Christmas cookie round up (super honest style)

Ah, so it’s (let me count…) five days before Christmas and you’re now thinking “you know what, I SHOULD make some Christmas cookies for a gift / that party / to put in my face.”

You’re right. You should. Sure, some people are on top of these things weeks ago. But they’re also the same people who order things online in advance. Unlike me who is puzzled that nothing I want to buy online today as a Christmas gift will arrive on time.

Therefore I’ve rounded up some Christmas cookies for you, and also ranked them in order of “easy-to-make” to “really-you’re-going-try-that-right-now?”

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Best Christmas rolled sugar cookies

I did a lot of research before settling on this recipe for cookies and royal icing. I read a lot of comments, reviews and author’s feedback. So you can feel safe in the knowledge that I undertook this with a great deal of seriousness.

Which is kind of ironic because I iced them at midnight, after a lot of vodkas, that were consumed at a Christmas catch-up with a lovely girlfriend. BUT, I personally think that testifies to the safety of the recipe, the research I did, and the science of it all (coz I love the nerdy science aspects of baking).

Another reason this recipe needed to be foolproof was because it’s 30C degrees on average at the moment in Melbourne, and that adds an extra layer of difficulty to making traditional Christmas recipes, especially cookies that require rolling.

So I wanted absolutely foolproof. And vodka proof.

Shortbread slice – three ways (chocolate icing, passionfruit icing, jaffa style)

This buttery, crumbly, melt-in-your mouth slice is a favourite in my family. This like the traditional scottish shortbread sold in pretty tins at Christmas time. In fact, I often make this as a Christmas gift.

The custard powder in the ingredients is the real secret. Sure, it’s not “traditional”. But traditional shortbread in the 16th century only had three ingredients (sugar, butter and oatmeal), and back in the 16th century they also believed that bread would not rise if there was a corpse (as in dead body) in the vicinity. And I mean, how did they even judge that? So, it’s time we all modernised a bit.

Cheeky chia dark chocolate muffins

I’m all about the hippy hipster healthy food at the moment. Here are three important things to know about chia seeds:

1. They’re oh-so-healthy
They’re made up of protein, fat and dietary fibre. Plus there’s a heap of minerals including calcium, magnesium, iron, and phosphorous.

2. They’re grown in Australia.
Aussie Aussie Aussie! Oi oi oi!

Chewy apricot oatmeal cookies with toasted almonds (and sea salt on top)

I’m trying to figure out a way to tell y’all that salt on the top of these cookies is a very good idea and will change your world.

But as I write this I keep taking breaks to put an ice pack on my forearm that I burnt on the kettle while making a cup of tea (which I was making instead of having another glass of wine)… so I’m not really sure you should believe me.

HERE is why you should believe me. Because I recently went on a tour of Theo Chocolate in Seattle, and I learnt things. Important things. OK, maybe I mainly remember loving chocolate and the guy on the tour who cracked me up by asking the world’s most obvious questions.

But, what I did learn was when you make these cookies, which I might add have a lovely combination of chewy and crunchy going on, you can say this to your friends:

“The salt on top really adds something, try having a bite with the salt facing the top of your mouth and then for more of a hit, take the next bite with the salt facing your tongue.”