Father Christmas cookies

These Father Christmas cookies are crisp, light and gently spiced, then decorated with sugar paste to create very fun, very tasty and very festive treats.

Making Father Christmas and his wife in edible for was our Saturday activity this weekend and it was so much fun.

The dough is simple to make. Just combine flour with sugar mixed spice then rub in a generous helping of butter to create a crumb, add milk and a little lemon extra and with a little mixing, it all comes together as a beautiful dough that smells amazing and is really easy to work with.

Next, you'll roll the dough out thinly and cut out as many shapes as you can using a gingerbread man cutter. Then it's into the oven for a mere 8 minutes, before they can be cooled ready to decorate.

The decoration itself is also really simple. You'll roll out red sugar paste (aka fondant), then use your gingerbread man cutter again before trimming off the head and ends of the arms and legs to create little Santa suits.

Once the suits are affixed to the cookies with a dab of water, the only thing left to do is use store bought icing pens to add the details, which is super fun. My kids were decorating happily for hours!

Below, I've included step-by-step photos of the whole process, so you can see exactly what to do.

Here's the recipe.

Instructions

Make the cookies

Preheat the oven to 180C (160C fan).

Put the flour, sugar and mixed spice in a large bowl.

Mix well.

Add the butter to the bowl.

Rub the mix through until you get an even crumb. Add in the lemon extract and milk.

Mix with a round knife until the dough starts to clump.

Use your hands to gather the dough into a ball. If it's unmanageably soft, wrap and pop in the fridge for 15 mins to chill and firm.

Turn the dough out on to a floured surface. For space, I find it easiest to work with half the dough at a time.

Roll the dough out very thinly - just 2-3mm (1/8 of an inch).

How many cookies you get will depend on the size of your cutter. Here's mine for scale.

Cut as many men out as you can. Gather up any offcuts, rolling and cutting until all the dough is used up.

Place the cookies on lined trays.

Bake in the centre of the oven for about 8 mins until just colouring at the edges.

Allow the cookies to cool enough to firm up, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Don't be surprised if one or two make their way into hungry tummies before they're decorated!

Make Father Christmas's suits

Lightly dust your surface with cornflour. Roll your red sugar paste out very thinly.

Use your gingerbread man cutter to cut out as many shapes as you can.

Trim away the off the head and ends of the arms and legs to create little Santa suits. I used the head part of my gingerbread man cutter to do this, creating a shape almost like a romper suit.

As you can see, I also made Mother Christmas's dress.

Dab a very sparing touch of water onto the surface of a cookie.

Apply a Santa suit, smoothing gently with your fingers to work into shape as needed. You can use offcuts to shape a little hat for your Santas too.

Note: it's best to apply all of your suits before moving on as otherwise the sugar paste dry out and become harder to work with.

Add the details

Start with the white icing pen. Drawing in tiny circles, you'll need to draw:

• trim along the wrists and ankles of the suit
• trim and a bobble on the hat
• Father Christmas's beard
• trim running down the centre of his suit to his waist

Now use a black icing pen to give Father Christmas a friendly smile. You can also draw a belt along his middle.

Finally, use your yellow pen to add a little belt buckle.

To make Mother Christmas

Form two small balls of sugar paste and apply to the moistened cookie surface.

As before, apply a suit (or dress), smoothing gently with your fingers to work into shape as needed.

Add all the same details as you gave Father Christmas, plus any extra flourishes you fancy.

Repeat until all of your cookies are decorated. Aren't they just ridiculously sweet and funny?

They're almost to cute to eat!

They taste great too! Will you make them?

For even more recipes like my Father Christmas cookies, check out my festive makes and bakes section.

Pointers, tricks and troubleshooting tips for the perfect Father Christmas cookies

Are Father Christmas cookies easy to make?

Yes! This Father Christmas cookie recipe is a nice and simple biscuit recipe. The only trick is decorating them correctly. Luckily sugar paste is pretty easy to work with and if you use the pictures I have with this recipe then you should have everything you need for picture-perfect cookies!

Will I need any special equipment for Father Christmas cookies?

To make these cookies you’ll only need standard cooking equipment like scales, spoons, a bowl, baking trays and a rolling pin. The only thing you might need to find is a Gingerbread man-shaped cookie cutter. These are fairly easy to find in most supermarkets or through the link below.

