Christmas biscuits, (also known as holiday cookies in America), are a beloved tradition in many households around the world. These sweet treats are often made in the weeks leading up to Christmas and are enjoyed by people of all ages. We think that our Christmas biscuits recipe is the best we’ve ever made (and we’ve tried plenty!)
There are countless variations of Christmas biscuits, with different recipes and ingredients depending on the region and personal preferences. Some popular flavours include gingerbread, shortbread, and sugar cookies. Many of these biscuits are decorated with colourful icing and sprinkles, making them as fun to look at as they are to eat.
Making Christmas biscuits is also a great way to spend time with friends and family. Many people enjoy baking together, sharing recipes and tips, and creating a warm and festive atmosphere in the kitchen. And of course, the finished biscuits make for a delicious addition to any holiday party or gift exchange.
One of the most well-known Christmas biscuits is the gingerbread man. This tasty treat is made with ginger, cinnamon, and other spices, and is often decorated to look like a little man with icing used for the eyes, mouth, and buttons. Gingerbread houses are another popular holiday tradition, with people creating elaborate designs using gingerbread, icing, and candy.
Our Christmas biscuits recipe below is another classic Christmas biscuit – the shortbread style cookie. This simple biscuit is made with flour, sugar, and butter, and can be shaped into festive shapes using cookie cutters. Shortbread is a rich and buttery treat that is perfect for dipping in tea or coffee (or a mulled wine!) and is often flavoured with vanilla or almond extract. The spice level can be adjusted to your personal taste. They can be decorated with icing and sprinkles in a variety of colours, making them a fun and customisable treat, perfect for a stocking filler or to take into work.
No matter what type of Christmas biscuit you enjoy, they are sure to add some sweetness and cheer to your holiday season. Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year and share with us your best designs, or check out our other recipes!
Christmas Biscuits
Ingredients
- 150 g caster sugar
- 50 g golden caster sugar
- 220 g butter
- 2 eggs
- 500 g plain flour
- 2 teaspoon mixed spice
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Decoration
- 500 g icing sugar
- 5 drops food colouring
- 5 tbsp cold water
- any other decoration items
Instructions
- Begin by setting the butter aside to warm if it has been in the fridge220 g butter
- Set the oven to 180C and place a piece of baking paper on a tray.
- Mix both types of sugar and the butter together in a bowl, beating firmly until you have a smooth paste.150 g caster sugar, 50 g golden caster sugar, 220 g butter
- Stir in the eggs and vanilla extract2 eggs, 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Scatter over the spice mix and the cinnamon (adjust the amount to your personal taste)2 teaspoon mixed spice, 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Stir in the flour and mix well until everything is well-mixed.500 g plain flour
- Scatter some flour on your worktop, then roll out the dough until it is about 1.5cm thick.
- Now get creative! Either use a cookie cutter, or take a knife and carefully make some festive shapes and designs.
- Place the biscuits on the baking paper, then pop the tray in the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes.
- Once cooked, take them out and leave to cool.
Decoration
- This is the fun part! First mix the icing sugar and water and stir well.500 g icing sugar, 5 tbsp cold water
- Then split the mixture into bowls and add a few drops of food colouring to each, one bowl per colour.5 drops food colouring
- Either use a palette knife or preferably a piping bag, and add the icing wherever looks good for your designs! Why not try a Christmas jumper biscuit?
- Finally add any other items you have to hand, leave to set and enjoy!any other decoration items
So delicious, especially with the spice