CHRISTMAS COOKIE TREE

CHRISTMAS COOKIE TREE

I thought that I would make this cookie tree this year instead of the Gingerbread House and it turned out really well.

I bought a set of star cookie cutters which start from a big size down to a little one, and you need to cut two of each size.  How you decorate it and what colour you use is entirely up to you.

For the ingredients you will need:

300g Butter
2 eggs, beaten
Pinch of salt
1 tsp of vanilla extract
600g Plain Flour
Apricot Jam

To decorate:
I used 2 sheets of ready rolled white fondant icing, but you can make your own and colour it with whatever colour you chose.
Mini pearls - I used silver ones

180°C/Gas 4. Grease two baking trays and line with baking parchment.

First of all, preheat your oven to 180°C/Gas 4. Grease two baking trays and line with baking parchment paper.

In a processor, cream together the butter and sugar until light, fluffy and pale in colour. Add the beaten eggs, vanilla and salt and mix well. Gradually add in the flour and mix until incorporated on a slow speed. Bring together into a dough and divide into 2 balls, wrap both up into cling film and chill for about an hour.

Roll one of the dough balls out onto a lightly floured work surface to a thickness of approximately 3-4mm and cut out two cookies of each size of the stars, starting with the biggest one first, dipping the cutters in to flour before each use. Arrange them on the prepared baking trays.

Bake the cookies on the middle shelf of the oven for about 10 to 12 minutes, or until firm and golden, swapping the trays over if necessary. Leave to cool for about 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.





Roll out your fondant icing, or if using ready rolled as I did, start cutting out two stars of each size with the cutters.

Using some marmalade or apricot jam which has been slightly warmed, paste onto each star before putting the fondant icing on each one, this will help the fondant icing to stick to the biscuit.

Onto a board or plate, put a dab of icing or edible glue to hold the first large star in place and then continue to stack all the other fondant covered stars on top from biggest to smallest, you may need to put a dab of icing or edible glue on each to made it steady.

When you have reached the top with the smallest star, decorate with fondant icing and arrange in an upright position, you may need to add a bit of icing to hold this in place.

Then with some icing and mini pearls you can decorate your tree however you wish.

Leave to rest until ready to serve.

Merry Christmas!