Deanna bakes Christmas Cookies

This is my first year to make Christmas cookies.  I always had the intention to do a lot of Christmas baking but as always, I ran out of time.

This year, I promised Deanna that we would bake cookies.  Deanna, as you know, loves being in the kitchen.  She always asks if she can help me when I'm cooking dinner but unfortunately, I'm usually rushing dinner or I don't have the time or patience during the weeknight.  Because of that, I try to have one-on-one cooking sessions with her, during the weekends or when I have some time up my sleeve.

This is a recipe I  found in Nigella Lawson's feast.  It's perfect for children, especially the decorating, which happens to be Deanna's favourite part.  She took her time and meticulously decorated each and every cookie to perfection. 

90g unsalted butter

100g caster sugar

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

200g plain flour, sifted

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp fine salt

1.  Cream butter and sugar together until pale and creamy.  Add in the egg and vanilla and beat.

2.  In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt.

3.  Add the dry ingredients to the butter and eggs and mix gently.

4.  If the mixture it too sticky to be rolled out, add a little more flour. (not too much or else the dough will be tough)

5.  Form into a ball, press down into a flat disc, wrap with clingfilm and rest in the fridge for at least 1 hour.

6.  Sprinkle  the surface with flour and roll the dough to about 1/2 cm thickness.  Cut out shapes. (dip the cutter in flour as you go)

7.  Bake in a preheated oven 180degC for 8 - 12 minutes, depending on how big your shapes are.  When they are ready, they will have more colour on the outside but soft in the middle.  Carefully move them to a wire rack to cool completely

8.  Make the icing by adding a small amount of hot water to icing sugar to form a thick paste.  Add colour as desired.

9.  Decorate the cookies.

This was fun for both Deanna and myself.  I will definitely make the time  to bake cookies again next year.

Cherrie