Cookie Christmas Tree

Christmas baking is underway in our house with our annual tradition of a day of Christmas baking happening this weekend. (look out for our gingerbread house competition and get ready to vote).

Making this cookie Christmas tree really has got me into the festive mood and lm sure it will you to. The boys helped to make the cookies and construct the tree to which at first we were looking alittle wobbly and then together we decorated with green frosting to make a tinsel affect, finished off with stars as our baubles.

The recipe and constructing your own cookie Christmas tree is simple to follow and fun to make especially with little ones.

Why not begin your own tradition with annual Christmas baking and make your own cookie Christmas tree this weekend?

Enjoy.

Cookie Christmas Tree

Prep time: 25 minutes                   Cook time: 10 minutes                 Makes: 1 Cookie Tree

Ingredients

250g of Plain flour - you will need extra to cover the rolling pin and work surface

240g of Butter- cubed

150g of Granulated sugar

1 Egg

1 tbsp of Mixed spices

1 1/2 tsp of Baking powder

1 tsp of Vanilla extract

1/2 tsp of salt

For decoration

Coloured sprinkles

Frosting - you can use buttercream or royal icing

Equipment

Mixing bowl

Electric mixer with paddle attachment

Spatula

3 baking trays

Greaseproof paper

Star cutters of different sizes

Cooling rack

Rolling pin

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200c.

2. Line the baking trays with the greaseproof paper.

3. In the mixing bowl place the butter and sugar together and cream with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy in texture.

4. Add the baking powder, mixed spices, salt, egg and vanilla extract and continue to whisk together until all the ingredients are combined.

5. Using the spatula, scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl.

6. On a low setting continue to whisk the mixture and slowly add the flour. Continue on a low setting until a dough texture has formed.

7. Use the spatula to ensure all the flour is folded in.

8. Sprinkle some flour onto the work surface and rolling pin.  Roll the dough onto the work surface and begin to roll it out with rolling pin to be 1/4 inch thick.  TIP! To avoid the cookies spreading you will need them to be around 1/4 inch thick.

9. Using your star cutter begin to cut out 2 stars for each cutter and place on the baking trays. Continue until all the dough has been used up.

10. Place in the oven to bake for 10 minutes. TIP!. Ensure the cookies remain pale in colour but begin to golden around the edges.

11. Once baked, leave on the baking tray to cool for 5 minutes before moving to the cooling rack to cool completely.

12. While the cookies are cooling begin to make your chosen frosting for the decoration. We chose to make green butter cream (recipe here).

13.  With all the stars cut out you will begin to construct the tree starting largest cookies to smallest. Place one of the largest cookies on your plate of choice by sticking it down with a little buttercream. Place a small dot on the plate and lay the cookie on top, this will help the structure to be secure (we hope).

14. Place a squeeze of frosting in the middle of the large star and place the other largest star on top of it at a different angle, pushing it down gently.  Continue to build the stars on top of each other until all the stars are used.

15. Once the tree has been built use the frosting to pipe around the edges of each biscuit in your chosen deign and use the sprinkle to add ‘decorations’. Have fun!.

16. When ready to share let this cookie tree be your centrepiece.

17. Enjoy!