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There is something about Christmas time that makes everybody want to turn into a baker and make cookies that feel like joy. However, many people avoid baking simply because it feels like a task and is for ‘real bakers’ who have piping bags, stand mixers and all the fancy cookie cutters. But what if you knew that Christmas baking does not have to feel like a professional project? In fact, you would be surprised to know that the most nostalgic, homely cookies in the world were discovered long before those whisks and silicone moulds even were a thing.
This Christmas, instead of stressing about the tools you do not have, look at what you do have - your hands, your oven, and a little festive spirit, that's all that is required to bake good cookies. These beginner-friendly cookies can be blended in one bowl, shaped with a spoon, and baked on whatever trays you already have. No gadgets, no stress- just warmth of the holiday season, buttery fragrances, and fun memories.
Classic Sugar Cookies
No Christmas is complete without baking some sugar cookies filled with butter and vanilla. All you need to do is roll the dough with your hand and use cookie cutters or even steel bowls to press out the shapes. You can also decorate them with various sprinkles, edible glitter, or some melted chocolate to make it more appealing. Use a spoon as your icing tool. They bake fast, taste very familiar, and fill the home with a soft, bakery-like fragrance that feels festive. Sugar cookies are slightly crispy on the edges and soft in the centre, making them the perfect snack during the tree-decorating sessions.
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Chocolate Chunk Drop Cookies
No rolling pin required, no cookie cutter, simply scoop, drop, and bake it. Chunky chocolate drop cookies are a favourite of every chocolate-lover because the melted pieces inside taste like little pools of joy. Making this requires no tedious process, as you can mix the dough roughly using a spatula or even with your hands. The fun part is in scooping the uneven shapes that change into perfectly baked cookies in the oven. Chocolate chunk cookies are soft, gooey, warm, and intensely chocolatey and are ideal for cosy movie nights while snuggling inside blankets.
Peanut Butter Cookies
These are buttery cookies that can be made by pressing with your thumb, and filling the centre with jam or chocolate and baked till it turns golden, and that's it, no special mould needed. You will be amused to see how each cookie turns out a bit unique, which makes the tray look like a beautiful artwork. The cookie tastes nutty, with slight sweet and salty notes that melt slowly in the mouth. The jam turns glossy, and the chocolate turns gooey, giving a fun mix of textures in every bite. Peanut butter cookies can be paired with evening chai or hot cocoa to get all the festive vibes.
(Image credit: Freepik)
Cinnamon Oat Cookies
Soft, chewy, and smelling exactly like cold winter mornings, cinnamon oat cookies are wholesome yet indulgent. To make, you do not require anything except a bowl, spoon, oats and cinnamon powder, that's it. No fancy measurements or tools. Drop little chunks of the prepared batter on a tray and watch them bake in a beautiful golden colour in the oven. The oats give a hearty chew, whereas cinnamon adds to the warmth and comfort that feels like a hug in cookie form. Cinnamon oat cookies are wonderful to have as a grab-and-go breakfast, as a holiday treat or to gift in cute paper bags.
Almond Chocolate Biscotti
Biscotti may look all fancy, but they are surprisingly very simple to make. No piping bags or cookie cutters required. Simply make a log, bake it, slice it with a knife, and then bake it again. Biscotti are crispy, a bit nutty, and excellent for dipping into hot chocolate, coffee, or even warm milk for that small breakfast. The chocolate running through the log gives it a dessert-like sweetness without being too heavy. It feels like something you would get at a café, but you can easily make them in your kitchen, with your Christmas playlist playing in the background.
(Image credit: Freepik)
