The Good Life
'Tis the season for... Christmas cookies!

'Tis the season for... Christmas cookies!

What better way to get into the Christmas spirit than baking these elegant, colourful cookies?

Yousuf Bawany December 23, 2010

Picture a decorated pine-tree with presents lying underneath, a fireplace with stockings hung above it and a really old man dressed in red, ringing a big bell and crying out "ho ho ho".

Christmas is the most anticipated and widely celebrated holiday among the Christian community. The big day is just around the corner and even though I don't celebrate it, I appreciate the values it represents.

It's not just about giving expensive gifts to your loved ones, it's about sharing and caring for people who do not have the luxuries some of us have.

For those who don't understand the true spirit of Christmas, it's just another uneventful day in the calendar.

Having lived outside of Pakistan for quite some time, I have had the chance to witness some really great Christmases.

It's always the same:

the adults constantly complain about being short of cash during the last days of this season and maxing out all their credit cards

the children write letters to Santa, praying it won't be too difficult for the man from the North Pole to give them all what they have requested (ergo, the broke Dad)

the malls set up exciting discounts to clear out all their low-selling items and slightly perking up prices on their best-sellers

Although I have never attended a Christmas party, I know that home-cooked food plays a vital role in this celebration. A simple batch of customised sugar cookies is sure to perk up the mood in your household. The royal icing recipe included in this post is quite simple, stays firm and will let you create elegant, colourful, matt-finish designs on the cookies. So get right into the kitchen with your kids and start baking!

Sugar cookies with royal icing

Ingredients for Cookies

1¾ cup flour

½ tsp baking powder

1 pinch salt

½ cup (115 gm) unsalted butter (at room temperature)

¾ cup white sugar

1 egg

¼ tsp vanilla extract/essence

Method for cookies

Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together and set aside

In another bowl, beat the butter and sugar using an electric beater until light and fluffy

Add the eggs and vanilla essence to the butter mix until creamy

Now add the flour mix to the butter mix and beat until you have a smooth dough

Put the dough in the refrigerator for 1 hour or until it is hard enough to roll

Pre-heat oven to 180º C and lightly grease two non-stick baking sheets

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to an even thickness of about ¼ inch (keep picking up the rolled dough so that it doesn't stick on the surface)

Cut out the cookies using your favorite shapes and put them on a non-stick baking sheet

Put the the cookies in the fridge for about 15 minutes so that the cookies won't lose their shape during baking

Bake for about 10 minutes or until the edges start to turn brown

Ingredients for royal icing

2¾ cups icing/confectioner's sugar

2 large egg whites

2tsp lemon juice

food colors

Method for royal icing

Beat egg whites with lemon juice until combined

Sift the sugar to remove lumps and add to the egg mix

Beat on low setting using an electric beater until nice and smooth

Put in separate bowls and add food colors to them. Note: this icing starts hardening very quickly so keep it in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap when not in use

Fill a piping bag with the icing and make your desired designs on the cookies

WRITTEN BY:
Yousuf Bawany A writer who enjoys to cook foods from across the world. He blogs at http://yousufbawany.wordpress.com. He tweets @YousufBawany (https://twitter.com/YousufBawany)

The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (9)

Fahad Khan | 13 years ago | Reply I cook but I don't bake. Mostly because of the gas settings on my posh Italian modern stove. But what good is a stove if you can't bake. Your blog entry has given me a high. And I think I am going to get my oven fixed coming Monday. Your recipe is printed and pasted on my fridge. I think I should bake because I am missing out on the fun. It's a pity blog entries don't come with free cookies...Awww!

Muhammad Yousuf Bawany | 13 years ago | Reply Dear Mahati, Season's Greetings to you and your family. Your kind words are truly appreciated. Cheers, Yousuf

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'Tis the season for... Christmas cookies!

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