Spiced Wafers And Holiday Pinwheels

Need a treat to serve this holiday season? How about simply homemade and budget-friendly? If that's what you're aiming for, then I have two recipes that will surely impress anyone of your guests.

Firstly, I have a classic treat that is great at any time of the day and pairs well with a hot beverage. It's also a very simple recipe to make and can be easily made ahead of time. Meaning you can easily bake them fresh on the day you need them.

A spiced ginger wafer is a nostalgic European cookie that can take many forms. This particular recipe has a combination of ginger, cloves and cinnamon. When baked it becomes a crunchy, buttery wafer similar to gingerbread. Then to make it extra special for the holiday season you can easily drizzle each wafer with melted white chocolate and let set. From there they can be placed on a serving dish or can be chilled when ready.

Though don't forget these wafers can also be a great foodie gift. Just layer the cookies with wax paper in a holiday tin and chill when ready to gift. It's that easy.

Now if you want more of a modern treat too serve, then I do have a vibrant, colourful cookie that is made with just a simple sugar cookie dough. These sprinkle pinwheel cookies will impress anyone purely by their appearance. They are coloured with green food colouring, as well as sprinkles, becoming a soft and buttery cookie.

If your the one making these you will find how easy the preparation is and how inexpensive this recipe can be. It's also quite adaptable meaning you can change the colour, sprinkles, or flavour without risking anything. Just think you can have a red and green pinwheel with a lemon flavour and colourful sprinkles. Ideas are endless for these pinwheels.

Plus what's even better is this rolled cookie can be made ahead of time so you can slice and bake them fresh when needed. Or you can easily freeze them up to 3 months. Overall, you can't go wrong with serving these darlings this holiday season.

So join me on celebrating the Christmas season by trying out these delicious homemade recipes. Your friends, family and kids will enjoy these treats!

Merry Christmas!!

Ginger Wafer Cookies

1/2 cup softened butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup molasses

1 egg

2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp grated orange peel

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground cloves

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 Lindt white chocolate bar or 1/2 cup to 1 cup of chips.

1. Cream together the butter and sugar.Until light and fluffy.

2.Add molasses,egg,ginger,orange peel,salt,cinnamon and cloves.Beat until well blended. 

3. Stir in flour, until well blended.
(Dough will be stiff)

4. Divide dough in half and roll each into a log that is 8 by 1 1/2 inches. Wrap each log in plastic wrap or wax paper. Refrigerate at least 5 hours or up to 3 days.

5. Preheat oven to 350 F.Cut dough carefully with a sharp knife into 1/4 inch slices. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake 12- 14 minutes or until set. Time will vary, so watch them carefully.

6. Using a small bowl melt the white chocolate in the microwave at 20 to 30-second intervals, stirring each time , until fully melted. If using chips add just a little vegetable oil before to help the melting process.

7. Once each batch of cookies are cool, Your welcome to drizzle the wafers with the white chocolate. Let set to harden the white chocolate. Once set, layer wafers in an airtight container using wax paper.

Green Sprinkle Pinwheels 

Adapted From Better Homes & Gardens Best Of Christmas Cookies 2018

Yields 32 +

1/2 cup butter, softened

3 oz cream cheese, softened

1 cup sugar

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

2 2/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup green sprinkles

Green paste food colouring

1. Using a large bowl, cream together the butter and cream cheese with a handheld mixer , until light and fluffy. 

2. Beat in the sugar and baking powder, till combined.

 

3. Beat in the egg and vanilla. 

4. Lastly, beat in the flour.

5. Divide the dough in half. Tint one portion with green food colouring and stir in the green sprinkles. Best to use your hands to knead in the colour and use gloves for this process. 

6. Starting with the plain dough, roll onto a piece of wax paper into a 12 x 8-inch rectangle. Once done, Carefully slide the piece of roll dough onto a baking sheet. Roll out green dough into the same size rectangle and invert the dough over top of the plain dough.

7. Starting from the short side, use the wax paper on the bottom to roll up the dough, seal edges of the dough. Refrigerate for 4 hours or freeze for 1 hour or until firm enough to slice.

8. Preheat oven to 375F.Using a sharp knife, cut dough into 1/4 inch slices. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 6-8 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool on wire rack.

9. Layer cookies between sheets of wax paper in an airtight container. Store in refrigerator up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months.