Milanese biscuits are delicious little all-purpose cookies that bring joy to the Christmas holidays. With their melt-in-your-mouth texture and delicate flavor, these traditional biscuits come in a multitude of festive shapes to brighten up your holiday table. Perfect with coffee, as a gift, or to decorate the Christmas tree, they will delight young and old alike.
Ingredients for approximately 40-50 cookies
- 250 g of butter
- 250 g of caster sugar
- 2 egg yolks (for the dough)
- 500g of white flour
- 1 sachet of vanilla sugar
- 1 egg yolk (for glazing)
Materials needed:
- Cookie cutters in various shapes (stars, Christmas trees, hearts, snowmen, etc.)
- Rolling pin
- Hob
- Parchment paper
Preparation: Step by Step
1. Prepare the dough
Beat the butter until light and fluffy in a large bowl. Gradually add the caster sugar while continuing to beat vigorously until the mixture is pale and fluffy.
2. Stir in the eggs
Add the 2 egg yolks one at a time, mixing well after each addition. The mixture should be smooth and creamy.
3. Add the flour
Stir in the vanilla sugar , then gradually add the sifted flour . Gently mix with your cool hands until you have a smooth, homogeneous dough. Avoid overworking the dough to keep the cookies tender.
4. Resting the dough
Form the dough into a ball, wrap it in cling film, and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours . This resting time is essential for obtaining a dough that is easy to work with and cookies that hold their shape well during baking.
5. Roll out the dough
On a lightly floured work surface, carefully roll out the dough with a rolling pin until it reaches a thickness of 1 to 2 millimeters depending on your preference (thinner for crispy biscuits, thicker for soft biscuits).
6. Cut out the shapes
Use your cookie cutters in various shapes to cut out the cookies. Stars, Christmas trees, snowmen, hearts... Let your creativity run wild! Children love to participate in this step.
7. Brown the biscuits
Arrange the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper . Lightly beat the remaining egg yolk and gently brush it over the top of each cookie using a pastry brush. This egg wash will give your cookies a beautiful golden color.
8. Cooking
Preheat your oven to 200°C (390°F) . Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes , until lightly golden brown around the edges. Watch them carefully as they bake quickly!
9. Cooling
Let the cookies cool on a wire rack before handling them. They will harden slightly as they cool.
Decoration and Personalization
Royal icing: Decorate your cookies with colored royal icing to create true edible works of art.
Coloured sugar: Sprinkle with coloured sugar or edible glitter before baking for a festive effect.
Hazelnut icing: Top some cookies with hazelnut icing to vary the flavors.
Melted chocolate: Dip half of the biscuits in melted chocolate for a gourmet touch.
Conservation
Store your Milanese biscuits in an airtight container at room temperature. They keep easily for 2 to 3 weeks , making them perfect biscuits to prepare in advance for the holidays.
Success Tips
Dough too sticky? If the dough sticks too much when rolling it out, put it back in the refrigerator for a few minutes.
Clean shapes: For clean cuts, lightly flour your cookie cutters between each use.
Even baking: Space the cookies well on the baking sheet for even baking.
Family activity: Involve the children in the decorating! It's a perfect festive activity to create Christmas memories.
Essential Utensils
To make successful Milanese biscuits, equip yourself with the right tools:
- A quality rolling pin for even rolling
- A variety of cookie cutters in festive shapes
- A professional cooktop
- A kitchen brush for gilding
- Preparation bowls of different sizes
- A whisk or beater to cream the butter
With this traditional recipe and a few basic utensils, you can create delicious Christmas Milanese cookies that will fill your home with a wonderful aroma and delight the whole family. Happy holidays and happy baking!