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Sunday 9 December 2007

Christmas Stained Glass Window Cookies & Christmas Sprinkle Cookies

I’m quite a sucker for cookies and more so when it’s a Christmassy theme! The stained glass cookies glint on my Christmas tree hanging like jewels from their deep red ribbon ties. The Christmas sprinkle cookies would make a lovely gift wrapped in cellophane wrap tied at the top with a beautiful ribbon, if you can bring yourself to part with them that is *giggle*. They have a lovely clean taste of citrus and a hint of almond and sweetness following through from the icing – delicious… I also have to thank my friend Maria for the lovely Christmassy Sprinkles - thanks sweetie :o)
Christmas Stained Glass Window Cookies


Christmas Sprinkle Cookies


Christmas Stained Glass Window Cookies & Christmas Sprinkle Cookies

Makes approximately 30 cookies

Ingredients
For The Cookie Dough

250g (9oz) soft butter
2 tsp lemon zest, finely grated
½ tsp almond extract
175g (6 oz) caster sugar
1 egg
350g (12 oz) plain flour, extra for dusting
For The Icing
175g (6 oz) icing sugar, sieved
1 egg white
Few drops of lemon juice
You may need a few drops of cold water
Edible colour pastes – I used sugar Flare
Or ready-made coloured icing in tubes
For Decoration
6 boiled sweets for the stained glass window cookies
Thin ribbon for the stained glass window cookies
Edible dagrees balls in various colours
Christmassy sprinkles

You will also need cookie cutters in various shapes - 3 large baking sheets lined with non-stick paper. An icing-piping bag with a small writing tube nozzle, (if not using ready-made coloured icing in tubes). A skewer or icing tube nozzle to make a hole in the top of the stained glass window cookies.

Method

*The cookie dough will make enough for 6 stained glass windows and approximately 24 sprinkle cookies depending on the size of cutters used*.

Pre-heat oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/350°F/Gas mark 4.

In a large bowl add the soft butter and sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Add the lemon zest, almond extract and egg and beat well together until combined. Sieve the flour over the mixture in the bowl and with a wooden spoon bring the mixture together. Now with your hands knead the dough into a smooth ball. Wrap in cling film and place into the fridge for 30 – 60 minutes until firm enough to roll the dough.

Take the dough out of the fridge and unwrap. On a lightly floured surface roll out the dough to about 5mm (1/4 in) thickness, then with a large cookie cutter cut out the shapes for the stained glass window you will need 6 shapes, (Roll up the dough and re-roll if needed). Take a smaller cookie cutter and cut out the centre of each cookie. Place onto the baking tray and place into the preheated oven.

Take out of the oven after 5 minutes and with a skewer or icing tube nozzle near the top of the cookie make a small hole, this will be to thread the ribbon through later. In the centre of each cookie place a coloured boiled sweet. Place back into the oven for 5 – 10 minutes until the sweets have melted into shape and the cookies are cooked.

Leave on the baking tray to cool slightly before removing onto a wire rack to finish cooling.

Meanwhile re-roll the cookie dough and cut out various Christmassy shapes and place onto the remaining prepared baking trays until all the cookie dough is used up.

Place into the preheated oven and bake for 10 - 15 minutes or until cooked.

Leave on the baking tray to cool slightly before removing onto a wire rack to finish cooling.

For The Icing, Lightly whisk egg white, then add the icing sugar a little at a time, beating well until the icing is smooth and stands in firm peeks. If you find the icing too thick add a drop of water and beat in. *If using ready-made icing tubes, pipe onto the cookies as desired*.

For The Stained Glass Window Cookies.
Take the cookies and pipe a little icing on to stick the dagrees. With a skewer thread the ribbon through the hole at the top of the cookie and tie at the end.

For The Sprinkle Cookies. Mix little bowls of the icing in different colours and pipe or spread onto the cookies then sprinkle the Christmas sprinkles over and add a few dagrees, leave the icing to set before eating or storing away in airtight tins.

19 comments:

Sagari said...

lovely cookies

Finla said...

Looks so good. I will just sit and watch the pic. Beautiful cookies

Rosie said...

Hi Sagari,
Lovely to *see* you and many thanks :)

Hi Happy Cook,
Ahhh thank you :)

Also thanks for calling by my Blog it's always lovely to *see* you both!!

Rosie x

Gloria Baker said...

I let a comment Rosie but I don't know is here.
So I will let again I love your cookies, looks beautiful. I'm thinking to try your recipe!! Thanks Gloria

Rosie said...

Hi Gloria,
Sorry about the comment going astray not sure what happened :(

I hope you enjoy making these cookies as much as I did and thank you also for your kind comment and for calling by :)

Rosie x

Chibog in Chief said...

those cookies zap me back during my childhood days..i love them!!!they are really cute

ps, thanks for the birthday greeting :-)

Carolyn said...

they look great - we made these one year. Perhaps this year we need to give it a go

MrsB said...

Hey Rosie, your cookies look great, I just love the stained glass effect! I bet they taste good too x

Anonymous said...

Rosie, your blog is lovely. the Christmas cookies are so pretty, I love them. thanks for stopping by my blog, really appreciate your lovely comment!

Rosie said...

Hi dhanggit, I am pleased I was able to evoke some of your childhood memories……

Hi Carolyn, I’m sure you’ll have just as much fun making your Christmas Cookies too…..

Hi Mrs B, Teehee you must know me too well “giggle”. I have tasted one of the iced cookies mmmmm, but the stained glass ones are hanging on the Christmas Tree…..

Hi Cooking & the City, Ahhh thanks and I look forward to visiting your Blog many times…..

Thank you all very much for your very kind comments I really do value your input :)

Rosie x

Pixie said...

Rosie, love these stained glass cookies. I bet they look incredible on your xmas tree. Will have to give them a go next year!

Chef Jeena said...

Hi Rosie I love these cookies icing on cookies are the best! :)

Maria♥ said...

Lovely xmassy cookies,i am sure the stained glass cookies look wonderful on your tree ;o)

Maria
x

Finla said...

Rosie i have tagged you for weirdest Meme check out my blog

Rosie said...

Hi Pixie, they do look quite good on the Christmas tree if I may say this myself *blush*. I’ll keep an eye out next year for your wonderful creations :)

Hi Jeena, I’m working hard on self- taught icing this never comes easy to me lol

Hi Maria, they are hanging their like little jewels on the tree * smile * I’m sure one or two will disappear when I’m not looking!

Hi Happy Cook, re-weirdest Meme, LOL I must have many weird things to share I will have a think and post soon. Thanks also for tagging me :)

Thank you all for calling by and also for your very kind comments and Meme…

Rosie x

Donna said...

They look wonderful!!!

Rosie said...

Thank you Donna for calling by and also for your kind comment :)

Rosie x

Cakelaw said...

These are so pretty! Lucky people who receive these.

Rosie said...

Hi cakelaw,
I think the family have already got their eye on which one they want to tuck into lol

Thanks for calling by and also for your kind comment :)

Rosie x