Christmas Cookies

Christmas Cookies

1. Christmas Cookies
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, or using a hand-held mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, add the vanilla and egg yolks, and mix to combine
3. Add the ground almonds, and with the mixer on slow, beat to combine
4. Sift the flour and salt together, then add to the dough, mix slowly until just combined
5. Divide the dough in half, roll each half between two sheets of baking paper to 5mm thick, leaving the dough between the sheets of baking paper, transfer to baking trays and rest in the fridge for at least an hour
6. Preheat your oven to 175ºC fan, 195ºC conventional
7. Use a 6cm cookie cutter to cut rounds from the sheets of dough, transfer to lined baking trays, leaving 2cm clearance around each cookie
8. Collect the off cuts together and re-roll, popping it back into the fridge for 10 minutes or so if it becomes too soft to handle
9. Use a smaller, approximately 2.5cm cutter to cut a circle from the centre of half the cookies, save these little rounds, bake them separately to make mini sandwiches cookies
10. Bake the cookies for 12 minutes, until lightly golden around the edges, then transfer to racks to cool
11. When the cookies are completely cool, turn the solid round cookies upside down and top with a teaspoon of jam; dust the cookie rings with icing sugar then gently press onto the bases
12. Using a couple of teaspoons, very carefully top the centres of the cookies with a little extra jam
13. Cookies will keep in an airtight container for several days, you can make the cookies in advance, but fill them just before serving as they will soften quickly once filled

1. Vanilla Extract
2. Split the vanilla beans in half length ways, drop into the bottle of vodka, tightly replace the lid
3. Store in a cool place, away from direct sunlight for 8 weeks
4. Remove the vanilla beans and your vanilla extract is good to go!