We might be biased, but here at Biscuiteers, Christmas isn’t quite complete without some handmade and hand-iced Christmas cookies! That’s why we have to share our favorite cinnamon Christmas cookie recipe for you to make and enjoy this season.
We use this recipe every Christmas at the Ministry of Biscuits and the outcome is a deliciously festive twice-baked English style cookie (we call them biscuits!) that we have refined to make the perfect base for hand-iced decoration…our specialty.
Ingredients
- 2 cups + 3 tbsp plain flour
- ½ cup + 2 tbsp self-raising flour
- ½ cup + 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- ½ cup + 1 tbsp salted butter, diced
- ¼ cup + 2 tbsp golden syrup
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- Grated zest of 2 oranges
- ½ tablespoon of cinnamon
Method
*Preheat the oven to 170c/350f/gas mark 4 before you begin making your cookies.
* Sift the flours together into a mixing bowl; add the sugar, cinnamon and orange zest. Mix well.
* Add the butter. Using just the tips of your fingers, rub together the ingredients until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
* When all the butter is evenly mixed in, make a well in the center of the mixture and add the syrup and egg.
* Mix well, drawing in any of the flour left at the sides of the bowl and stop as soon as a ball has formed.
* Place the dough onto your clean worktop. Divide into two and squash the dough into two even-sized flat discs. Cover and chill until ready to use, or roll out immediately.
* Place the dough on a sheet of parchment and begin by gently squashing the dough down with a rolling pin or your hands. Cover with a second sheet of parchment and then use the rolling pin to roll out properly.
* The top sheet of paper may crinkle from time to time, just peel it off and smooth it down gently before starting to roll again.
*Gently roll the dough until it is 5mm thick all over, then transfer the whole sheet of rolled dough still sandwiched between its sheets of parchment to a baking tray and place in the fridge to chill for at least 20 – 30 minutes before cutting.
*Christmas themed cutters are widely available online, or you can choose to make your own. To do this, identify the shape you want to trace and lay a sheet of parchment on top, carefully tracing around the shape. Carefully cut the templates out with scissors. You can download our Christmas cookie shapes here.
*To use the dough efficiently, cut the cookies out as close together as possible. Lift each cookie onto the parchment covered baking tray and make sure they are not too close together as the dough will spread a little on baking. Any trimmings can be re-rolled a couple of times.
*Evenly space the trays in the oven and cook for 14-18 minutes, depending on your oven. When the cookies are evenly cooked and just beginning to turn a golden color, remove the trays from the oven and transfer the whole sheet of parchment to a cooling rack. Do this carefully as they will be quite fragile and hot!
*Cool totally before starting to decorate.
Now you’re ready to decorate, for some inspiration head over to the most recent edition to our blog where we show you how to decorate Christmas cookies! Remember to share your finished cookie creations with us on our Instagram @biscuiteersltd.
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