Christmas biscuits: let’s bake!

My children were nagging me for some time to make some Christmas biscuits, so today I finally gave in and made them happy. This will be my last baking before Christmas. But certainly not the last cooked meal! I wanted to make this delicious Panforte from Grandmother's Kitchen's website but I decided to make biscuits instead. It will be next on my list though!
Like everybody else, the next few days are going to be pretty hectic, queuing in a supermarket with a full trolley as there will be tons of cooking in the next week so I will need plenty of food in.
This year I have tried to plan my meals ahead more carefully but as usual I will always forget something! I have already bought some bits and bobs though but the biggest shopping is yet to come!
In the meantime I can still chill out sitting and munching these biscuits with a cup of tea. I must say they were worth all the effort!
- Prep Time : 2 hours minutes
- Cook Time : 25 minutes
Ingredients
- self raising flour - 250 g
- lemon - the zest of one
- lemon juice - 2 tbsp
- salt - a pinch
- sugar - 100 g
- egg - 1
- vanilla essence - 1 tsp
- butter - 120 g
- To decorate:
- red jam - 3 tbsp
- icing sugar
- dark chocolate - 70 g
- ricotta cheese - 3 tbsp
- brown sugar - 2 tbsp
- butter - 1 tsp
- mini coloured chocolate or sugary balls
- nuts, glazed cherries, chopped hazelnuts
- desiccated coconut - 7-8 tbsp
- Christmas pastry cutters
Instructions
Melt the chocolate by putting in it in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Add a tsp of butter to the chocolate whilst it is melting. This will give it a more shiny and silky texture.
Brush the reindeers and the Christmas trees with the chocolate, then leave them to dry on a rack
Whilst the chocolate is still soft decorate the trees with the smaller star biscuits on top and with the little chocolate balls; put a small ball on the reindeers to resemble an eye
Brush the almond and cherry biscuits with chocolate all around them, then sprinkle with the chopped hazelnuts
Let them dry over a rack
SO FESTIVE, AREN'T THEY? HAPPY CHRISTMAS!
They are so festive and pretty!
Have a wonderful holiday season!
Thank you Mark. I thought of giving some away as presents but they went all very quickly! 🙂
Dear Alida,
These cookies are beautiful. I am sure your children were very happy that you made cookies. These are such beautiful memories for your children.
I bet you will be making so many beautiful dishes for the coming week and all with love and care.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a very blessed New Year. xo Catherine xo
I must thank your children for the “nagging” Alida. Your cookies are just lovely and the decorations are simply amazing! I’m more than intrigued with those Stars, although, the Reindeer are adorable too. I have a sneaky suspicion most of these goodies are gone! I do hope you saved some for Santa, lol…Thank you so much for sharing, Alida. Wishing You and Your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year!
Thank you Louise, have a lovely Christmas too and I am sure your Christmas table would be full of beautiful homemade food! Ciao!
What beautiful cookies! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Buon natale to you too Adri!