What is sugar paste?

Sugar paste is a malleable sugar dough made from a mixture of sucrose and glucose. It’s often used as an alternative to fondant icing for cake decoration. Sugar paste differs from fondant icing in the way it dries. Sugar paste sets hard whereas fondant icing will stay soft.  

Sugar paste is usually easier to roll very thinly without cracking, so it’s perfect for using on cookies like this as it will give a smooth and even finish, keeping your cookies neat even in the cookie jar!

Where can I buy sugar paste? 

You probably won’t find sugar paste in a store unless you live near a cake decoration shop, but luckily it’s pretty easy to find online. 

For this recipe, you’ll only need sugar paste to form Santa’s iconic red jacket. I used a red sugar paste like this one. Similar sugar pastes are usually available from online cake decorating retailers or from Amazon.

Are Father Christmas cookies suitable for vegetarians?

Yes, this recipe is suitable for vegetarians as it contains no meat. However, make sure that the sugar paste and icing pens you use are suitable for vegetarians as they might contain food colouring made from animal-derived ingredients.

Some icing and candy ingredients can include food colouring and shine enhancers made from the shells of beetles (carmine, cochineal, or lac) or other animals (murex snails). So you should always double-check the label of any decorations you use for a vegetarian recipe. This is a good example of a sugar paste suitable for vegetarians, vegans and coeliacs.

The Vegetarian Society has a good list of the food additives and colourings that aren’t suitable for vegetarians here.

Are Father Christmas cookies suitable for vegans?

This recipe contains butter so it isn’t suitable for vegans as is. However, you could easily adapt this for a vegan by using non-dairy vegan butter.

Non-dairy vegan butter is becoming more widespread and you can usually find them in the refrigerated aisle in your supermarket. Many classic British baking brands like Stork or Flora have their own brand of non-dairy butter, as do many supermarkets. There are also some great vegan-only brands like Violife and Naturli. When you choose a vegan alternative you’ll need to make sure that it has similar fat content to dairy butter (around 80%). This will ensure it behaves just like the dairy butter in the recipe.

All of these vegan alternatives are plant-based, usually made with a combination of vegetables, coconut and other plant oils. They all have a lovely buttery flavour and texture so as long as they have similar fat content to dairy butter you won’t be able to tell the difference between vegan cookies and non-vegan cookies!

Double-check all of your ingredients labels to make sure that they’re suitable for vegans. Remember to check that anything you plan to serve with your cookies are vegan too! It’s also important to note, as above, that some food colourings in icing or sugar paste might not be vegetarian or vegan friendly so remember to check those ingredients too.

Are Father Christmas cookies gluten-free?

This recipe contains wheat flour so it isn’t gluten-free. You could try adapting it with a gluten-free flour blend. Cookie recipes are ideal for adapting to a gluten-free version as they don’t need to rise or become light and fluffy sponge, which is something gluten-free alternatives can struggle with.

You could look for a gluten-free blend of non-wheat flours that includes buckwheat to give your cookies a nice nutty flavour.

Double-check all of your ingredients labels to make sure that they are gluten-free. Don't forget to also check anything extra you intend to serve the recipe with.

Are Father Christmas cookies keto-friendly?

This recipe contains wheat flour and sugar in both the cookies and the decorations, so unfortunately they aren’t suitable for a ketogenic diet. 

Are Father Christmas cookies healthy?

These cookies are best enjoyed as a seasonal treat, or left out for Santa on Christmas eve! While they aren’t necessarily healthy, there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself, especially over Christmas!

Are Father Christmas cookies safe to eat while pregnant?

Yes, there’s nothing in this recipe that would be considered unsafe for someone who is pregnant. As long as you make sure that all the ingredients are in good condition and that you prepare and store your cookies safely and hygienically.

A Mummy Too does not offer medical advice. Please seek help from a medical professional if you need further information or have any concerns.

What goes well with Father Christmas cookies?

These cookies are great on their own, or dipped into a hot chocolate or cup of coffee on Christmas morning.

If you’re making them for a party or if you just want something a bit creamier, you could try making my Christmas cookie dip. It’s a sweet and creamy festive dip that would look great in the centre of a plate of Father Christmas cookies!

Cookies and ice cream is another classic combination, so you could try making festive ice cream sandwiches using these cookies as the ‘bread’.

