Christmas Cookies (Vanilla Biscuits)

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 180°C / 350°F (160°C fan). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2: Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl until creamy, about 1 minute on speed 5.

Step 3: Add the egg and vanilla, then beat until completely combined.

Step 4: Add the flour, baking powder, and salt.

Step 5: Start mixing slowly, then beat until the flour is incorporated. The mixture will be clumpy.

Step 6: Dust the work surface with flour and scrape the dough out of the bowl. Pat it together, cut it in half, then shape each half into a disc.

Step 7: Roll the dough to 0.3 cm / 1/8 inch for thinner, crispier cookies, or 0.6 cm / 1/4 inch for thicker, softer cookies. Sprinkle flour under and over the dough so it does not stick.

Step 8: Use cookie cutters to press out shapes. Transfer them to the prepared baking sheets with a knife or spatula. Keep any dough that does not fit in the oven in the fridge.

Step 9: Bake for 10 minutes, switching the trays halfway through, until the surface is pale golden and the edges are just beginning to turn light golden.

Tip: For even baking, place one tray on the middle oven shelf and the other underneath, then switch their positions halfway through.

Step 10: Let the cookies cool completely on the trays; they will finish cooking on the trays.

Step 11: Decorate with icing; use the separate icing for Christmas cookies recipe.

Step 12: Melt chocolate, then dip the surface of each cookie into it.

Step 13: Dot the cookies with icing sugar and decorate them with silver balls.

Step 14: Dust the cookies with icing sugar.

Step 15: Serve plain; the cookies are sweet vanilla biscuits and are delicious as they are.