If you are creating a Candy Land Christmas, a life sized gingerbread house, or just want one show stopping holiday decor piece that makes people stop and stare, this giant Christmas tree sugar cookie is it. It looks like it came straight out of a bakery window, but it is made almost entirely from cardboard boxes and paint.
This project is lightweight, inexpensive, and perfect for porches, playhouses, classrooms, or indoor holiday displays. It is also surprisingly forgiving. The charm is in the handmade look. Wobbly icing lines and uneven sprinkles only make it cuter.
The key to this DIY is thinking in layers. First you build the cookie base, then you add the icing, and finally you decorate it just like a real sugar cookie. Kids can help with the pompom “sprinkles,” which makes this a fun family project instead of a stressful one.
Materials You’ll Need
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Large cardboard box or multiple boxes taped together
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Box cutter or scissors
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Packing tape
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Light tan paint (for the cookie and trunk)
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Pastel green paint (for the icing area)
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Paint brushes or rollers
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Puffy white yarn (to look like icing)
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White school glue
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Pom poms in pastel or holiday colors
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Build Your Cookie Base
Start by cutting your cardboard into a large Christmas tree shape. If one box is not big enough, tape multiple boxes together until you get the size you want. Don’t worry about perfection. Slightly uneven edges actually make it look more like a real baked cookie.
Once your tree shape is cut, reinforce the back with extra cardboard and tape so it stands sturdier.
2. Paint the Cookie
Paint the outer rim of the tree and the trunk with a light tan color to mimic a sugar cookie. This creates the illusion of a baked edge. Let this layer dry completely.
3. Fill in the Icing
Once the tan paint is dry, paint the center of the tree with pastel green. This represents the iced portion of the cookie. A soft, muted green works best for that classic sugar cookie look.
4. Add the Icing Details
When the paint is fully dry, apply white school glue along the edge of the green icing area. Press the puffy white yarn into the glue, letting it curve and loop naturally to mimic piped icing. Allow this to dry fully before moving on.
5. Decorate with Sprinkles
Use small dots of white school glue to attach pom poms randomly across the green icing area. Think of them like candy sprinkles. Vary the colors and spacing so it feels playful and homemade. Let everything dry completely.
6. Display Your Cookie
Lean your giant cookie against a wall, prop it on a porch, or place it near a playhouse or gingerbread setup. Because it is lightweight, it is easy to move and reuse year after year.
This giant sugar cookie Christmas tree is one of those decor pieces that feels magical without being complicated. It photographs beautifully, works indoors or outdoors, and instantly adds that whimsical bakery feel to your holiday setup. If you are building a full Candy Land Christmas, this is the perfect statement piece to tie everything together.
