Christmas season is here and I am doing some last decorations this weekend. Even though I promise myself every year that next one I will start decorating way earlier than December, I somehow end up putting decorations just before Christmas. Even though I started late, the house has this cozy holiday feeling and I enjoy Christmas lights on our tree. With the new house in the countryside, I went for simple, rustic decorations and a classic red and green tree. I also fell in love with paper stars and made a few to hang all over the house. Have you ever made them? Instagram is filled with tutorials and I really had so much fun making them! Simple, yet so elegant and pretty. It only takes 5 minutes to make them and if you are interested, Linda from Call me Cupcake has a great tutorial on how to make them.
This year surprisingly I've finished all Christmas shopping pretty early and all the presents are ready to be open under the Christmas tree. If you are still looking for interesting last-minute presents, check my Holiday Gift Guide. The selection is carefully picked among my favorite small shops, creatives, and crafters. The guide is inspired by slow living and authentic work and items selected are great for any occasion, not just Christmas.
This weekend I will be doing most of the baking, which includes also batches of different Christmas cookies. If you are tired of classic shortbread cookies, today I am bringing a slightly different version that will definitely make your holiday afternoons sweet and enjoyable. In the last year, I have used Earl Grey tea in many of my recipes and I really loved the aroma and the taste it gave to my cakes. Usually, the recipes call for a prepared tea mixed in with milk for creams or cake mixtures, but we will be using finely ground tea leaves for these Earl Grey Christmas Cookies. The final result will be sweet-scented cookies and I am sure everyone who tries them will appreciate the little twist you gave to a standard shortbread cookie recipe.
You could even make more of the same cookie dough and make varieties - for example in one add Earl Grey tea, in one cocoa powder and in one gingerbread spice mixture. With one similar mixture, you will obtain totally different cookies, perfect for homemade gifts! Wrap them and make cookie gift-boxes for your colleagues and friends, or even use them as a name tag on your Christmas table. Or simply, enjoy them in your afternoon, with a book or near the fireplace. That's what we will be doing in the next few days.
Hope your holidays will be relaxing and sweet!
Earl Grey Christmas Cookies
Marija Gvozdenovic
INGREDIENTS
Serves 20
Prep.time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
250g all-purpose flour
60g fine brown sugar
100g butter, cold from the fridge
1 egg, lightly whisked
2 tsp fresh Earl Grey Tea (finely ground)
a pinch of salt
METHOD
In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, earl grey tea, chopped butter, egg, and salt. With top of your fingers, knead your dough until smooth. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Preheat your oven at 180 degrees Celsius. Have ready two baking paper sheets where you will place cookies.
Roll out your dough (4-5 mm thickness) and cut cookies using cookie cutters. Repeat rolling and cutting, until all your dough is used.
Bake for 10-12 minutes, depending on your oven. They are ready as soon as the edges are golden. Remove from oven, place on the wire rack until completely cool. Sprinkle with some powdered sugar and enjoy!
do you need more christmas inspiration?
Try some of the following recipes:
Austrian Linzer Cookies