Christmas and Holiday Gift Idea: Sugar Cookies and Tea

Sugar cookies and tea...there couldn't be a lovelier combination.

Christmas is a time for cozy and warm moments.  Why not give your friends a bake-at-home roll of sugar cookie dough and some loose leaf tea as a gift this year? Ready for baking and brewing, the classic combo of tea and cookies will delight both young and old.

I love tea and usually go for Mariage Freres teas. This year, I decided to go to a local tea shop, Spike's Coffee and Tea in the Castro. My sister reminded me of their great tea selection and friendly service. She was right, Trevor, who was on duty, was patient and helpful, even though the customers kept streaming through the door. Although I kept adding flavors, the bill was still reasonable and the packaging was lovely.

I purchased six quarter pound bags of loose leaf tea, including Earl Grey, Lapsang Souchang, Chai, Russian Caravan and Moroccan Mint. Depending on each of my friends' tastes, I will chose a tea to include with the cookie dough.If you can, grab some actual tea filters or a tea strainer to include in the gift. Some friends may get a few small bags of each flavor of tea

Here's a link to brewing the perfect cup of tea, as per Twinings of London. You may want to include the link with the recipe below so you're friends can make the best cup of tea ever. You can also add a jar of frosting, or a copy of the recipe.

Happy holidays to you and yours!

Sugar Cookies and Tea Gift Set

(All pictures are cookies made with standard all-purpose white flour. You can replace white flour with Gluten Free Pantry's All Purpose Flour Mix)

Make the dough:

You can find the dough recipe here.

Instead of baking right away,  wrap the dough into 4 portions into waxed paper logs, tie with ribbon and refrigerate.

Include these instructions with the roll of cookie dough:

1. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.
2. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in a 375 degree preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.
3. Frost (recipe here) and serve with a cup of brewed tea.

Let the Christmas Cookies Begin: Lemon-Iced Cookies

It's raining hard here, which means it's really almost Christmas in San Francisco. Isabella and I did some Christmas window shopping this weekend. Ingredients for Christmas cookies are showing up in our kitchen; Christmas tree is being purchased tomorrow.

Above is a picture of Noel's version of Gran Fran's lemon-iced cookies. Delish! Noel's an excellent baker, so I left the documentation to her. My cookies never quite look as good as hers, though they do taste delightful.

I wanted to share a recipe, but also these gems of Christmas-pictures past of the Claro kids. These were on Facebook already, so I figured my siblings can't complain about me posting them here....

 The little one in the grey dress is me. Kind of looking like a crazy monkey. I think there is at least one picture of each of my sisters wearing this dress. I know there are shots of me in the dress with the cherries Noel is wearing, and the blue dress Danielle has on. I never had the pleasure of wearing the funky heart-printed one Nicole has on, nor Chris' very awesome plaid pants.

How about those late '70's collars? I see tinsel on that Christmas tree. No idea Gran Fran used to allow that, must note for future Christmas

Gran Fran wrote a wonderful post that evokes memories of grandmas getting ready for Christmas in their community. The recipe for her lemon-iced cookies was included in the post. They're a wonderful addition to your traditional Christmas cookie repertoire.

And, finally, a picture of my daughter and her two local cousins enjoying some sparkling cider (no, it's not beer) at Thanksgiving dinner. These are who I bake for these days. Not too shabby, huh?

So let's start this Christmas season off right and get some baking done!

(All pictures are cookies made with standard all-purpose white flour. You can replace white flour with Gluten Free Pantry's All Purpose Flour Mix)

Angeletti –Lemon-Iced Cookies

Cookies

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (I use Gluten Free Pantry's All Purpose Flour Mix)
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Icing

• 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• Grated rind of 1 lemon
•  2 to 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• Colored sprinkles (optional)

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Sift togther flour, salt, and baking powder; set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream butter and granulated sugaruntil fluffy
4.  Add eggs one at a time; mix well after each addition.
5. Mix in vanilla.
6. With mixer on, gradually add flour mixture; beat until dough comes together.
7. Gently roll bits of dough into  1 to 1-1/2 inch ballsand placeon lightly buttered or parchment-lined baking sheet.
8. Bake until golden, about 15 minutes. To cool cookies, transfer them to wire cooling rack set over a sheet of waxed paper.
9.  In a medium bowl, stir together confectioners’ sugar, lemon rind, and lemon juice to form a smooth glossy icing.
10. When cookies are cool, dip tops in icing and return to wire rack.
11. Shower with colored sprinkles if desired. Let cookies remain on wire cooling rack until icing is firm.