Week 11 - Vanilla Cookie Christmas Tree

Vanilla Cookie Christmas Tree

Today I got into the festive spirit by baking a Christmas cookie tree.  

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 18 mins

Total time: 33 mins

Ingredients

For biscuits

• 100g/3½oz unsalted butter
  
• 100g/3½oz caster sugar
• 1 free-range egg, lightly beaten
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 275g/10oz plain flour

To decorate (optional)

• 400g/14oz icing sugar
• 3-4 tbsp water
• 2-3 drops food colourings
• Sprinkles

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5. Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.

2. Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl until pale, light and fluffy.

3. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract, a little at a time, until well combined.

4. Stir in the flour until the mixture comes together as a dough.

5. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured work surface to a thickness of 1cm/½in.

6. Using biscuit cutters or a glass, cut biscuits out of the dough and carefully place onto the baking tray. To make into Christmas tree decorations, carefully make a hole in the top of the biscuit using a straw.

7. Bake the biscuits for 8-10 minutes, or until pale golden-brown. Set aside to harden and cool on a wire rack.

8. For the icing, sift the icing sugar into a large mixing bowl and stir in enough water to create a smooth mixture. Stir in the food colouring.