Christmas Trees

Christmas Trees: Holiday Delights

Christmas trees are not just a visual delight, but also a true joy for the taste buds! This quick and simple dessert will bring a festive atmosphere to any home, making it perfect to enjoy with loved ones. Additionally, it is a wonderful cooking activity to do together with children, turning the preparation of these little trees into an unforgettable memory. Let's get started!

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Baking time: 20-25 minutes
Total time: 35-40 minutes
Number of servings: 15-20 trees

Ingredients:
- 125 g butter (at room temperature)
- 100 g powdered sugar
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-2 drops green food coloring (optional)
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 250 g flour

Preparation instructions:

1. Preparing the ingredients: Make sure the butter is at room temperature for easier incorporation. You can cut it into small cubes to speed up the softening process. Also, measure all the ingredients before starting, to have everything at hand.

2. Butter cream: In a large bowl, cream the butter with the powdered sugar using a mixer or spatula. Continue until the mixture becomes fluffy and light in color, which will contribute to the airy texture of the cookies.

3. Adding the yolks: Incorporate the two egg yolks, vanilla extract, and green food coloring. Mix well until everything is uniform. The food coloring is optional, but it will give a festive hue.

4. Incorporating the milk: Add the two tablespoons of milk and mix again. This step helps achieve a finer and easier-to-shape dough consistency.

5. The flour: Sift the flour into the bowl and gradually incorporate it into the mixture, using a spatula or your hands. Mix until you obtain a homogeneous and easy-to-shape dough.

6. Chilling the dough: Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it chill in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes. This step is essential for obtaining crispy trees, as the flour will have time to absorb moisture.

7. Cutting the trees: Once the dough is chilled, sprinkle a little flour on the work surface and roll out the dough into a thick sheet of about 5 mm. Use a tree-shaped cutter (or any desired shape) to create the trees.

8. Baking: Place the trees on a greased baking tray or lined with parchment paper. Bake them in a preheated oven at 180°C for 20-25 minutes or until they become slightly golden at the edges.

9. Cooling and decorating: Let the trees cool on a rack. Once cooled, decorate them with a paste made from powdered sugar and a little water, or with colored icing to give them a festive look.

Serving suggestions: Serve these trees alongside a fragrant tea or a glass of warm milk. You can beautifully package them in gift boxes to give to loved ones.

Variations: You can experiment with different flavors, adding cocoa to make chocolate trees or using other colors of food coloring to create a colorful mix of trees. You can also add ground nuts or chocolate for a unique taste and texture.

These Christmas trees are not just a simple dessert to prepare, but also an excellent way to bring a touch of magic into your home during the holiday season. The sizes, decorations, and ingredients can be adjusted according to your preferences, so don't hesitate to play with the recipe!