December is finally here, which means two exciting things: one) it’s the last month of 2019 and two) it’s almost Hanukkah! The weather is cold and the time is perfect for some fun indoor activities, especially with your kids. So you know what that means...baking! As such, I’m sharing this easy sugar cookie recipe with cute chocolate decorations that your whole family will love.
Hanukkah has two traditional foods, jelly donuts ("sufganiyot") and latkes - the recipe I’m sharing includes yummy and festive cookies to complete your holiday table. Last year, I shared a baked latkes recipe that you have to try.
To simplify the cookie decorating, I used melted chocolate that I piped with a piping bag. I find it so much easier than making icing from scratch with egg whites or other recipes I found online. With my recipe, you simply place a few pieces of chocolate in a piping bag and place the bag in a cup of boiling water. Wait a few minutes and you can start decorating the cookies! On top of the chocolate, I added some colorful sprinkles and I think the outcome is very festive and beautiful. If you want, you can also use white chocolate and add some edible color to it. Make sure the color is oil based because water based colors won't work when mixed with chocolate.
The shapes of the cookies are the Star of David, a dreidel and a menorah which is called Hanukia in Hebrew. All the shapes are related to Hanukkah, which is why it’s a perfect holiday treat. Of course you can make the cookies in any shape and if you are looking for some cookie cutters, check out these options. They can also be a gift for your kids for Hanukkah.
The cookies are sweet and I added vanilla paste to the dough for some extra flavor.
The recipe yields approximately 20 cookies. If you need more cookies than you can double the flour, sugar and butter amounts. Note that you don’t need to use two eggs or double the vanilla portions.
For other Hanukkah recipes check out my Hanukkah recipe index.
Here is the recipe for these delicious Hanukkah sugar cookies:
Hanukkah Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 1¼ cups (175 grams) all purpose flour
- ¼ cup (50 grams) sugar
- 1 (100 grams) stick melted butter
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract / paste
For the garnish:
- A few chocolate cubes (I used dark chocolate)
- Sprinkles
Instructions
- In a stand mixer bowl, place the melted butter and sugar.
- With the flat beater attachment, beat the butter and sugar.
- Add the egg and vanilla and continue beating until unified.
- Add the flour and mix for a couple minutes until the batter becomes dough (make sure you don’t mix for too long otherwise the dough will turn tough).
- With your hands, create a single ball of dough and wrap with plastic.
- Let the dough rest for 1 hour in the fridge.
- Set the oven to 170°C / 350°F with the fan.
- On a floured surface, roll the dough until it is ¼ to ⅜ inch thick.
- Cut the dough with cookie cutters in various shapes to your liking. Then on a baking pan with a baking sheet, place the cutouts 1 inch apart.
- Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes or until edges are golden.
- Cool the cookies at room temperature.
- Melt a few cubes of chocolate in a piping bag that has been sitting in a glass of boiling water.
- Cut a small hole at the end of the piping bag and decorate the cookies as you like.
- Sprinkle the sprinkles on the chocolate while it is still wet.
- Let the decorations set on the cookies.
- Have a cookie and happy Hanukkah!
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