Christmas Cookies for Santa

These are bound to be a big hit with Santa and friends this Christmas. They are a joy to make with little ones and I've yet to find a recipe that works so beautifully every time. They melt in the mouth and can be kept for up to 7 days in an airtight container (they probably won't be around for that long!)

INGREDIENTS

• 215 g butter unsalted
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 70 g caster sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 250 g plain flour
• 40 g icing sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Put the soft butter, caster and icing sugars in a large bowl and cream together until pale and fluffy. Make sure the butter is soft before doing this.
2. Mix in the vanilla then add the egg yolks one at a time, with a spoonful of flour and beating well after each one.
3. Mix in the remaining flour with a metal spoon.
4. Once the dough starts to clump together, bring it together into a ball with your hands.
5. Roll out the dough to just over a centimetre thick.
6. Cut out your biscuits using different Christmas cookie cutters and place a few centimetres apart on the baking tray.
7. Chill the biscuits on the tray for about 30 minutes.
8. Preheat the oven to 190 C / 170 FAN 
9. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until lightly golden.
10. Leave the biscuits on the baking tray for 2 minutes and dust with the caster sugar.
11. Use a metal spatula to transfer the biscuits to a wire rack to cool completely.