The Christmas Cookie Village

Method:

Butter and line a 36 cm x 25 cm baking pan with baking paper. Our pattern fits this size pan exactly. Adjust oven rack to one slot above middle shelf. Preheat over to 180 °C. Remove the choc chips from the bags of Cookie Mix and keep on one side for later. Add ginger to the dry mix. Mix cookies (the double recipe can be mixed together) according to package instructions, leaving out the choc chips. Flatten the dough into the pan with your hand and then roll it level with a rolling pin. Place paper pattern on the levelled dough. Use a ruler as a guide and a pizza wheel or the back of a knife to press indentations through the pattern onto the dough. Lift the pattern and cut into dough with a knife along marked lines. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes until golden brown. While still warm re-cut on the marked lines using the ruler and a sharp knife. NB Leave in the pan until completely cold. Prepare the Icing. Mix according to package instructions. Remove the orange star nozzle before you spoon half of the icing mixture back into the bag - cut a hole ± ½ cm in diameter in the bag. Spoon the remaining icing into another piping bag fitted with a small plain nozzle or simply cut a tiny hole in the tip of a strong plastic bag.

To assemble

Cover a chopping board with baking paper and secure underneath with cellotape or use a foil covered cake board. Can be made up to two days in advance.

1. Cut out the front door. Use the small nozzle to pipe the outline and doorknob and add a chocolate chip for the door knob. Lay the front of the house flat, best side up and pipe the windows. Leave for later.
2. Lay the back of the house down and using the piping bag with the bigger hole pipe two thick lines of icing on the sides of the house.
3. Trim the side walls to a little narrower than a tennis biscuit. Stand the side walls up in the icing and pipe along the tops of the side walls.
4. Gently place the prepared front of the house on the side walls.
5. Lift and stand the house up on the board.
6. Use Tennis biscuits - best side up for roof tiles. Pipe a thin criss-cross pattern onto the tiles.
7. a) Pipe thick icing lines on to the pitch of the roof. b) Position the tiles and outline the roof tiles with an icing border. c) Finally zigzag a thick icing line along the top of the roof and the front of the roof.
8. Trim the chimney a little more slanted. Place the chimney in position with a bit of icing, secure it on the slant of the roof. Pipe a puff of smoke on top of the chimney.
9. Repeat with other houses. Use cinnamon sticks for a pile of logs. Dust everything generously with icing sugar.

Star Cookie Christmas Tree

Adjust the oven rack to one slot above middle shelf. Preheat oven to 180 °C and line one baking tray with baking paper. Remove the chocolate chips and keep for another use or stud the cut out raw cookies with chips. Mix cookies according to package instructions. Knead the dough lightly. Leave to rest for 15 minutes. Roll the dough out between two sheets of baking paper to about ½ cm thick. Peel away the top sheet of paper and punch out cookie stars. Use 3 different sizes. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes, until golden brown. Remove baking tray from oven and leave cookies on hot baking tray to firm up before gently lifting them onto a cooling rack. Allow cookies to cool down completely before storing in an airtight container.

How to make a Christmas tree

• plain peanut butter or pre-mixed icing
• icing sugar

Put a blob of peanut butter or icing on 3 of the big cookies. Stack them, staggering the points . Repeat with medium size cookies and lastly the little ones. Put on a plate and dust generously with icing sugar.

Crazy Marshmallow Men

Olaf's friends are having a good time playing in the snow. Use the already mixed leftover icing sugar after building your Cookie Village, to secure eyes etc. Use your imagination and dress Olaf's friends to your hearts delight!