10 December 2023 , 11:30
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Christmas is just around the corner and if your home isn't a part-time bakery already you are doing things wrong.
Nigella Lawson's Christmas cookies recipe is simple and will leave your house smelling of chocolatey-goodness, a sure way to get you and your family into the festive spirit. Her "delicious" cookies are sure to hit the spot this Christmas - and you can even make several batches and freeze them for up to three months.
The TV chef, who is known for her enchanting Christmas recipes, says that these "meltingly gorgeous" chocolate cookies are also an "absolute doddle" to make.
The recipe, which was featured in Nigella Christmas, has been a huge hit with fans for years and for many itss become a recipe they always make during the festive season.
One commentor who left a review on Nigella.com said: "Oh my goodness. How can such an easy recipe turn into the best biscuits I’ve ever made!! So buttery, perfect sweetness and texture of my dreams."
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The chef who is known for her Christmas recipes, says that these "meltingly gorgeous" chocolate cookies are also an "absolute doddle" to make (Getty Images)While another fan said they had already tried the recipe for a "test run"” before Christmas Day, and added: "These are super easy to make and are delicious to boot. I made these for the first time last weekend to test before Christmas and turned out perfect. I think walnuts must be smaller in the UK than here in OZ, so my cookies were larger than Nigella's but they still got devoured quickly. Will be making them for Christmas Day now and a smidge smaller."
Meanwhile, a third person said they have adjusted the recipe to suit their vegan needs and the cookies did not disappoint. They wrote: "I have made these vegan AND gluten free to suit family requirements for Christmas. Absolutely love this recipe. Delicious and fun to decorate with Christmas coloured sprinkles."
This recipe makes approximately 24 cookies. You can try them at home following the recipe below.
Nigella's Christmas chocolate cookies
Ingredients
For the biscuits
250 grams soft butter
150 grams caster sugar
40 grams cocoa powder
300 grams plain flour
½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
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1 teaspoon baking powde
or the festive topping
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
175 grams icing sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Christmas sprinkles
Method
Preheat the oven to 170C/150C Fan/gas mark 3/325F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cream the butter and sugar in a bowl. When the mixture is soft and whipped, beat in 40g of cocoa powder and then the flour, bicarb and baking powder. If preferred, you can put everything in a processor and blitz.
Pinch off pieces of the mixture about the size of a large walnut, wearing disposable vinyl gloves as it makes the sticky texture easier to deal with. Roll them into balls then flatten slightly as you place them well-spaced on the baking sheet - you should be able to fit 12 in a batch.
Bake each batch for 15 minutes, and they will continue to cook as they cool.
Remove the baking sheet to a cold surface and let it sit for 15 minutes before transferring the biscuits to a wire rack, with a sheet of newspaper under it to catch the icing drips.
For the topping, put the cocoa powder, icing sugar, vanilla extract, and 60ml/¼ cup of just-boiled water into a small saucepan and whisk over a low heat until everything’s smoothly combined. Take off the heat for 10 minutes.
When the biscuits are cool, drizzle each one with a tablespoonful of chocolate glaze using the back of the spoon to help spread the mixture.
After icing 6 biscuits, scatter with some of the Christmas sprinkles, and continue thus until all the biscuits are topped. If you ice them all before sprinkling, you will find the cocoa “glue” has dried and the sprinkles won’t stick.