reindeer-cookiesHappy Christmas Eve everyone, who else is over the top excited that tomorrow is Christmas morning? I wasn’t sure if I was going to show you my Christmas baking before Christmas day but I honestly just couldn’t wait! I’ve been giving these out to friends, family, workmates and neighbors all week and its been such a pleasure! I hope that everyone has a truly beautiful Christmas Eve and is able to spend some time with with people that you love! Tonight were baking gingerbread houses and I can’t wait, I’d love to hear what your Christmas Eve traditions are.
Click read more for the recipes.

Gingerbread Cookies

40g butter
1/2 cup golden syrup
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon each of ground cloves, nutmeg, allspice and baking soda
2 cups plain flour
Preheat oven to 170°C. Melt the butter in a small saucepan and add everything except for the flour and baking soda, mix until butter and syrup have melted. Sift in the flour and baking soda and gradually mix to form a dough. Roll dough {roughly 5mm thick} between two sheets of baking paper and refrigerate for 30min or until firm. Cut out with round cookies cutters and place on a baking tray lined with baking paper and bake for around 5-10min. Allow to cool on a cooling rack.

Vanilla Cookies 

125g butter, softened
1/2 cup {110g} caster sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla essence
1 1/2 cups {225g} plain flour, sifted
Preheat oven to 160°C. Place butter and sugar in a electric mixer and beat for around 8-10 min or until pale and creamy. Add the egg and vanilla and beat for a further 2-3 min or until combined. Add the flour and beat until a smooth dough forms. Roll dough between two sheets of baking paper {roughly 5mm thick} and refrigerate for 30min or until firm. Cut out with round cookies cutters and place on a baking tray lined with baking paper and bake for around 5-10 min or until the edges start to golden. Allow to cool on a cooling tray before icing.

Decorating 

Royal Icing 
2 egg whites
2 teaspoons peppermint essence
3 cups icing sugar
As many drops of black food coloring you like until you get your desired color
With a electric mixer, beat eggs whites and peppermint essence until eggs start to stiffen then gradually add in the icing sugar until its thick and glossy. Gently mix in the food coloring, adding a little at a time. Spoon into a piping bag with a thin tip.
Once your cookies are cooled, using dark grey royal icing draw on your antlers and eye’s and stick jaffas on for noses! These really are so easy to do.