Christmas Chocolate Cookies and my Christmas Tree

Chocolate Christmas Cookies by Nigella Lawson

Hello, it's me.

Not Adele. Just me baking again :) With the help of Nigella Lawson, these are one of my favorite cookies which I literally only make with Christmas. I guess it's the red & green sprinkles that make them look best against the dark, cracked surface of the cookies. I couldn't imagine making these in the Summer, so when I do bake them, they're extra special. They're beginner's-level easy, and make such a nice gift around Christmas time.

Taste: 5 out of 5
Consistency: 4.5 out of 5
Overall appeal: 5 out of 5


Chocolate Christmas Cookies by Nigella Lawson



You can watch Nigella Lawson make them here, which always make it ever-so-more appealing when she does it.






Christmas Chocolate Cookies: Nigella Lawson - Nigella's Christmas

Ingredients:
- 2 ¼ sticks (18 tablespoons) soft unsalted butter
- ¾ cup sugar
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder

Glaze:
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 ½ cups confectioners' sugar
- ¼ cup boiling water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Christmas sprinkles


Chocolate Christmas Cookies by Nigella Lawson


Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 325°F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Cream the butter and sugar in a bowl and when you have a light, soft whipped mixture, beat in the ⅓ cup cocoa powder (sifting if it is lumpy), and when that's mixed in, beat in the flour with the baking soda and baking powder. Or just put everything in the processor and blitz, if you prefer.
- This mixture is very soft and sticky and I find it easiest to form the coolers wearing my disposable vinyl gloves, so pinch off pieces about 1 tablespoon in size, roll them into balls, then slightly flatten into fat discs as you place them well spaced on your cookie sheet; you should get about 12 on at a time.
- Bake each batch for 15 minutes; even though the cookies won't feel as if they've had enough time, the will continue to cook as they cool. They will look slightly cracked on top and it's this cozy, homespun look I love.
- Remove the cookie sheet to a cold surface and let it sit for 15 minutes before transferring the cookies to a wire rack, with a sheet of newspaper under it to catch drips while topping them.
- To make the topping, put the cocoa powder, confectioners' sugar, water and vanilla extract into a small saucepan and whisk over a low heat until everything is smoothly combined. Take off the heat for 10 minutes.
- When the cookies are cool, drizzle each one with the tablespoonful of chocolate glaze, to glue the sprinkles on in a minute, using the back of the spoon to help spread the mixture, though an uneven dribbly look is part of their charm.
- After you've iced six cookies, scatter with some of the Christmas sprinkles and continue this until all the cookies are topped. If you ice them all before sprinkling, you will find the cocoa “glue” has dried and the sprinkles won't stick on.


Christmas feelings...

Christmas Tree 2015

Christmas Tree 2015

Christmas Tree 2015

Christmas Tree 2015

Christmas Tree 2015

Christmas Tree 2015

Christmas Tree 2015


Stay tuned for my favorite Christmas recipes roundup!


Comments

omothermix.com said…
Very beautiful pictures. Your cookies are very colorful. This makes you hungry.
Unknown said…
I love a Christmas cookie, I've never made these before but they look delish, totally festive. Xx

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