Sugar Plum Fairy Cookies with Berry Buttercream Recipe

If you’re looking for a cookie that feels like a little holiday magic wrapped in every bite, you HAVE to try my Sugar Plum Fairy Cookies with Berry Buttercream Recipe. These aren’t your average sugar cookies — they’re bursting with warm spices, a surprise plum jam center, and topped with the dreamiest berry-infused buttercream. I promise, once you make these, your kitchen will smell like pure joy, and they’ll disappear before you even get a chance to snap a photo!

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Ingredients You’ll Need

The magic here comes from pairing classic sugar cookie ingredients with a bunch of warm spices and that secret plum jam. For the frosting, freeze-dried berries add an intense flavor without watering down the buttercream. Trust me — you’ll want to gather these ingredients before the baking adventure begins!

• All-purpose flour: Make sure it’s spooned and leveled for accurate measurement to get the perfect cookie texture.
• Baking powder, baking soda, salt: The usual leavening agents that help your cookies rise and keep them light.
• Ground cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg: Spices that bring warmth and holiday cheer — don’t skip them!
• Granulated sugar: Sweetness that also helps the cookies spread and create that lovely crumb.
• Unsalted butter: Very softened butter is key here — it creamssuper well with the sugar, making those cookies fluffy.
• Egg: At room temp for best incorporation and structure.
• Vanilla bean paste: This adds a richer vanilla flavor than extract and gives you those lovely specs in your dough.
• Orange zest: It brightens the flavor and complements the plum perfectly.
• Plum jam: I love Stonewall Kitchen Sugar Plum Jam for this — it’s not too sweet and has a deep fruitiness.
• Pink sparkling sugar: This adds sparkle and a bit of crunch on the cookie surface.
• Freeze-dried berries (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries): Grinding these makes your frosting pop with natural berry flavor without sogginess.
• Powdered sugar: For that creamy, sweet buttercream base.
• Heavy cream: Just enough to get that dreamy, smooth frosting consistency.
• Pink sprinkles: Optional, but adds that extra festive touch.

Variations

I love tweaking this Sugar Plum Fairy Cookies with Berry Buttercream Recipe depending on the season or who I’m baking for. The flexibility means you can personalize these treats to your taste or dietary needs, so don’t be shy with your creativity!

• Variation: For a gluten-free twist, swap all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free blend and add an extra egg yolk to help with structure — I’ve done this a few times with great results.
• Berry Choices: Try different freeze-dried berries in the buttercream to play with flavor — my kids loved raspberry but blackberries give a nice tangy punch.
• Jam Swap: No plum jam? Apricot or cherry jam works beautifully, too, giving a slightly different but equally delicious flavor.
• Spice it up: Add a hint of ginger or allspice if you want a warmer, slightly bolder cookie.

How to Make Sugar Plum Fairy Cookies with Berry Buttercream Recipe

Step 1: Whisk Together Your Dry Ingredients

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining your baking sheets with parchment paper — trust me, clean-up is so much easier this way! Then, in a medium bowl, whisk together your flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and all those fragrant spices (cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg). Setting this aside lets everything blend nicely and ready to mix in later.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar Until Light and Fluffy

Using an electric mixer, beat the very softened butter and sugar on high speed for 1-2 minutes. You’ll know you’re there when the mixture looks pale and fluffy — this step makes a huge difference in your cookie’s texture, so don’t rush it!

Step 3: Add Egg, Vanilla, and Orange Zest

Next, mix in the egg, vanilla bean paste, and fresh orange zest on medium speed until pale and really fluffy, about 1-2 minutes. This step infuses your dough with amazing aroma that will fill your kitchen and make your mouth water.

Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients and Form Dough Balls

Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix on low speed just until combined — overmixing here can make your cookies tough, so be gentle. Scoop the dough with about 2 tablespoons each, then flatten a bit and add about ½ teaspoon of cold plum jam right in the center. Carefully fold the dough over the jam, pinching the edges to seal like an envelope, then roll into a smooth ball with your hands.

I discovered this trick when the jam leaked everywhere in the first batch. The warmth from your hands helps to seal the edges without squishing the jam out — patience here seriously pays off.

Step 5: Coat and Bake the Cookies

Roll each cookie ball in pink sparkling sugar to add sparkle and slight crunch. Place them at least 2 inches apart on your baking sheets, flatten slightly, and shape them carefully into circles. Bake for 9-10 minutes — watch the edges for a subtle golden tint. Let them cool on the pans for 5 minutes before transferring to a rack.

Step 6: Make the Berry Plum Buttercream While Cookies Cool

While the cookies bake and cool, let’s make the frosting. Pulse your freeze-dried berries in a food processor until fine, then sift to remove seeds. Beat the softened butter and salt until fluffy, then add the plum jam and berry powder. Finally, add powdered sugar and heavy cream, mixing low to combine and then high until the frosting is light and airy. I like to use a Wilton 2D tip for a pretty swirl.

Step 7: Frost and Decorate

Once the cookies are completely cool, pipe the berry buttercream on top and sprinkle with pink sprinkles for a beautiful festive look. These cookies are not just a treat for the taste buds but also for the eyes!

How to Serve Sugar Plum Fairy Cookies with Berry Buttercream Recipe

Garnishes

I typically finish these cookies with pink sprinkles because they add a playful sparkle and a little texture contrast. You can also try edible glitter or crushed freeze-dried berries on top for an extra wow factor — my friends always ask me where they can buy these!

Side Dishes

These cookies are perfect with a warm cup of chai tea or your favorite black coffee. For holiday gatherings, I love pairing them with a sparkling berry punch or even a glass of dessert wine to complement the fruity notes.

Creative Ways to Present

For gift-giving or parties, I arrange my Sugar Plum Fairy Cookies with Berry Buttercream Recipe on a pretty wooden platter lined with fresh rosemary sprigs and scattered cranberries. It makes the display feel super festive and inviting. Another time, I piped frosting in different heights and sprinkled freeze-dried berry crumbs for a whimsical “fairy garden” effect that kids adored.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cookies in an airtight container layered with parchment paper between each layer, at room temp for up to 3 days. The buttercream keeps them moist and soft, and honestly, they taste even better after resting overnight because the flavors marry beautifully.

Freezing

If you want to prep ahead, you can freeze the baked and cooled cookies (without frosting) in a single layer on a baking sheet first, then transfer to a freezer bag. They keep great for up to 3 months. Freeze the buttercream separately if you want to frost after thawing — just whip it again before piping.

Reheating

Leftover cookies are great cold or room temp, but if you want that fresh-baked warmth, pop them in the oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 3-5 minutes. Be careful not to melt the frosting if it’s already on — for best results, reheat unfrosted cookies and then add fresh frosting.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

I absolutely love how the Sugar Plum Fairy Cookies with Berry Buttercream Recipe combines cozy spices, bright citrus, and fruity bursts in a way that feels both nostalgic and fresh. When I first tried this recipe, it quickly became a holiday staple in my house, and my family goes crazy for them every year. I’m excited for you to try making these yourself — they’re truly a little piece of edible magic, perfectly suited for sharing with loved ones or treating yourself. So grab your apron and let’s bring some fairy-tale sweetness to your kitchen!

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