Spice Cookies with Sesame Seeds And Holiday Stencils

As I was saying... I was baking cookies.


The smell in our house was heavenly.



These are the cookies that I’ll be giving to our friends and neighbours as homemade Christmas gifts.
 

The most fabulous thing about giving a food gift is that you know it will be enjoyed.



It’s a small thing, but it really makes people happier. Because showing true appreciation always comes from the heart. Christmas season it’s all about hearty moments.

I prepared these spiced cookies {a variation of this recipe} that I made for one of my post last year—remember this.



These cookies have a flavorful combination of cinnamon and nutmeg. I made them using brown sugar and I added sesame seed to the mixture which is a great source of fiber. But you can also add flax seeds or walnuts instead of sesame seeds.  

To make the cute Christmas tree decoration, I used confectioner's sugar {icing sugar} -- And I made a simple stencil out of a file folder by simply drawing a Christmas tree on it and then cutting the edges using a craft knife. 


It's very easy and fun to make.



If you would like to know more about how to decorate cookies with stencils-- visit the kaboose site. It has wonderful ideas about stencil decorations.


These are so fragrant and delicious!
 
 
And I’ll have to make some more this next weekend.
 
J. agreed :)



I hope everybody is doing great!

Spice Cookies with Sesame seeds 

makes 40 (quantities may vary according to cookie sizes)

2 1/2 C. All purpose flour

1 1/2 Soft brown sugar

200 g / 7 oz unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 medium eggs

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

Pinch of salt

1 tsp. vanilla essence

1/4 C. milk

1/3 C. Sesame seeds

1 tsp. cinnamon powder

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Preparation:

In a medium bowl add sugar, butter and eggs. Mix ( using an electric mixer ) until creamy ( about 2 minutes). Then add milk, spices, vanilla essence and sesame seeds. And mix for 1 minute. And finally add the dry ingredients; flour, baking powder and baking soda -- combine using a wooden spoon.

Form the mixture into a sausage roll—about 20-22 cm long/ 8 inch approx.—and carefully wrap with plastic. Refrigerate for 2- 2 ½ hrs or overnight ( if you wish to bake them the next day). When ready preheat oven to 180C/ 350F --about 5 minutes before putting the tray in the oven. 

Cut into slices (about 1 cm/ ½ inch thick). Put onto baking trays ( lightly floured) and bake for 15 minutes. Let them cool completely before decorating with the confectioner's sugar / icing sugar. Lay stencil on cookie. Using a fine sieve, and dust with the sugar on top.Lift stencil carefully.