What are your Christmas tree decorating ideas?

"Mum, can you remember how late we were last year with our baking. Our Christmas tree was almost left without Christmas decoration. This year we should start baking Christmas cookies much earlier to finish all the decorations in time..." and so on and on...

O gosh, she was right. I completely forgot how stressful the last Christmas was. We were stuck with our Christmas tree decorating ideas for such a long time. We started baking Christmas cookies at the end of November and almost failed to finish the job. The reason? Imagine, we couldn't decide which Christmas tree decorations we would go for!

That's it, we mustn't repeat last year's mistake so when back home I immediately checked my notebook of cookie recipes to see what cookies would be most appropriate this Christmas. I was looking for Christmas cookies that allow easy cutting and would look but also taste scrumptious. I didn't want to bake sugar cookies again so the decision was to use dough that is originally used for pinwheel cookies. Though, these cookies are such a yummy treat, a compromise had to be made. The decision: pinwheel cookies go on the table and cutter cookies made from its dough would decorate our Christmas tree. Not a bad decision at all!

Christmas tree decorations made from cookies and other kinds of food are much more special than the majority of Christmas tree decorations made from plastic and other artificial materials. Cookies just look better, smell better (and taste better...). If you are a person with many Christmas tree decorating ideas then I'm absolutely certain you will enjoy decorating your Christmas tree with food.

When we start baking Christmas cookies, our kitchen is full of this wonderful smell of baking and the whole house gets into an "exciting mood". That is why Christmas is so special to us, it is about a truly special family time.

Print this Recipe

Use this handy conversion calculator

Method (step by step):

	STEP 1: Beat together softened butter (1 cup or 250 g) and granulated sugar (1 cup) until light and fluffy (around 3 minutes or more).
	STEP 2: Add 1 very large egg and 1 tsp of vanilla extract.
	STEP 3: ...then beat until well combined.
	STEP 4: Sift together 3 cups of plain flour, 1/2 tsp of baking soda and 1/2 tsp of salt. Mix all together with a tablespoon.   IMPORTANT: When you measure with a cup make sure you compress the flour into a cup with a  tablespoon!
	STEP 5: Add flour mixture to butter & egg mixture and knead until well combined.
	STEP 6: Divide the dough in half. Wrap one half in a plastic wrap and set aside.
	STEP 7: Add 3 tbsp of cocoa powder and 1 tsp of mixed spice to another half and knead.
	STEP 8: ...until well combined.
	STEP 9: Form cocoa dough, wrap it in a plastic wrap. Put both halves in a fridge for at least 4-5 hours but preferably overnight.
	STEP 10: Separately roll both halves (4mm/0.157in thick) on a baking parchment or flour the work surface well to prevent sticking in case that you don't have it.   Don't forget to flour the rolling pin as well.
	STEP 11: Before cutting flour cookie cutters to prevent sticking and start cutting different shapes. Don't forget to make a hole for a string at the top of every cookie.   When you cut one half of the dough, put another half back in the fridge. The surface of cookies will be smoother if the dough stays cold.
	STEP 12: When you finish with one type of dough start cutting another one that you've just taken from the fridge.   Don't forget to make a hole for a string at the top of every cookies.
	STEP 13: Grease a baking sheet with butter. Place cookies onto a baking sheet 2-3cm/0.78 -1.18in apart. Combine plain and cocoa shapes together to make your decorations even more interesting. Use your imagination!   Use this handy conversion calculator
	STEP 14: Bake cookies at 150C fan/170C/gas mark 3/338F around 9-10 minutes or until they are firm to touch.
	STEP 15: Christmas cookies can be also used for making homemade Christmas gifts or table decorations. Again, use your imagination!

Christmas tree decoration made from cookies can be in different shapes, sizes and colors. You can use cookie cutters, knife, needles and other cutting tools but don't forget to flour them before cutting. Differently colored doughs can be combined resulting in really interesting shapes. For a special effect melted lolly pops can be used along with sugar balls, silver balls and different chocolate and sugar shapes.

Before baking do not forget that there needs to be a small hole for a string at the top of each decorating cookie or you will find it really difficult to hang cookies on the Christmas tree. What an irony, I forgot this very important rule when baking cookies on the above images, so they didn't end up on our Christmas tree. Needless to say how happy my daughter and husband were because of that!

And, if there are any Christmas cookies left, than you can make homemade Christmas gifts or just nibble them with your favorite cup of coffee:

cappuccino
espresso
cafe latte
Turkish coffee

*all combinations have been tested with medium roast Arabica blend

Baking tips:

• Dough for Christmas tree decoration should be very easy to make because you will need to make a lot of cookies (especially if children are involved helping you).

• Always use eggs at room temperature and softened unsalted butter.

• The dough should be chilled before cutting to prevent sticking.

• Cookies should be thin not thick, thin cookies look much better.

• Never forget to make a hole at the top of cookies for a string to hang cookies on a tree.

• Always stick to the recipe, especially when you measure the ingredients.

• Cookies go soggy if they are left out for too long. Store them in an airtight container to keep them fresh, crunchy and yummy until you start decorating Christmas tree.

Good to know:

• Here are the rules for tree dressing:

1) make sure that the tree is securely fixed in its stand;

2) wrap fairy lights on the tree before you add Christmas cookies and baubles, and always test them first to make sure they work and after then start with decorating; 3) use cookie decoration on thinner branches and on branch ends, and hang heavier baubles on the ticker branches securing them further back nearer the trunk of the tree;

4) finally finish off your work with a star, small wreath, large bow or traditional Christmas angel.

• Write down all Christmas tree decorating ideas in a notebook otherwise you will forget things.

• Children books and Magazines are a good source for any kind of Christmas decorating ideas. Store all Christmas magazines, they come in so handy!

• You can use Christmas cookies to make homemade Christmas gifts.

• Cookie cutters should be made from metal because plastic cutters tend to compress the edges (unless, of course, you want that).

• To use a cutter, press down firmly onto the cutter so that it cuts straight trough the dough. Then swiftly lift up the cutter, without twisting it.