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5.0 from 1 vote

There’s something about Christmas lights that instantly sets the tone for the holidays — that soft glow strung along rooftops, wrapped around trees, and twinkling in every corner of the neighborhood. These Christmas Lights Cookies capture that same feeling in dessert form: bright, colorful, and just plain fun to make. The beauty of this recipe is that it keeps things as simple as possible while still delivering a show-stopping result that looks like it came straight out of a bakery window.

You don’t need any complicated doughs or hours of chilling to pull these off. Once you’ve got your sugar cookies baked — whether they’re homemade, slice-and-bake, or from store-bought dough — the rest is pure creativity. All you need is a tub of vanilla frosting, a little black decorating gel, and some M&M’s in classic Christmas red and green. That’s it. No piping bags, no royal icing, and no special tools required. You’ll have cookies that look like glowing strings of lights in under half an hour.

These cookies are ideal for cookie swaps, office parties, or family decorating nights when you want something festive without the mess or stress. Kids love helping with them — especially sticking on the M&M’s and deciding on their color patterns — but adults will enjoy the nostalgia too. It’s hard not to smile when you see a tray of sugar cookies lined with bright candy “lights.” They look like something straight from a Christmas card or a Hallmark movie set, and they taste even better.

If you’re already making a few types of cookies this season — maybe your Melted Snowman Cookies or those Chocolate Reindeer Cookies — these Christmas Lights Cookies fit right in as the visual pop of the lineup. They break up the browns and whites of classic cookies with a burst of color, and they’re photogenic enough to grab attention on Instagram or Pinterest. Every cookie feels like a mini canvas where you get to draw your own strand of lights. Some people like to make the black line curve gently, like a loose string draped across a tree branch. Others add a few swoops, twists, or intersecting lines to make it look like a tangled set of bulbs. However you design them, they always turn out eye-catching and unique.

Flavor-wise, you can keep things classic with sugar cookies and vanilla frosting, or switch it up. Almond sugar cookies add a subtle nutty warmth that pairs perfectly with vanilla. If you’re dairy-free, you can use your favorite plant-based frosting (many vanilla-style frostings work well), and vegan chocolate candies can easily replace M&M’s for a similar pop of color. The key is to use candies with a shiny surface so they catch the light and resemble the glow of real bulbs.

The frosting layer acts like snow — a soft, white backdrop that makes the dark string and colorful candies stand out. It’s best to spread a thin layer, just enough to coat the surface evenly without making it too thick or heavy. Once the frosting sets a bit, it provides a perfect base for the decorating gel to stick to without smudging. That’s where the fun really begins.

Use a small tube of black decorating gel to draw the “wires.” It doesn’t have to be perfect — in fact, a slightly wavy line looks more realistic and playful. Think of it like stringing real lights: no two lines are ever exactly straight. Then, place the M&M’s along the line to mimic bulbs. Alternate red and green, or make them random. You can even mix in yellow or blue candies if you want that old-school multi-color Christmas-light look. Press each candy gently into the frosting so it stays secure once it sets.

If you want to take these up a notch for presentation, sprinkle a little edible glitter or sanding sugar over the frosting before you add the lights. The sparkle catches the light and adds a frosted-snow effect that makes the cookies shimmer on a dessert table. Another great trick is to pipe a few small white dots between lights, almost like snowflakes or reflections, to make the cookies look even more festive.

These cookies hold up well at room temperature, so they’re excellent for holiday gift boxes or bake-sale platters. Layer them between sheets of parchment paper in a tin or airtight container, and they’ll stay soft and fresh for up to five days. If you’re preparing for a large event, you can even bake the cookies ahead of time and decorate them the next day — just make sure the surface is cool and dry before spreading on the frosting.

What makes this recipe so appealing is how adaptable it is. Want a peppermint twist? Add a drop or two of peppermint extract to your frosting. Craving a little crunch? Use crushed mini candy canes as part of the decoration. Hosting a kids’ party? Let everyone customize their own string of lights using different candy colors and patterns. The simplicity of the base cookie gives you endless room for creativity, and the finished product always screams “Christmas.”

When you’re setting up for photos or presentation, arrange these cookies in a circle, overlapping slightly, to make them look like a glowing wreath. Or line them across a long rectangular platter to resemble strands of lights strung across a mantel. They pair perfectly with a mug of hot cocoa, coffee, or eggnog — especially by the fire while the real Christmas lights twinkle nearby.

Whether you’re baking for tradition, fun, or just to fill the house with that sweet holiday smell, these Christmas Lights Cookies are the kind of easy-win recipe that checks every box: festive, colorful, nostalgic, and ridiculously simple. You can make a full batch in under 30 minutes and still impress everyone at the table.

If you’re building out your annual “12 Days of Christmas Cookies” lineup, this one deserves a spot. It’s the kind of recipe that feels classic yet creative — something that looks special but requires almost no effort. It’s approachable for beginners, quick enough for busy schedules, and pretty enough to post. These cookies truly light up the season — one sweet, shiny bulb at a time.

Christmas Lights Cookies

Recipe by Caleb

5.0 from 1 vote

Course: CookiesDifficulty: Beginner

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Total time

minutes

Ingredients

US Metric

24 24 sugar cookies (baked and cooled)
16 oz 16 tub vanilla frosting
1 tube 1 black decorating gel
1 bag 1 Christmas M&M’s (red and green)

Directions

Lay out 24 baked sugar cookies on a parchment-lined surface.
Spread about 1–2 tablespoons of vanilla frosting evenly across each cookie, covering the top completely.
Let the frosting set for a few minutes so it’s slightly firm to the touch but still tacky.
Using the black decorating gel, draw two thin, slightly curved horizontal lines across each cookie.
Place 3–4 red M&M’s along the first line, spaced evenly apart.
Place 3–4 green M&M’s along the second line, directly beneath the red ones, so they alternate in color.
Repeat for all cookies, adjusting the pattern as you like.
Allow the decorating gel to set completely before stacking or serving.