Christmas Cookie Recipe That's Extra Special

It feels like ages since I last posted, well it's been just over a week anyway, partly because I wasn't well, then with all the pre-christmas organising, I somehow managed to misplace my camera, and still cannot find it anywhere (so frustrating).  It's lucky for phone cameras, so I'm afraid that will just have to suffice for the time being. 

Anyhow, Christmas baking has begun, and I don't know about you, but homebaked biscuits (or cookies) have become a favourite on my list.  So I'm going to share my favourite Christmas Biscuit recipe (from an old Taste magazine) I've been using for a couple of years now.  I made these over the weekend and took them along to my family's Christmas get together.  I don't mind saying that the plate was emptied within no time.  There's something very Christmassy about the flavour of these cookies, and it's mainly due to the secret ingredients - honey and cinnamon!

You'll Need:

200g butter, room temperature

1/2 cup icing sugar

1/3 cup honey

2 &1/4 cups plain flour, sifted

1/2 cup self raising flour, sifted

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons milk

Royal Icing:

2 eggwhites, lightly whisked

1 tablespon pure icing sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

To Make the Biscuit dough: 

1.Line two baking trays with baking paper.

2.Beat butter & sugar until pale & creamy.

3.Add honey and beat well to combine.

4.In a seperate bowl sift flours & cinnamon together.

5.Add dry ingredients to butter & sugar mixture.

6.Add Milk and mix until a dough starts to form.

7.Turn onto floured board and knead gently until smooth (you may need to add extra flour if it's too sticky).

8.Cover dough in cling film and place in fridge for atleast 15 minutes.

To make the biscuits:

1.Preheat oven to 160C.

2.Roll out dough on board until 5mm thick.

3.Cut out christmas shapes as desired and place onto prepared trays.

4.Bake for 10-12 minutes or until crisp and golden.

5.Cool on tray for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

To Make Royal Icing:

1.Lightly beat the eggwhites

2.Sift icing sugar over and stir until smooth.

3.Add lemon juice and stir well until combined.

To Ice the Biscuits:

1.Dip the biscuits into the icing, and hold upside until they stop dripping.

2.Place iced biscuits on tray as you go.

3.Sprinkle decorations on top as desired (before icing is set).

Alternatively, pipe the icing on before decorating, this gives the biscuits a cleaner look.

Note: I much prefer the look of icing when it's piped on, however, this is tricky for littlies, and also, much more time consuming.

For more biscuit (cookie) ideas go here or here.

Now I'm dreaming up a gingerbread house, but that will have to wait until next week, as we're focussing on school break-up (ie. class party, teacher presents, writing out christmas cards etc) around here, and I'm catching up with a few dear old friends, which I'm really looking forward to.

As busy as it is, I just love this time of year, don't you?

xSam