprinkles to the hat, place one cookie on a baking pan with sides. Draw a stripe of white icing between the hat and the face. Sprinkle white nonpareil sprinkles over the wet white icing stripe to cover completely. Gently pick up the cookie and dump excess sprinkles into the pan. Repeat with all of the cookies.
- Dry the Nutcracker Sugar Cookies overnight to allow the icing to harden before storing or packing.
- When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, Nutcracker Sugar Cookies stay fresh for at least 2 weeks.
Nutrition
First Published: December 17, 2016. Last Updated: September 10, 2022. Updated for additional information and better reader experience.
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert
You are an incredible artist Wendy! I hope you have a wonderful holiday - I know these cookies will make someones holiday extra special. Absolutely gorgeous!
The Monday Box
Thank you, Tricia. I'm not even close to an artist, but I am an enthusiastic icing dabbler. 🙂 I always hope my soldiers feel the care I put into their cookies and know how much I appreciate them! Wishing you a joyous, peace filled New Year!
Monica
Loved reading about your teaching experience and about taking the kids to see The Nutcracker. It truly has special meaning for you and I can tell by how much care you took with these cookies. You did an amazing job...labor of love. I love the whole thing but you know what my favorite part is? The little bit of pink sugar you dusted on their cheeks. : ) It's all in the details. Love is in the details...
The Monday Box
Dear Monica,
Thank you. Truth is, I added the pink luster dust for the cheeks on all of the nutcrackers I sent, but it is so subtle, I didn't think anyone would see it. I even felt a little silly spending the time to add the cheeks. I didn't include the luster dust in the tutorial, as I didn't think anyone would notice them in the first place. Your sweet, kind words touched my heart. "Love is in the details," is such a beautiful thought. And so true. Thank you, my friend, for noticing. 🙂
Ashley
My sister and I were always obsessed with The Nutcracker growing up! And these cookies ... Wendy you really outdid yourself with these! They are so so cool! Happy holidays!!!
The Monday Box
Thanks, Ashley! I love that The Nutcracker plays a part in so many childhood memories! Sharing these cookies with my soldier in the hopes that they will elicit happy thoughts for him as well! Wishing you happy holidays and a peace filled New Year!
Chris Scheuer
These are just enchanting Wendy! A wonderful tutorial too, you make it look so easy. 🙂
The Monday Box
Thanks, Chris! I love that you used the word "enchanting". Enchanting is what The Nutcracker is all about! 🙂
Reeni
These are DARLING Wendy! In 5th grade my teacher took us to see the Nutcracker - it was extra special because he was in it! It was something I'll never forget. Those students are so lucky for having you! And I can imagine your care packages are something to brag about! I bet the receiver shows everyone - they're pretty lucky too.
The Monday Box
Thank you, Reeni! I think many people have strong 5th grade memories (good or bad). It was always my very favorite grade to teach. How exciting to see your teacher in a performance and how wonderful that he shared that moment with his class!! As for my care packages....they are packed with as much "care" as I can get in the package! 🙂 I want my soldier and his fellow soldiers to know they are appreciated.
shannon @ a periodic table
you have *got* to be kidding me; these are the CUTEST. COOKIES. I'VE EVER SEEN. the things you can do, Wendy.
The Monday Box
Thank you, Shannon! Your emphatic endorsement means a lot to me, especially considering the beyond cute marshmallow mugs you posted on Instagram! 🙂
Ada Plainaki
Wow Wendy! They are so beautiful!! Very good instructions, too! Thanks so much for mentioned me in your post 🙂 Have a very Merry Christmas!!!
The Monday Box
Thank YOU, Ada, for your kind words and for the inspiration to try these cookies. I fell in love with your nutcracker cookies the moment I saw them! Wishing you and your family a joyous holiday season!!