Christmas Cookies

With ribbon ties, these pretty cookies can be used to decorate the festive tree or Christmas garlands. Note that after a couple of days the cookies begin to soften, so serve or give them away in good time while still fresh and crisp. There’s now a wide variety of Christmas cookie cutters available in the shops, otherwise make your own shapes using cardboard templates – a bell, a tree, and a star. Keep the cookies plain, or decorate with piped white icing and silver and gold dragees.