Christmas Butter Food

CHRISTMAS BUTTER

Steps:

• Put your butter into a bowl. Really finely chop the cranberries and add to the bowl.
• Pick the thyme, rosemary and sage leaves, then chop, sweep and run your knife through the herb leaves until really finely chopped. Add to the butter with a pinch of sea salt and black pepper.
• Grate in the zest of your clementine and mix so the butter softens and everything is combined. Divide the butter roughly in half.
• Get your turkey and use a spoon to work your way between the skin and the meat. Start at the side of the cavity just above the leg and work gently up toward the breastbone and towards the back so you create a large cavity.
• Pick up half of your butter and push it into the cavity you've created. Use your hands to push it through the skin right to the back so it coats the breast meat as evenly as possible. Do the same on the other side, then rub any leftover butter all over the outside of the bird to use it up.
• If you've got any herb stalks left over, put them in the cavity of the turkey for added flavour as it cooks.
• Cover the turkey in clingfilm and put in the fridge until you're ready to cook it the next day.

DANISH BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Beat the butter and sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Mix in the milk, vanilla extract, almond extract and egg.
• Reduce the speed to low and mix in the flour and salt until just combined. Transfer the dough to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe 2-inch circles spaced 2 inches apart onto two ungreased baking sheets. Chill until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Bake until the cookies are just set and the bottoms are slightly golden brown, 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes. The cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

CHRISTMAS BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• Add flour, baking powder, salt, and butter- need like pie dough. Make a hole in center of dough so that the middle of the bottom of the bowl shows through.
• Add egg yolks, sugar, cream, lemon juice and rind.
• Knead till blended.
• Divide dough into 4 balls and place in fridge and chill for a few hours (I usually chill overnight).
• Roll out dough and use cookie cutters.
• Bake at 325°F for about 15 minutes.

BEST BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. , Divide dough into four 1-1/2 cup portions; mix and shape for each variety as follows. Yield: 4 portions (1-1/2 cups each)., To prepare Cutouts: Using one portion dough, divide into two balls; roll each ball directly on an ungreased baking sheet to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a floured cookie cutter, leaving at least 1 in. between cookies. Remove excess dough and reroll scraps if desired. Decorate with sprinkles, jimmies or colored sugar if desired. Bake at 375° for 6-7 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Cool for 1 minute before removing from pans to wire racks. Yield: 2 dozen., To prepare Peppermint Balls: In a large bowl, combine one portion dough, peppermint candies and peppermint extract. Shape into 1-in. balls; place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Sprinkle with red colored sugar if desired. Bake at 375° for 10-12 minutes or until set. Cool for 1 minute before removing from pans to wire racks. Yield: 2 dozen., To prepare Spicy Fruit Balls: In a large bowl, combine one portion dough, currants, fruit and cinnamon. Shape into 1-in. balls; place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 10-12 minutes or until set. Cool for 1 minute then roll in confectioners' sugar if desired. Cool on wire racks. Yield: 2 dozen., To prepare Chocolate Slices: In a microwave, melt chocolate; stir until smooth. In a small bowl, mix melted chocolate into one portion cookie dough. Shape into a 1-1/2-in.-thick log; roll in nuts. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 4 hours or until firm. Unwrap and cut into 1/8-in. slices. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 8-10 minutes or until set. Cool for 1 minute before removing from pans to wire racks.

CHRISTMAS BUTTER COOKIE CUTOUTS

Steps:

• In large bowl, beat butter and granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. On low speed, beat in egg, lemon peel and 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt until well blended.
• Divide dough into 4 parts; flatten each part into 1/2-inch-thick round. Wrap each in waxed paper or plastic wrap; refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Heat oven to 350°F. Remove 1 round of dough at a time from refrigerator. Between sheets of floured waxed paper or plastic wrap, roll dough until 1/4 to 3/8 inch thick. Cut with 3-inch cookie cutters in various shapes. On ungreased cookie sheets, place cutouts 1 inch apart.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes or just until edges are golden. Cool on cookie sheets about 1 minute before removing to cooling rack. To make cookies for hanging, using a toothpick or end of plastic straw, carefully poke a hole in the top of each cookie while cookies are still hot. Cool 10 to 15 minutes before frosting.
• In medium bowl, stir together powdered sugar and meringue powder. Stir in 5 teaspoons lemon juice and enough of the 4 to 5 tablespoons water to make a thin icing. Transfer 1/2 cup of the icing into small bowl; set aside. Using a flexible pastry brush, paint cookies to the edges with icing. Place on cooling rack to dry completely, about 30 minutes.
• Beat reserved icing with electric mixer on high speed 5 to 7 minutes or until peaks form. Place in small resealable food-storage plastic bag; cut a very small hole in the bottom of the bag with the plain white icing. Squeeze icing onto glazed cookies. Before icing dries, sprinkle with decorations, and tap off excess. Dry thoroughly on cooling rack. Thread cookies with narrow ribbon for hanging.

CREAMY CHRISTMAS BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 2 cookie sheets.
• In a large bowl of an electric mixer at medium speed, mix butter, sugar and vanilla just until blended.
• Add the egg and mix well.
• In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Add to the butter mixture and mix at low speed until well combined.
• Shape the dough into 3/4-inch balls. Arrange the balls 2-inches apart on the cookie sheets. Flatten each ball with a fork as you would a peanut butter cookie. Do this one time. To prevent the fork from sticking to the cookie dough;, dip it occasionally in confectioners' sugar. Sprinkle tops of the cookies with colored sanding sugar.
• Bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly colored around the edges. Let cookies cool on the cookie sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

CHRISTMAS SPICE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Tip the butter into a large bowl and whisk with an electric hand whisk. Add the icing sugar, milk and festive spice mix. Mix well, first with a spoon, then with the electric beaters until smooth and fluffy. Makes enough for 1 x 20cm sandwich cake or 12 cupcakes.