Only couple of hours left until midnight therefore we made those super easy pumpkin spice cookies for Santa to leave along some milk and of course carrot for Rudolph.

The cookies are delicious and to make things better they can double as gingerbread men for kids and triple as simple walnuts cookies for any other occasion.

INGREDIENTS

for the cookie dough

• 250 g unsalted butter
• 3 cups plain flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 whole eggs
• 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice mix

for the cutout cookies for Santa

• sprinkles – optional
• icing sugar + hot water for decorations

for the gingerbread men

• colourful chocolate candy
• bit of black fondant icing for eyes
• icing sugar + hot water for decorations

for the walnut cookies

• walnut halves
• shiny edible powder – optional
• icing sugar + hot water for decorations

EQUIPMENT

• cookie cutters
• piping bag (for icing)
• rolling pin
• baking trays lined with baking paper
• pastry blender – optional

METHOD

1. In a mixing bowl combine all ingredients for cookies and knead until well combined.
2. On dusted with flour surface roll out small piece of the dough at the time and cut out the shapes.
3. If you are making the walnut cookies you can skip the cutting out and simply slice the rolled dough or create dough balls and then flatten them. Top each cookie with a walnut half before baking.
4. Bake in the oven preheated to 180°C (356°F) until golden brown.
5. Remove from the oven and let them cool down completely before glazing.
6. To prepare the icing combine sifted icing sugar with a bit of hot water until it has the right consistence.
7. Transfer icing to the piping bag, cut of the top and use to decorate the cookies and stick gingerbread men buttons.
8. If you are using any sprinkles or shiny dust top the cookies with it as well, before the glaze will set.

Makes 3 trays (about 20 – 30 medium cookies).

TIPS

If you are not planning to store cookies for longer you can replace icing with melted white chocolate.

Walnuts can be substituted with pecans.

NOTES

For more Christmas recipes take a look at our Must Try Festive Recipes.

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