Create a Christmas Cookie Tray with 7 easy steps. Whether home made cookies or purchased ones select sweet, savory, salty and citrus flavors to please every palate. Second, think of your cookie platter as a round clock with placement of cookies at twelve, four and eight, next select large cookies with no frosting for the bottom layer, then add medium sized cookies, and last…the smallest cookies and candies on the top layer.
Spiced Ginger snap cookies, Chocolate covered macaroons, Cranberry Pinwheels, Ricotta Lemon Cookies, Chocolate Orange Fingers, Poinsettia Cookies, Kit Kat Christmas Trees, are just a few cookies you can make and take or give away. Most can be frozen ahead, except the candies.
Christmas Cookie Tray Assembly
Begin with a solid white plate to showcase each cookie. Select cookies that are Sweet, Savory, Salty & Citrus Flavors. (click on photos for recipes)
Good cookie trays offer a cookie for everyone, for those who love chocolate and those who don’t. Sweet, Savory, Salty, and Citrus is a great flavor mix to keep in mind while baking all of your family favorites. Get a jump start on Christmas baking with recipes that are make-a -head, frozen and baked right before serving.
Step 1: Think of your plate as a clock when positioning cookies.
Start with the largest flat non frosted cookie as the base. In this case I started building the tray at 2 and 8 pm.. if we are using the clock hand system. The first cookie is Spiced Gingersnaps.
Step 2: Second placement of cookies on tray, 11-4.
Position the next set of cookies at 11 and 4. Notice how the cookies are laid one on top of the other leading toward the center of the plate. Make sure your chocolates and decor on cookies are solid. The second cookies are Coconut Macaroons dipped in chocolate.
Step 3: Cookie Placement Positions- 10-12-3-7.
The next cookie position at 10-12-3-7, depending on the size and shape of your cookies and how they will fit on the tray. Now we are beginning to fill the bottom layer. This third cookie is Cranberry Pinwheels. This cookie is filled with fresh chopped cranberries, walnuts and rolled like a pinwheel. They can be made-a-head and frozen, then sliced and baked before serving.
Step 4: Building the layers of cookies.
Notice the 5 white cookies filling in open spaces on the plate. At this point you are beginning to build your second layer. These cookies are Soft Ricotta Lemon Cookies. They are frosted with lemon frosting and grated lemon rind. Everyone loves these lemony flavored cookies, especially those who can’t eat chocolate. Poor souls.. Chocolate is heavenly.
Step 5: New shape to create interest on cookie tray.
Introducing a new shape to the tray, an elongated lady like fingers. These are Chocolate Orange Fingers that have one end dipped in melted chocolate. Be careful not to touch the chocolate with the lemon cookies. Filling in the second layer and still in a pattern that is pleasing to your eyes. Position the cookies with the chocolate end towards the center of the tray for easy pick up and in the same direction.
Step 6 – Add decorated and fancy type cookies.
Add the poinsettia butter cookies for punch of color and festivity. You don’t have to add every cookie you baked for the season on this one tray. If you notice you can see all the cookies we have placed on the plate with out having it look over crowded. Everyone can see the various kinds and not have to dig through the tray to find that one cookie they wanted.
Step 7: Include Candies for final layer.
For this tray I made Kit Kat Christmas Trees. Kids of all ages will love these candies. It’s time to stop layering and serve the made from scratch delights to your family and friends.
Need more ideas? Check out the food gifts below and ways to present.
This method of building a cookie tray is a wonder. I always had trouble deciding what to do and making my trays look nice. No longer a problem. This is so easy and makes a beautiful tray. Thank you.
So glad this was helpful to you. They are so much fun to make. Enjoy and happy creating.