The Christmas Spiced Cookies are a classic of the Christmas tradition, one of those recipes that also involve children. They range from classic gingerbread men to trees and stars. The characteristic of this shortcrust pastry is the addition of spices that darken the dough a little and give it that festive scent. The decoration is made with royal icing prepared with egg whites, powdered sugar, and lemon. Follow the instructions and make them yourself!
Other Christmas recipes
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Economical
- Rest time: 30 Minutes
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 6 People
- Cooking methods: Electric oven
- Cuisine: European
- Seasonality: Christmas
- Energy 471.62 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 70.49 (g) of which sugars 35.10 (g)
- Proteins 7.49 (g)
- Fat 19.29 (g) of which saturated 11.99 (g)of which unsaturated 7.00 (g)
- Fibers 1.24 (g)
- Sodium 86.01 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 96 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 egg (medium)
- 1 egg yolk (medium)
- 1 tsp lemon zest (grated)
- 1 vanilla pod
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp fine salt
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg (ground)
- 2/3 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp egg whites
- 3 drops lemon juice
Tools
- Kitchen scale
- Pastry board
- Rolling pin
- Parchment paper
- Bowl
- Piping bag
- Electric beaters
- Cookie cutters
Steps
Pour the sifted flour and softened butter pieces into a bowl. Work them with your hands until crumbled, then add the sugar, vanilla, grated lemon zest, salt, and ground spices.
Mix and add the whole egg plus the previously beaten egg yolk in a small bowl. Roughly combine with your hands and turn everything onto the pastry board to finish the dough. Form into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap or parchment paper, and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) in static mode.
Roll out the shortcrust pastry to a thickness of 1/5 inch. Use cookie cutters to shape the dough. Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake. Bake for 15 minutes, ensuring they do not brown too much. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
Prepare the icing by adding lemon juice drops to the egg white and beat until stiff peaks form. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar and continue beating until you get a smooth icing. Place the icing in a piping bag with a small hole at the tip and decorate the cookies, optionally adding colored sprinkles. Allow to air-dry before serving.
Storage
Christmas Spiced Cookies should be stored in a tin box or airtight container lined with parchment paper and kept in a cool, dry place.
FAQ
What are the most famous spiced cookies?
The best-known spiced cookies are Gingerbread, Speculos, Zimsterne, Lebkuchen, and Pepparkakor.
What spices are used for the Christmas mix?
The typical Christmas aroma is given by a mix of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, star anise, and allspice.
