Description
Festive Christmas Spiced Biscuits bring holiday cheer with their delightful crunch and warm seasonal spices. Delicate hints of cinnamon and nutmeg dance across these irresistible treats, promising pure comfort and joy in every delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup molasses (or golden syrup for a lighter flavor)
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Decoration Ingredients:
- Royal icing
- Colored sprinkles or sugar
- Edible glitter
Instructions
- Craft the foundational mixture by gently blending softened butter, rich brown sugar, and robust molasses in a spacious mixing vessel until the texture becomes airy and smooth. Incorporate the egg thoroughly, ensuring complete integration.
- Separately, sift together the dry components including flour, baking soda, and warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Gradually fold these elements into the creamy wet mixture, creating a compact, unified dough.
- Partition the dough into two equal portions, pressing each into a flat disc. Encase each section in protective film and refrigerate for approximately one hour, allowing the flavors to meld and the texture to solidify.
- Heat the oven to 350F (175C) and prepare baking surfaces with parchment paper. Dust a clean workspace with a light flour coating to prevent sticking.
- Extract the chilled dough and roll it out carefully, aiming for a delicate 1/8-inch thickness. Select festive-themed cookie cutters to transform the dough into whimsical shapes like stars, trees, or charming gingerbread figures.
- Arrange the cut shapes onto prepared baking sheets, maintaining a modest distance between each biscuit to prevent merging during baking.
- Slide the trays into the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, watching for golden-brown edges and a firm structural integrity.
- Allow the freshly baked biscuits to rest on the hot trays for five minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack, permitting them to reach room temperature.
- Embellish the cooled biscuits with delicate royal icing, sparkling sprinkles, or shimmering edible glitter to enhance their festive appeal.
Notes
- Swap out regular flour for gluten-free alternatives like almond or rice flour to make these biscuits suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
- Reduce sugar content by using coconut sugar or replacing some sugar with applesauce for a healthier version.
- Enhance spice intensity by toasting whole spices before grinding them, which releases deeper, more complex flavor profiles.
- Prevent spreading during baking by ensuring butter is cold and dough is thoroughly chilled before cutting and baking.
- Prep Time: 12 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 155
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg