Biscoitos de Natal – Christmas Biscuit Cookies

Christmas Biscuit Cookies are easy to make since they require no cookie cutters to shape them and they don’t break apart.

Anis liquor, gives them a unique taste but you can also add lemon zest if you prefer.

These cookies are perfect  to make with your kids because they can get their little hands into the dough and make all kinds of shapes!

If you want to give these little treats as gifts you can find food save gift bags at craft stores. My bags have 12 cookies. Simply tie a ribbon around the bag and you’ve created a beautiful home made cookie gift!

Ingredients:

3 cups of flour

1 cup of sugar

3 eggs (room temp)

6 tbsp of salted butter (softened)

2 tsp of baking powder

1 tbsp of Anis Liquor or 1 teaspoon lemon zest

 

Icing:

1/2 cup confectioners sugar

2 tsp of milk

1 drop of vanilla flavoring

Christmas sprinkles, colored sugars to decorate

 

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Soften the butter and mix with the sugar in a medium bowl until light and fluffy

Add the eggs and Anis and beat for about 1 minute. Add the flour and baking powder to the sugar and mix with a dough hook for about 3 minutes until the batter forms into a ball.

You may need to a little flour if you find the dough too soft depending on your butter or the size of your eggs. The batter will be soft but firm enough to handle.

You can also spoon the batter and make balls and roll instead of cutting it into logs.

 

Place the smooth dough onto a lightly floured cutting board and shape into a flat disc with 1/2 inch in height.

Cut the dough evenly into 1/2″ by 5″ strips. Roll each strip into a round snake like form and shape into desired shapes such as candy canes, wreaths, letters, etc.

Slightly grease a cookie sheet and place the biscuits evenly on the pan.

Cook for about 15-18  minutes or until slightly golden brown.

Lift one and look under neath to find a golden crust bottom.

Let them cool slightly before decorating.

Make icing by mixing the confectioners sugar, milk and vanilla until very smooth and creamy.

Brush icing on cookies and dip into the decorations or sprinkle onto the sugar before it hardens.