I’m really looking forward to Christmas preparations this year. Emma is getting super excited at any glimpse of tinsel and has already requested a pony!! I’m hoping by making gifts and treats together she can start learning that Christmas is not just about opening presents, but about generosity and giving. We had a fun time making these Santa shaped cookies, and she did lots of the actual making herself.

There was a mini debate at home over nomenclature. Are they cookies or biscuits? Well it depends where you are from, but no matter what you call them, they’re super cute, tasty and fun to make.

I’ve used a basic biscuit dough recipe from an old Family Circle cookbook. It’s sort of like a simple shortbread, nice and crumbly.

Makes a couple of trays

• 125g (4oz) butter cubed
• 1/2 cup (125g/4oz) caster sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 1 cup (125g/4oz) plain flour
• 1 cup (125g/4oz) SR flour
• tasteless red food colouring (gel is more intense)
• sultanas/rasins
• Icing sugar mixture
• warm water

• Pre-heat oven to 160 C (315 F). Line two baking trays with baking paper.
• Beat together butter and sugar until creamy, Add egg and vanilla, beat well. Fold in sifted flours to form a soft dough.
• Turn out the dough and divide into thirds. Add a few drops of red colouring to one third and knead between a couple of layers of cling film (this prevents staining of hands and surfaces). Flatten out on a lightly floured surface or on baking paper and cut circles out of the white dough and triangles from the red dough.
• Place cut out circles on tray and add triangle ‘hat’ pressing it together so it stays joined. Add raisin eyes.
• Bake for 10-15 minutes or until very lightly golden (My oven is pretty hot so it only took about 10 min) Don’t over bake. Cool on a wire rack.
• Make up icing mixture as per pack instructions. About 1/2 cup with a table spoon of warm water. mix well to a toothpaste consistency. Use a piping bag to add beard and pom pom on hat. Leave to set.

These cookies would make a lovely gift, or festive lunchbox treat. They are a little bit ‘rustic’ looking but I’m not really into ‘perfect’ when it comes to cooking. Each little Santa has his own personality, shame they need to be eaten really.