New Delhi: It's time for Christmas and amid being busy with the shopping and Christmas decorations, baking also plays an important role. With lots of cakes to bake, why not try out some cookies as well? Here are some cookie recipes that you can try out this Christmas so that you can enjoy them with your evening tea. Also, if you are still wondering what to gift your dear ones this Christmas, cookies can be a really good option. Just bake some yumminess and wrap it beautifully with coloured paper and your pack your happiness is ready!
1. Gingerbread Cookies:
- 12 tbsp of unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup of light brown sugar or dark brown sugar
- 3/4 cup molasses
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tsp ginger
- 1/4 tsp allspice or cloves
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 3+ 3/4 cups of All-Purpose Flour
Preparation:
- Melt butter in a microwave or a saucepan over low heat. Stir in the brown sugar, molasses, salt, and spices after that.
- Add the egg after transferring the mixture to a medium-sized mixing dish and allow it to cool until it's lukewarm.
- The flour should be thoroughly mixed with the baking powder and soda before being added to the molasses mixture. The dough will be very soft and sticky, but resist the need to add additional flour; after it is chilled, the dough will firm up.
- Each half of the dough should be patted into a thick rectangle. Wrap tightly and place in the fridge for at least an hour. Before continuing, make sure the dough is completely cooled because it may be sticky and challenging to roll out otherwise.
- Set the oven to 350 °F. Get out many baking sheets; they don't need to be greased, but coating them with parchment paper makes cleanup easier.
- After the dough has been cooled, remove one piece from the container and flour a flat surface. If the dough begins to stick, flour both the top and bottom of the dough.
- Use a floured cookie cutter to cut out the desired shapes, cutting them as closely together as you can to reduce waste.
- Alternatively, if you rolled the dough right onto the paper, remove the dough scraps from in between the biscuits before transferring the cookies to ungreased baking sheets. Bake the cookies for 8 to 12 minutes, or until they feel firm, or until the edges are just beginning to colour. Place them on a rack to thoroughly cool and set them properly.
- You can also decorate your cookies with glazed icing.
2. Peanut Butter Cookies:
Ingredients:
- 1+1/2 cups of crunchy peanut butter
- 1 cup of packed light-brown sugar
- 1/2 cup of softened unsalted butter
- 1 large egg
- 1+1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp of baking powder
Preparation:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, combine flour and baking powder and set aside.
- Smooth out peanut butter, sugar and butter in a large bowl and add the egg and continue beating it. Gradually combine the flour mixture as well.
- Take small pieces from the dough and roll them into balls. Place them on baking sheets with parchment. Flatten the balls to a thickness of 1/2 inch by pressing them with a fork in a crisscross pattern.
- Bake the cookies for 18 to 22 minutes, turning them over halfway through, or until lightly brown.
- Once done, cool them completely and serve.
3. Chocolate Chip Cookies:
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted melted butter
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1+1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 110g milk or semi-sweet chocolate chunks
- 110g dark chocolate chunk or your preference
Preparation:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, salt, and butter until a fine paste is formed.
- Whisk in the egg and vanilla, and keep beating until light ribbons fall off the whisk and remain for a short while before falling back into the mixture.
- Sift in the flour and baking soda, then fold the mixture with a spatula but make sure that you don't overmix.
- Add the chocolate chunks to the mixture and then chill the dough for at least 30 minutes. For a more intense toffee-like flavour and deeper colour, chill the dough overnight. The longer the dough rests, the more complex its flavour will be.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Scoop some of the dough onto the parchment paper-lined baking sheet, leaving some space between the cookies
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges have started to barely brown.
- Cool completely before serving.
5. Shortbread Cookies:
Ingredients:
- 2 sticks of softened butter
- 1 c. powdered sugar
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2+1/2 c. all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 egg white mixed with 1 tbsp. water
- Coarse sugar for sprinkling
Preparation:
- Put parchment paper on a baking pan and preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
- Use a hand mixer to thoroughly combine butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl.
- Mix in the flour and salt after adding them. If the dough is still crumbly, bring it together with your hands.
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes after covering with plastic wrap.
- Cut out a small piece of dough and place it on a surface dusted with flour.
- Cut out a small piece of dough and place it on a surface dusted with flour.
- Shape the dough's edges into a tidy square using a bench knife.
- Place the dough on the prepared pan.
- After coating the cookies with egg wash and coarse sugar, bake them for 18 to 20 minutes, or until they are just beginning to become brown and set.
- Serve once set.