Christmas without cookies are indispensable & they even serve as wonderful gifts. Cookie recipes are prepared by baking which is further enhanced by decorating to mark the special occasion. The Christmas cookies, once frozen either decorated or undecorated, the variation in recipes lend a specialty to the year's most awaited festival. Be it basic shortbread cookies, refrigerator cookies, fancy bars or even traditional Christmas cookie recipes, the charm oft these confectioneries are still intact.

Decoration

Christmas cookies can be decorated using distinct styles & decorative methods. Lets take a look at some of these methods which add on to the beauty of the cookies.

• Stained Glass
• Dough Frosting
• Colored Sugar
• Stencils
• Piping
• Chocolate Dip

Gift Ideas

Christmas cookies even serve as most cherished Christmas gifts & sweeten the memory of the festival. An all time favorite of children, these even manage to lure the adults with their tempestuous nature. The following ideas can help in enhancing the overall appeal of these gift items.

• Trace patterns on heavy, bright paper by using cookie cutters to make gift tags.
• Cookie gift package coupled with a detailed recipe description on homemade cards.
• Create unique gift packages by using stencil and decorating with brown paper lunch bags.

Tips

These handy tips will only help in heightening the appeal of these mouth watering Christmas gifts. The following ideas have been coined keeping in mind the ultimate effect it will surely have on the buyers & add to the USP of the delicacies.

• Apply shiny aluminum pans for evenly baked and browned cookies. “Insulation” can be as well imparted by stacking more than two if the pans are thin.
• Dip cookie cutters in confectioners' sugar or flour between cutting cookies since it helps prevent the dough from sticking to cutters.
• Waxed paper covered countertop used for rolling cookies where the paper is sprinkled with a little water to avoid any slipping.
• Cooling of the pan should be done prior to its usage for the next batch. Followed with running cold water over it , dry these to speed things along.
• Freeze cookies individually on an uncovered tray or baking sheet for atleast 4 to 6 months, then transfer to labeled freezer bags.