Sparkling vanilla Christmas cookies

Sparkling vanilla Christmas cookies

Hang these from a Christmas tree or pack them into boxes as end-of-term gifts for teachers and friends.

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Makes 20 biscuits

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 10 mins

Cook time

Cook 12 mins

Plus chilling time
Freezable

(raw dough)

Method

  1. Tip the icing sugar, vanilla extract, egg yolk and butter into a mixing bowl, then stir together with a wooden spoon (or pulse in a food processor until well combined). Add the flour and mix to a firm dough. Shape the dough into two flat discs and wrap in clingfilm. Chill for 20-30 mins. Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5 and line two baking sheets with non-stick baking paper.
  2. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about the thickness of two £1 coins. Cut out Christmassy shapes (use a cutter if you like) and place on the baking sheets. Using the tip of a skewer, cut a small hole in the top of each cookie. Bake for 10-12 mins until lightly golden.
  3. Lift the biscuits onto a wire rack to cool. Meanwhile, mix the icing sugar with a few drops of cold water to make a thick, but still runny icing. Colour with edible food colouring, if you like. Spread it over the cooled biscuits, decorate with edible balls and thread with ribbon when dry.

Per serving

233 kcalories, protein 2g, carbohydrate 34g, fat 11 g, saturated fat 7g, fibre 1g, sugar 19g, salt 0.2 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, December 2005.

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Latest comments and suggestions

Results 1-20

  • Binder photo Glenys

    02 December 2007

    Glenys rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    Good recipe - dough a bit fiddly though.

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  • Binder photo Hannah

    10 January 2008

    Hannah rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    These were lovely as a little Christmas present. Watch they don't burn though as they are still very light even when they're cooked.

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  • Binder photo Lucy

    12 September 2008

    Lucy commented on this recipe

    Does anyone know how long these would last before going off in regard to making as christmas presents

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  • Binder photo Kiz Laird

    09 December 2008

    Kiz Laird rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Delicious and very easy to make. The kids love them

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  • Binder photo Pinky209

    10 December 2008

    Pinky209 commented on this recipe

    As a first time cook i found this quite easy and fun! and they taste yummy too! only thing i found is i had far too much icing left over!

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  • Binder photo Helen o

    14 December 2008

    Helen o rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Really easy and tasted lovely. Making lots as stocking fillers and putting them in pretty bags with ribbons and tissue paper!

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  • Binder photo sugarpuff

    16 December 2008

    sugarpuff commented on this recipe

    I found the dough far too flaky, 'get it to be firm so had to add some milk...also put some nutmeg in the mix and then pieces of crystallized ginger on top of the icing.

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  • Binder photo sugarpuff

    16 December 2008

    sugarpuff commented on this recipe

    I found the dough far too flaky, couldn't get it to be firm so had to add some milk...also put some nutmeg in the mix and then pieces of crystallized ginger on top of the icing.

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  • Binder photo sandie

    16 December 2008

    sandie commented on this recipe

    These biscuit are really nice and easy to make. I make them to take to work as a treat for everyone as soon as I put them down they are gone.

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  • Binder photo Donna

    24 December 2008

    Donna rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    These made lovely Christmas treats for my work friends. One problem was making of the dough - you need to add a little milk or water before chilling it or the dough won't stick together very well. Water worked great for mine.

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  • Binder photo asterixx20

    30 December 2008

    asterixx20 rated this recipe

    5 stars

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  • Binder photo mrsvandicamp

    03 February 2009

    mrsvandicamp rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Great cookies made them for my daughters 1st birthday party as party favours. I would agree with previous comments about milk/water though the pastry is very flaky without and also keep a close eye on them in the oven the burn very easily other than that they were a great success x

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  • Binder photo ilovefood

    20 July 2009

    ilovefood rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    yummy

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  • Binder photo Anne

    04 September 2009

    Anne commented on this recipe

    Very tasty biscuits and simple to make. Dough came together really well in the food processor without adding extra liquid. I rolled it out between two pieces of cling film which avoided a sticky rolling pin.

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  • Binder photo r24mel

    23 December 2009

    r24mel rated this recipe

    4 stars

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  • Binder photo kjrogers25

    01 January 2010

    kjrogers25 rated this recipe

    4 stars

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  • Binder photo superslimmerkez

    27 March 2010

    superslimmerkez rated this recipe

    3 stars

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  • Binder photo mamma_c

    28 November 2010

    mamma_c rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    My three year old myself and my husband all enjoyed making and decorating these together, I'm sure they will bocome a regular thing in our house. I did find the dough to be slightly more crumbly than expected but I just added more flour :)

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  • Binder photo Miap

    08 December 2010

    Miap rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Yum yum yum, these were easy to make and delicious...there are none left to give for presents, will have to make another batch! :)

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  • Binder photo Saprina

    20 December 2010

    Saprina rated and commented on this recipe

    1 stars

    Bit too buttery for me

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Difficulty and servings

Easy

Makes 20 biscuits

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 10 mins

Cook time

Cook 12 mins

Plus chilling time
Freezable

(raw dough)

Edible treats for the tree

Ingredients

  • 140g icing sugar , sieved
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 250g butter , cut into small cubes
  • 375g plain flour , sieved

TO DECORATE

  • 200g icing sugar , sieved
  • edible food colouring , optional
  • edible gold and silver balls
  • approx 2m thin ribbon cut into 10cm lengths
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Per serving

233 kcalories, protein 2g, carbohydrate 34g, fat 11 g, saturated fat 7g, fibre 1g, sugar 19g, salt 0.2 g

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