Can I make these Father Christmas cookies without sugar paste?

If you can’t find sugar paste you can decorate your cookies with rollable red coloured icing. Sometimes sugar paste is called something like ‘ready to roll icing’ in stores, so it may just be sugar paste under a different name. 

Or as a last resort, you could use homemade frosting with red food colouring. However, the result probably won’t be as neat unless you’re an expert cookie decorator. 

If you can’t find sugar paste but you still want very precise decoration on your cookies you could try using red coloured fondant icing. Fondant icing is similar to sugar paste, only it doesn’t set completely solid and it’s more prone to absorbing moisture and getting soggy. (This will be an issue if you use the fondant icing to make the hat for your cookies as it will most likely turn out floppy.)

So if you’re just making these cookies on the day, fondant icing should be fine. However, if you want your cookies to look neater and stay crisper for a little longer you should try and use sugar paste if you can.

Where did you get the cookie cutters?

These Father Christmas cookies are shaped with people shaped Gingerbread cookie cutters. They’re usually available in kitchenware stores, baking stores and supermarkets during the festive season, and sometimes all year round. You’ll often find them on the baking aisle, or if your supermarket has a ‘seasonal aisle’ they might be there. 

If you can’t find them in store, you can pick them up on Amazon and eBay where they are very affordable. This multi pack is a good option as it gives you various sizes.

Does it matter if I use baking margarine or butter in the cookies?

If you can’t find butter then using margarine is fine. However, your cookies might turn out a little crisper around the edges so if you want an even bake it’s probably best to use butter (or vegan butter).

Margarine is much softer than butter because it has a lower fat content, so you might think it’s a slightly healthier option. However, while dairy butter contains more cholesterol and saturated fats, margarine contains trans fats, so both have their cons. 

Margarine also has a higher water content than butter, so you might end up with softer cookies. If you don’t mind that, feel free to use margarine instead, but if you want proper crisp cookies butter is best.

How should I store my Father Christmas cookies?

You should keep your cookies in an airtight container in a cool dark place like a cupboard. They should last for up to a week if you store them correctly.

How long do Father Christmas cookies keep?

If you use sugar paste to decorate your cookies and you store them correctly in an airtight container, they should last for up to a week. 

However, if you use fondant icing they’re more likely to go soft and soggy as fondant icing tends to draw moisture from the air around it. The more moisture in food, the quicker it is to spoil, so if you use fondant icing then you should probably keep them for around 4 days maximum.

Can I leave Father Christmas cookies out on the counter?

Yes, it’s fine to leave your cookies on the counter as long as they’re sealed in an airtight container, otherwise they’ll go soggy or stale.

Can I make Father Christmas cookies ahead?

Yes, these cookies should be nice and crisp for a few days after baking so you could make them up to 5 days ahead. It’s probably best to store undecorated cookies in advance and decorate them on the day you want to serve them. This will ensure you have neat icing which hasn’t chipped or cracked.

Can I keep Father Christmas cookies in the refrigerator?

It’s best to keep these cookies in an airtight container in a cupboard as when you keep cookies in the fridge they tend to go softer or stale more quickly due to the way that moisture in the air behaves in the refrigerator.

Can I freeze my Father Christmas cookies?

Yes, you can freeze these cookies in several ways. First you could freeze the uncooked dough in an airtight container or wrapped in cling film (saran wrap) to avoid the dough developing freezer burn. When you want to make cookies from the dough you’ll just need to let the dough defrost in the fridge overnight. The dough should last for 3 months in the fridge

You can also freeze your cooked cookies before they’re decorated. The cookies should last for up to 2 months if you keep them in an airtight container. Again, just pop them in the fridge to defrost, though as they have less water content they should only take a few hours, compared to the dough which will need to be defrosted overnight.

If you want to freeze your cookies fully decorated that’s fine, however the icing will probably run or look scruffy when you defrost them. It’s best to layer the cookies between sheets of baking paper to keep them from sticking together and minimise damage to the decoration.

 So if you’re just freezing leftovers for yourself go ahead, but if you want them to look nice and neat for a gathering or occasion, it’s best to decorate them on the day.

What is the best way to defrost my Father Christmas cookies?

If you’re defrosting your cookies undecorated then you can either leave them in the fridge or on the counter, inside an airtight container, for a couple of hours to defrost. 

