Tis the Season when it is getting colder outside and hot Chocolate is a lovely way to stay warm.
That also means that it is the Time to bake some nice Cookies and Biscuits.
Yesterday, my Family and I were finally able to make some together Time and so just that.
We had decided to make three different Kinds, but my Brother and I only were involved with two of them.
Dough Time
Before you can form your Cookies, you have to make the Dough. Obviously, that was no different for us.
But since my Brother would arrive a bit later, and our Doughs had to be chilled, that was my first Task.
I think I went a little overboard with the Measurements, but I think I did well kneading the Dough.
They both turned out great and very tasty, if I do say so myself.
After the Dough come the Cookies
To bake some Cookies, you have got to make the Cookies. We had blamed on whipping up some Vanilla Kipferl, Spritzgebäck and Nutty Cinnamon Balls.
I definitely have to say that I am no good at that. The first Cookies I form are always good, as are the last ones. But I kinda loose interest and rush Things when it comes to the middle.
Of Course, that was no different yesterday. I especially disliked forming those crescent shaped Vanilla Kipferl.
The Spritzgebäck was much easier to make though, as I just had to cut it at the Meat Grinder.
Because there was very little Dough for those Nut Balls, my Mom made those all by her self.
After forming all those beautiful Cookies, they then had to be baked in the Oven.
That did not take very long, but it also made us discover that our Oven does not heat as evenly as it used to anymore.
The Hot Air Function also blows a little bit too strong for making light weight Cookies. But I guess I am a bit nitpicky about that.
Some Cookies were burned in the Process.
Decorating Cookies
In my Family, we like to decorate our Cookies very simply. The Spritzgebäck just got some Chocolate, and the Kipferl got their traditional dusting of Vanilla Sugar.
Dusting the Vanilla Kipferl was the easiest though. All that had to be done was to mix some powdered Sugar with Vanilla Sugar.
The still warm Kipferl were then dipped in the Mixture and dusted off with a little Brush.
You do have to make sure that there is neither too much nor too little Dusting. Too much would just fall off, and too little just does not taste good.
It is also very important to put enough Vanilla Sugar into the Dusting Mix. The Cookies should have a nice Vanilla Flavouring after all.
Getting the Spritzgebäck done was just a little bit more work.
In Order to actually get the Chocolate onto the Cookies, it first had to be melted. To do that, we used a Water Bath. That is just safer to do. Also the Chocolate does melt more evenly that way.
There are probably other Methods to melt Chocolate, but that is how we are doing it since a long Time.
It was very easy to put it on though. We just dipped the Cookies in the melted Cake Glaze we had used as a substitute for Chocolate.
That Stuff just melts easier.
Spending Time together
The best Thing about it all was that we made the Cookies together though.
Spending some Quality Time with my Family definitely was the best Part of it all. I always love it when we get together to make Food while listening to Music.
We always have the best Time.
Making Cookies alone is just boring.
A good Meal 