CHRISTMAS CINNAMON COOKIES RECIPES

Steps:

• Beat the butter, muscovado sugar, caster sugar and 2 tsp cinnamon together with an electric whisk for 2-3 mins until well-combined. Add the egg, flour, baking powder and raisins, if using, and continue to beat until the mixture becomes a uniform dough. Roll tablespoons of the dough into balls between the palms your hands (you should have 12-15). Chill in the fridge for at least 2 hrs until firm, or overnight. The unbaked dough balls will keep in an airtight container in the freezer for up to three months (see tip, below).
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 4 and line two large baking trays with baking parchment. Place the dough balls 3-4cm apart on the prepared baking trays to allow the mixture to spread without touching. Bake for 10-12 mins until lightly golden at the edges but still soft and gooey in the centre. Leave to cool completely on the baking trays.
• Mix the icing sugar with the remaining cinnamon, then dust over the cookies. Will keep in an airtight container for up to five days.

Steps:

• Heat the sugar, golden syrup and butter until melted. Mix the spices and flour in a large bowl. Dissolve the bicarbonate of soda in 1 tsp cold water. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients, add the melted sugar mix, egg and bicarbonate of soda. Mix well. At this stage the mix will be soft but will firm up on cooling.
• Cover the surface of the biscuit mix with wrapping and leave to cool, then put in the fridge for at least 1 hr to become firm enough to roll out.
• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly. (At this stage the dough can be put into a food bag and kept in the fridge for up to a week.) Cut the dough in half. Thinly roll out one half on a lightly floured surface. Cut into shapes with cutters, such as gifts, trees and hearts, then transfer to baking sheets, leaving a little room for them to spread. If you plan to hang the biscuits up, make a small hole in the top of each one using a skewer. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Bake for 12-15 mins until they darken slightly. If the holes you have made have closed up, remake them while the biscuits are warm and soft using a skewer. Cool for a few mins on the baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool and harden up completely.
• Break up the chocolate and melt in the microwave on Medium for 1-2 mins, or in a small heatproof bowl over simmering water. Drizzle the chocolate over the biscuits, or pipe on shapes or names, then stick a few silver balls into the chocolate. If hung up on the tree, the biscuits will be edible for about a week, but will last a lot longer as decorations.