Chocolate Cookies | Christmas

Okay, so I know these look a little amateur but I feel like that's okay for this time of year. They may look a little rough around the edges... and I may not have an artistic flare when it comes to decorating but they look home made and festive and that's what it is all about. Plus, I did have help from a five year old so that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. If you are having friends or family over why not have a go at making these really easy cookies? You can have a chat whilst decorating and really bring the family together. Making them will also get you in the festive mood, all you need is some classic Christmas tunes in the background, Slade is a favourite of mine, and a glass of mulled wine and you're away.

Like I did you can also bring little ones together to help decorate and cut the cookies out, then as a treat for Santa they can leave a couple for him on Christmas Eve, because I'm sure he will not say no to a chocolate cookie ...

Chocolate Cookies
(Makes 24 mini cookies)

220g Plain Flour
1/4 Tsp Baking Powder
Pinch of Salt
145g Caster Sugar
120g Butter
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
1 Egg
40g Cocoa Powder

Sprinkles of your choice

50g Icing Sugar
1 Tbsp Water

Preheat the oven to 170 degrees C, Gas mark 3.

Sieve the flour, baking powder and salt into a large mixing bowl.

In a separate bowl cream together the butter and sugar until they just come together. Add in the vanilla extract and the egg and whisk together until incorporated. Add in the cocoa powder and half of the flour. Fold together and then add in the second half of the flour mixture. Once all the ingredients are incorporated and no flour can be seen wrap in cling film and place in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm.

On a lightly floured surface roll out the cookie dough around a 1/4 of an inch thick. Using cookie cutters of your choice cut out the cookies and place on a lined baking tray. Once all the cookies have been cut out place in the oven for 10 minutes. Once baked place on a cooling rack and leave to cool completely.

Mix the icing sugar and water together to get a thick but pouring consistency. Use more icing sugar if you need to thicken the mixture. Drizzle the icing sugar where you want to sprinkle over the sprinkles so that they stick to the cookies. Then sprinkle over the sprinkles and leave to set.