Hanukkah is one of the most fun holidays for kids. It's about playing games, getting gifts, singing songs and eating delicious sweet treats!
Growing up in Israel, Hanukkah was truly only about lighting the candles for the 8 nights, singing traditional songs, eating delicious home-fried-in-oil doughnuts filled with strawberry jam covered with sugar and sitting on the floor playing games with a Sevivon (Hebrew word for Spinning Top) or as it is known in many countries, a Dreidle. (The word for it in Yiddish.)
There were never any gifts given in Israel. I think that started abroad as a competitive tradition with Christmas presents which are given to children everywhere! There was chocolate money later on but I honestly don't remember even getting those. Just doughnuts and a Sevivon every year! But it was my favorite holiday as a child. I didn't need anything else!
These cookies are so simple and fun to make with kids. You can use any cookie cutter shapes and any glaze you choose with sprinkles of the colors you like!
Here goes:
For cookies:
220 grams plain all purpose flour - sifted
145 grams sugar
120 grams butter softened
¼ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
pinch salt
For Glaze: This is enough for more than the cookies but I usually freeze the leftover glaze. It's great to have when you need it.
400 grams powdered sugar (icing sugar in the UK)
2 teaspoons Golden Syrup
1 tablespoon smooth Biscoff cookie dough
pinch salt
90ml boiled water
Instructions for cookies:
Beat butter and sugar using a stand or hand mixer until all are blended together. Add vanilla extract and egg, continue mixing to a smooth blend.
Fold in flour and baking powder gradually, mixing it in with a wooden spoon as you don't want to over mix. That would cause the cookies to become too hard. Put dough in bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
In the meanwhile combine all glaze ingredients and whisk together. Add 1 tablespoon of Biscoff smooth cookie butter. (My new addiction) Mix and set aside.
Heat oven to 374 degrees (175c) and cover a baking pan with parchment paper.
Take out mix from the fridge, flour work area and roll out to about a ¼-½ inch thick. With cookie cutters of your choice flour the tips of your cutter and cut out your shape. Lay on baking pan lifting carefully with a thin icing spatula and place the cookie cut outs about 2" apart so they don't touch.
Bake for about 9-10 minutes checking to see if the bottoms are golden. That's an indication that the cookies are ready. Don't let them get golden on top or they will be too hard.
Cool on a rack not in the pan or the cookies will continue to bake from the heat of the pan.
When cooled dip half a cookie in the glaze and sprinkle each cookie with your favorite sprinkles. Or just sprinkle with powdered sugar!
So easy and quick to prepare. This is a great and fun thing to do with kids on days off from school all year round!
Have fun and Happy Hanukkah!
חג שמח!
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