Spice Cookies with Sesame Seeds And Holiday Stencils


As I was saying... I was baking cookies.


The smell in our house was heavenly.



These are the cookies that I’ll be giving to our friends and neighbours as homemade Christmas gifts.
 

The most fabulous thing about giving a food gift is that you know it will be enjoyed.



It’s a small thing, but it really makes people happier. Because showing true appreciation always comes from the heart. Christmas season it’s all about hearty moments.


I prepared these spiced cookies {a variation of this recipe} that I made for one of my post last year—remember this.



These cookies have a flavorful combination of cinnamon and nutmeg. I made them using brown sugar and I added sesame seed to the mixture which is a great source of fiber. But you can also add flax seeds or walnuts instead of sesame seeds.  

To make the cute Christmas tree decoration, I used confectioner's sugar {icing sugar} -- And I made a simple stencil out of a file folder by simply drawing a Christmas tree on it and then cutting the edges using a craft knife. 


It's very easy and fun to make.



If you would like to know more about how to decorate cookies with stencils-- visit the kaboose site. It has wonderful ideas about stencil decorations.


These are so fragrant and delicious!
 
 

And I’ll have to make some more this next weekend.
 

J. agreed :)



I hope everybody is doing great!




Spice Cookies with Sesame seeds 
makes 40 (quantities may vary according to cookie sizes)

2 1/2 C. All purpose flour
1 1/2 Soft brown sugar
200 g / 7 oz unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 medium eggs
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 tsp. vanilla essence
1/4 C. milk
1/3 C. Sesame seeds
1 tsp. cinnamon powder
1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Preparation:
In a medium bowl add sugar, butter and eggs. Mix ( using an electric mixer ) until creamy ( about 2 minutes). Then add milk, spices, vanilla essence and sesame seeds. And mix for 1 minute. And finally add the dry ingredients; flour, baking powder and baking soda -- combine using a wooden spoon.

Form the mixture into a sausage roll—about 20-22 cm long/ 8 inch approx.—and carefully wrap with plastic. Refrigerate for 2- 2 ½ hrs or overnight ( if you wish to bake them the next day). When ready preheat oven to 180C/ 350F --about 5 minutes before putting the tray in the oven. 

Cut into slices (about 1 cm/ ½ inch thick). Put onto baking trays ( lightly floured) and bake for 15 minutes. Let them cool completely before decorating with the confectioner's sugar / icing sugar. Lay stencil on cookie. Using a fine sieve, and dust with the sugar on top.Lift stencil carefully. 

25 comments

  1. I thought about giving away cookies this year.Your cookies look delicious and very Christmas. BTW beautiful pics !!

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  2. aldy,i love the healthy fix-ins like flax, walnuts, and sesame! :D i agree, it's all about the heart in this season. :)

    ps - i am hosting a cookielove bloghop! link yours up so others can find your beautiful blog!

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  3. What beautiful cookies! I love the way you decorated them.

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  4. @ Cherine,

    @ Sylvia,

    Thanks for the beautiful words!

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  5. @ Junia, Ohhh...You're so Sweet :) Thanks for the invite!

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  6. @ Beth, Thank you! Happy you liked it :)

    Hugs

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  7. These are so cute!
    Link these up to my linky party, A Themed Baker's Sunday where the theme from now until Christmas Weekend is Christmas!!!!
    Cupcake Apothecary
    http://cupcakeapothecary.blogspot.com/2011/12/themed-bakers-sunday-16.html

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  8. You are so right, cookies are always a good gift you know won't be forgotten! I've always loved the homemade gifts the best.

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  9. Es la mejor época para deleitar a nuestros amigos y familiares con nuestras preparaciones. Tus galles se huelen desde aquí. Me imagino que quedaron encantados.
    Cariños

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  10. I'm going to try to make enough cookies for gifting this year also. Your stenciled sesame cookies are beautiful and sound delicious!

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  11. These are so pretty Aldy...perfect for the holidays!

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  12. Homemade gifts are the best! These cookies are so festive and must be delicious :).

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  13. Your cookies look heavenly, if only had a sent button on my laptop!

    Have a lovely time gearing up for Christmas, Aldy xx

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  14. @ Cupcake Apothecary, Thank you! So Sweet :)


    @ Sylvie, Sharing the love :)


    @ Erika, Gracias, si les gustaron :)

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  15. @ Susan,

    @ Magic of spice,


    @ Divya,


    @ Saskia,



    Right back at you! Lovely Ladies :)

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  16. Lovely cookies! They look really tempting. Spices and sesame seeds are a great addition.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  17. These cookies look so cute...I like the idea of sesame and the spices...beautiful and perfect for the season.
    Hope you have a wonderful week ahead Aldy :-)

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  18. Love your stenciled cookies, Aldy! What a super idea. And the sesame seed addition adds just the right touch them.

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  19. Thanks beautiful people!

    HUGS <3

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  20. These look so good Aldy - aand you are right, gifts like this make people happy, because they come from the heart! Love to you!

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  21. came through bloggers...n wow...these sesame cookies look so delicious...very well made....love ur pics too :-)following u on bloggers !

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  22. this looks so lovely. I love sesame seeds in cookies like this:) thank you for sharing this and have a great day.

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  23. Such pretty cookies! I can just imagine the wonderful aroma that filled the house while they were baking :) Nice!

    Sending wishes for a very Merry Christmas!

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  24. Great post.Thanks for sharing such a useful information with us.

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