Winter Delights: Preparing Cookies as Gifts for Your Loved Ones

The winter season evokes feelings of coziness and warmth, and nothing captures this spirit quite like the aroma of freshly made cookies floating through your home. As the weather cools and the holidays approach, making cookies becomes more than simply a hobby—it’s a way to express joy, demonstrate affection, and make treasured memories.

Choosing the Perfect Winter Cookie Recipes

When it comes to winter baking, the options are endless. I chose a simple recipe that will enlighten your taste buds. Simple cookies with a lot of butter and vanilla. In addition a topping of milk chocolate will be the little extra. The recipe is very simple, around 20 minutes to prepare. The dough needs to stay in the fridge for around 2 hours.

After the rest period you can opt to cut the cookies in shapes.

Dough recipe

• 500 g of flour
• 2 eggs
• 150 g of ground walnuts (or hazelnuts, almonds)
• 330 g of butter min 82% – soft, at room temperature
• 150 g of powdered sugar
• grated zest from 1 lemon (do not use for hazelnuts)
• a ​​good pinch of salt
• 2 sachets vanilla sugar or a teaspoon of vanilla extract
• I have added also some chocolate chips (optional)
• 200 milk chocolate for topping

Baking time: aprox 15 minutes in a preheated oven until light brown.

Mix the ingredients and let the dough rest.

Tips for Baking the Best Winter Cookies

• Use High-Quality Ingredients

The flavor is significantly enhanced by using premium butter, vanilla essence, and spices.

• Chill Your Dough

To improve flavor and stop the dough from spreading, many cookie recipes benefit from chilling the dough.

• Invest in festive cutters and molds

Shapes of snowflakes, stars, and reindeer give your cookies a hint of holiday magic.

• Don’t Rush the Decoration

To ensure that your cookies look as beautiful as they taste, take your time decorating with the frosting and toppings.

Presenting Cookies as Gifts

A meaningful, personalized gift that demonstrates your time and effort to share holiday cheer is a handmade cookie. Here’s how to showcase them in a stunning way:

Packaging

• Decorative Tins: Tins with a winter motif keep cookies fresh and provide a touch of nostalgia.
• Glass Jars: For a rustic appearance, arrange cookies in mason jars and tie them with festive ribbon.
• Gift Boxes: For a polished appearance, use craft paper boxes coated with parchment paper.

Add A Personal Touch

• To make your present more unique, including a recipe card or handwritten note.
• For added flair, affix a tiny ornament or stem of greenery to the package.

Your baked cookies are guaranteed to make people smile and evoke pleasant memories, whether you’re creating elaborate designs or sticking to tried-and-true classics. So dust off your rolling pin, preheat your oven, and start baking for the holidays!

Text & pics:

Yle Balaceanu, IBMagazine