Chocolate Christmas Tree Biscuits with Glaze

Cocoa Biscuit Tree
Category: Desserts
Yield: 1 Tree (Serves 10-12)

Ingredients

Instructions

1. Prepare the dough:
   Begin by sifting the flour and cocoa powder together in a large bowl. Cut the butter into small cubes and place it in a separate bowl. Add the powdered sugar to the butter and, using your fingers, work the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually incorporate the sifted flour and cocoa mixture into the butter-sugar mix, using a spoon to combine.

2. Add egg yolk:
   Separate the egg yolk and white. Set the egg whites aside for the glaze. Add the egg yolk into the flour-butter mixture and mix briefly until the dough starts to come together.

3. Chill the dough:
   Transfer the dough onto a clean surface, gather it into a ball, and wrap it in plastic wrap. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

4. Roll the dough:
   After chilling, remove the dough from the fridge about 5 minutes before rolling to bring it to room temperature. Lightly flour your work surface and roll the dough out thinly (about 3-4 mm thick) using a rolling pin.

5. Cut out the biscuits:
   Use various-sized star-shaped cookie cutters to cut the dough into star shapes. You should be able to make around 14 biscuits, depending on the size of your cookie cutters.

6. Freeze the cookies:
   Place the cut-out cookies onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Put them in the freezer for about 10 minutes to set their shape before baking.

7. Bake the biscuits:
   Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) with static heat. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for about 13 minutes or until firm. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely. Avoid touching the biscuits while they are still warm, as they can break easily.

8. Prepare the glaze:
   While the cookies are cooling, prepare the glaze. In a bowl, whisk the reserved egg whites with the powdered sugar until smooth. Add the lemon juice to the mixture and whisk again to combine. The glaze should be fluid but not too runny.

9. Decorate the biscuits:
   Transfer the glaze into a small piping bag fitted with a fine, round tip. On a serving platter, place the largest star-shaped cookie and pipe a small amount of glaze onto its center. Place the next largest star on top, pressing lightly to help the glaze adhere. Continue layering the cookies, making sure to stagger the points of each star for a natural tree shape.

10. Finish the tree:
    Once all the layers are stacked, pipe additional glaze along the edges of each star to secure it. For the top of the tree, use a vertical star and pipe extra glaze to keep it upright.

11. Add finishing touches:
    Decorate each star tip with small sugar pearls or any edible decoration you prefer to mimic the ornaments on a Christmas tree.

12. Enjoy your Cocoa Biscuit Tree:
    Let the decorated tree set for a few minutes before serving. This sweet and festive cocoa biscuit tree is a perfect treat for the holidays and can be admired as a beautiful centerpiece before being devoured!

Nutritional Information
(per serving, approximate)

This cocoa biscuit tree brings a warm, festive touch to your holiday table. Its rich chocolate flavor and delicate texture, paired with the glossy, sweet glaze, make it a standout dessert for any occasion. Perfect for decorating with little ones or impressing guests with your holiday baking skills!