South African Christmas Cookies

It’s beginning to look and sound a lot like Christmas, isn’t it? It’s almost as if the start of December presents itself with ringing of Christmas bells, twinkling lights, festive cheer, and of course; the smell of freshly baked South African Christmas cookies too. If you want to get in on the Christmas cheer, maybe it’s time to don your Christmas hat, gather your loved ones and get baking.

 

Christmas Cookies Recipes

Let’s take a sneak peek at just 3 of our favourite Christmas cookie ideas that you absolutely have to try this season…

South African Christmas Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are a simple delight. They are easy to make and while they are completely uncomplicated, they are absolutely delectable. Once you start nibbling on them; beware, you might not be able to stop.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF-9I38ud4s

 

What you need:

• 2 and 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1 and 1/2 cups of sugar
• 1 cup of softened butter (or vegan marge for a plant-based option)
• 1 egg (or 3 tablespoons of aquafaba for a plant-based option)
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 Christmas themed cookie cutter (optional)

 

What to do:

• First, preheat the oven to 190 degrees Celsius.
• Grab a bowl and stir the flour, baking soda and baking powder together and then set it to one side.
• Using a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar into a smooth paste.
• Beat the eggs (or aquafaba) and vanilla essence and add to your sugar and butter paste. Slowly blend in the dry ingredients and mix well until completely combined.
• Grease a baking tray and then using a teaspoon, gather dough balls from the cookie dough and place it onto the tray. Alternatively, use your cookie cutter to cut Christmas-themed shapes for your new cookies.
• The cookies will change shape as they bake, so leave enough space between each cookie.
• Bake for 10 to 15 minutes and then remove them from the oven. They will be slightly soft but will harden on cooling.
• Last but not least, gobble them up with hot cups of tea.

 

Snowball Christmas Cookies

These are the perfect cookies to bake if you love a grand presentation. Pile them up on a serving dish on the table and watch everyone be wowed… This recipe makes around 35 snowballs.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4XIJ36qBLg

 

What you need:

• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• 1 cup of flour
• 1 cup of softened butter
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• 3/4 cup of chopped pecan nuts
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• Some powdered sugar for dusting

 

What to do:

• First and foremost, preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
• Cream the butter until it is soft and light.
• Add all the additional ingredients to the butter, except for the powdered sugar, and mix well.
• Scoop out spoonfuls of the mixture and use your hands to shape 2cm balls. Place each of these balls onto a greased baking tray.
• Pop the tray into the oven and let the snowballs bake for 15 minutes. Keep an eye on them – they should not brown.
• Remove the snowballs out of the oven and allow them to cool on a cooling rack. When they are cool, roll each snowball in the powdered sugar and stack onto a serving plate.
• Get ready to gobble these snowball cookies down – rumour has it that they go extremely well with a glass of Amarula Cream. Yum!

 

Magic Christmas Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread and ginger cookies are a firm favourite at Christmas time! These magic gingerbread cookies are not just easy Christmas cookies to make, but absolutely delectable too.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YDEZ4bYmJ4

 

What you need:

• 1/2 cup of softened butter
• 1 and 1/2 cups of gingersnap crumbs
• 1/2 cup of flour
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1 cup of coconut flakes
• 1 cup of cinnamon chips
• 1 cup of chocolate chips (white chocolate is best)
• 1 can of sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup of chopped pecan nuts

 

What to do:

• Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and stir in the gingersnap crumbs, baking powder, and flour.
• Press the mixture into a baking dish (make sure that it is well greased before).
• Sprinkle the coconut flakes, then cinnamon chips, and then white chocolate chips over the top of the gingersnap crust.
• Pour the condensed milk evenly over the top.
• Now, sprinkle the chopped pecan nuts over the condensed milk.
• Pop the baking dish into the oven and bake for around 30 minutes. Remove the dish from the oven and allow the contents to cool inside it.
• Once the mixture is cool, cut it into squares and carefully remove each piece.
• All that’s left to do is… serve and enjoy!

Each of the above 3 Christmas cookie recipes are designed to be easy, drool-worthy, and oh-so-Christmassy. While you’re deciding which one to try first, let’s think about your emigration for a bit…

 

FinGlobal Offering Expert Financial Services to South African Expats

At FinGlobal we’re pretty focused on delicious Christmas cookie ideas at this time of the year, but that doesn’t mean that we’re diverting from the focus and attention that we provide South African expats across the globe. We provide premier advice and guidance to SA expats the world over and can assist you meticulously with all things relating to your emigration, from withdrawing your retirement annuity to effectively processing your tax and financial emigration from the country (and everything in between). If you would like more information and advice, simply contact us. Give us a call or send us an email today.