If you’re defrosting fully decorated cookies it’s best to defrost them in the fridge for a couple of hours to avoid the icing getting too warm or melting. However, as I said it’s probably best to only freeze undecorated cookies and decorate them on the day you want to serve them.

Can I make these my Father Christmas cookies in a different quantity?

Yes, while this recipe makes 21 cookies that’s probably too many for a small family or gathering. So if you want to make more or less of this recipe then go right ahead. I have a really helpful tool embedded in the recipe card below that will help you adjust the recipe. 

At the serving size on the recipe card you’ll see the number 21. To change this to the number you want to make just click on it and a little slider will pop up. You can move the slider up or down to get the amount you want to make.

All the ingredient quantities will update automatically for you so that everything is in the right ratios.

Can I make Father Christmas cookies in a stand mixer such as a KitchenAid or Kenwood Mixer?

A stand mixer isn’t necessary for this recipe. It’s best to mix the cookie dough by hand as you don’t want to overwork the dough too much or you could end up with brittle cookies. 

Can I make Father Christmas cookies with a food processor?

Again, a food processor isn’t necessary for this recipe as you don’t want to overwork the dough. It would probably be incredibly difficult to mix this cookie dough in a food processor anyway, as it isn’t a very wet mix.

How can I make sure my Father Christmas cookies turn out perfectly?

If you want to make sure your cookies are perfectly cooked you can usually tell by looking at them. You’ll know when the cookies are baked perfectly when they start to go slightly golden brown around the edge but remain quite pale in the centre. 

If you’re making a higher amount of cookies you might want to bake your cookies in batches. This will ensure you get an even bake on all of the cookies and you don’t have to squash them together in a baking pan. 

It’s always a good idea to try and put the baking tray as close to the middle of the oven as possible as this is usually where the heat is most consistent.

Why did my Father Christmas cookies turn out dry and burned?

If your cookies turned out dry or crumbly it’s probably because you overbaked them or they were cooked at the wrong temperature. 

These cookies only need 8 minutes in the oven, so it’s easy for them to get overdone very quickly. When you put them in the oven, make sure to set a timer on the oven or if you’re leaving the room set a timer on your phone and keep it with you so you remember. 

Before you put them in you’ll need to check the oven is set to the right temperature. If the oven is too hot then the cookies will burn and dry out. 

If you find bakes are often burning in your oven then it might be because your oven temperature is higher than the dial states. You could try setting it 10-20C lower than the recipe recommends next time.

Some household oven temperature dials are not an accurate representation of the actual temperature of the oven so yours may just run a bit hot. If you want to check this then you could invest in an oven thermometer. 

An oven thermometer is an oven-safe thermometer that you can put in the oven before cooking to check it’s at the right temperature. Or you can keep it in the oven and it will let you monitor the temperature as you cook. They’re pretty inexpensive and you can usually find them on Amazon.

Why did my Father Christmas cookies turn out wet or soft?

If your cookies turned out wet soft then it might be because you used margarine instead of butter. Margarine has a higher water content so it can often cause cookies to be a bit softer.

Or it might be because your oven temperature is too low. However, these cookies only need to be cooked for 8 minutes at 180C (160C fan) so they don’t need to be cooked on a high temperature.

 If your oven isn’t hot enough you would probably be able to tell. If in doubt it’s worth checking your oven is working properly and using an oven thermometer to monitor the temperature.

How can I add/change the flavours in these Father Christmas cookies?

If you want to make these cookies even more festive you could add some orange zest, cinnamon and nutmeg to the dough without affecting the baking time or texture of the cookies.

You could also add a little cocoa powder or a few drops of food flavouring of your choice to the dough. Maybe mint flavoured cookies would work as a candy cane style flavour. 

Feel free to experiment with the flavour like this as long as you don’t change the consistency of the dough too much, otherwise, it could impact the way they turn out.

What is the origin of Christmas cookies?

Biscuits have been popular during the festive period since medieval times, throughout Europe and Scandinavia. However, Christmas cookies as we know them today were popularised in North America during the 1700s when people from these regions brought the tradition with them while emigrating to America. 

Christmas cookies also owe their enduring popularity to cookie cutters. Cookie cutters became popular in America in the late 1800s so people were able to start neatly and evenly shaping cookies into festive shapes like Christmas trees or Santa.

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