Yes, I know what you’re thinking… ‘please, not another Christmas cookie recipe’. You can’t open any of the social media without being slammed with recipes for Christmas cookies. Or posts and ads for crash diets to get you in shape, just in time for Christmas. Never knew you needed to be ‘in shape’ for Christmas. No thank you, I’ll prefer all those Christmas cookie recipes.
And yes, I do have another one for you. These cookies are super cute and unbelievably delicious. AND… they only need a few ingredients and hardly any prep time. You’ll be able to munch on these lovelies in about 30 minutes, from start to finish.
But first, let’s do a Christmas Tag. I’ve never done this before, but I think this is fun. I got inspired by Sarah from Ups & Downs, Smiles & Frowns (go check it out!). If you just want the recipe, simply scroll down ;-).
-
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE/S?
- It’s not really a Christmas movie, but as a child, I remember that they would broadcast Swiss Family Robinson EVERY year on Christmas day. In the afternoon. And every year, after lunch, I would go up to my room and watch Swiss Family Robinson. Whenever I see this, I think of all those Christmases.
-
DO YOU OPEN YOUR PRESENTS ON CHRISTMAS EVE OR CHRISTMAS MORNING?
- We celebrate Christmas the German way with my mum. We have a lovely dinner and open the presents on Christmas Eve.
-
HAVE YOU EVER HAD A WHITE CHRISTMAS?
- Yes, but not very often. We hardly get any snow here.
-
WHAT MADE YOU REALIZE THE TRUTH ABOUT SANTA?
- I really do not remember. Our boys still believe and I hope we can keep it up, just a little while longer :).
-
CAN YOU NAME ALL OF SANTA’S REINDEER?
- Uhm, no… Rudolph, the red nosed one, yes, but the others…
-
WHAT IS YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE HOLIDAY FOOD/SWEET TREAT?
- Whoa, that’s a difficult one. I don’t really have a favorite Holiday food. I love all foods.
-
BE HONEST: DO YOU LIKE GIVING GIFTS OR RECEIVING GIFTS BETTER?
- Who doesn’t like to get gifts? But I really do enjoy giving presents. I always bake huge amounts of cookies. We eat a few ourselves, the rest we wrap up in bags or boxes and give them to friends and family and I usually treat my colleagues with a large platter of cookies.
-
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DREAM PLACE TO VISIT FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON?
- We never went anywhere for Christmas. We always celebrate at home with our families. But, if one day, I would go away for the holidays? The Scottish Highlands…. Just love it up there.
-
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG?
- Driving home for Christmas.
-
DO YOU MAKE NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS? DO YOU STICK TO THEM?
- No, never. What is the point anyway? Most people never stick to them. And honestly… if you do want to change something, why would you wait until the 1st of January??
-
FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SCENT?
- Somehow, I always think of Christmas at my grandmother’s house whenever I smell peeled mandarins or that typical smell when you blow out a candle. Strange scents, I know, but as they trigger the best memories every single time, these must be my favorite Christmas scents.
-
AS A KID WHAT WAS THE ONE (CRAZY, WILD, EXTRAVAGANT) GIFT YOU ALWAYS ASKED FOR BUT NEVER RECEIVED?
- Can’t remember that I ever asked something I didn’t get. Never have asked anything outrageous, as far as I remember.
-
WHAT’S THE BEST PART ABOUT CHRISTMAS FOR YOU?
- Family time and seeing our kids jump for joy 🙂
Now back to those lovely cookies!
First, preheat oven to 160ºC/320F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Then, put 250g (8.8 oz) of all purpose flour, 1 packet vanilla pudding powder (37g/1.3oz), 50 g (1.8oz) light brown sugar, 200g (7oz) softened unsalted butter and a bit of freshly grated dried vanilla into a bowl. You can buy now those small mills with pieces of dried vanilla pods, they are really great. They are quite expensive, but you only need a little bit to get great vanilla flavor. In the dough, you could also use a teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Using handheld mixer with dough hooks attached, until a soft dough forms. You could also do this by hand or use a stand mixer.
Place dough on a floured surface and divide into four.
Role each part into a roll (about 2,5 cm/1″ thick) and ‘cut’ each role in ca 20 pieces.
Shape them just a little bit into rounds and place them on the lined baking sheet.
Bake for 12 minutes.
Sift 100g (3.5oz) of powdered sugar into a small bowl and add a bit of vanilla.
Then, using two forks, gently pick up the hot cookies and roll them in the powdered vanilla sugar.
Let cool on a cooling rack, lined with parchment paper.
Stored in an airtight container, they will keep for a couple of weeks. If they last that long, anyway… 😉
Enjoy!
Vanilla Pudding Cookies
Notes
* You can by these little mills with pieces of dried vanilla pods. You just need a little bit to get great vanilla flavor. But you can also add (powdered) vanilla sugar for dusting and for the dough the scraped center of a vanilla pod or a teaspoon vanilla extract.
Ingredients
- 250g (8.8 oz) all purpose flour
- 1 packet vanilla pudding powder (37g/1.3oz)
- 50 g (1.8oz) light brown sugar
- 200g (7oz) unsalted butter, softened
- 100g (3.5oz) powdered sugar
- grated dried vanilla*
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 160ºC/320F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Put flour, pudding powder, sugar, butter and a bit of vanilla in a bowl and mix, using handheld mixer with dough hooks attached, until a soft dough forms. You could also do this by hand.
- Place dough on a floured surface and divide into four.
- Role each part into a roll (about 2,5 cm/1" thick) and 'cut' each role in ca 20 pieces.
- Shape them just a little bit into rounds and place them on the lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 12 minutes.
- Sift the powdered sugar into a small bowl and add a bit of vanilla.
- Then, using two forks, gently pick up the hot cookies and roll them in the powdered vanilla sugar.
- Let cool on a cooling rack, lined with parchment paper.
- Store in an airtight container.
Kreanimo's Ilse
December 27, 2016Thanks for spamming you best read post, Nicole.
Happy to read that your blog is starting to work!
Very happy you’ll be joining Crea-cross too!
Nicole
December 27, 2016Thanks, Ilse, looking forward to a creative 2017!
Anne - Simple Thoughts
December 28, 2016Oeeeh! That looks delicious! Have to try it in the new year!
Nicole
December 28, 2016Thank you! They are soooo good. And not just for Christmas, but all year round 😉
Kreanimo's Ilse
December 28, 2016you = your 😉
Pingback: Koekjes bakken | Zaterdag is bakdag voor koekjes | Batboy