Edible Christmas Tree Decorations (Christmas Cookies)

These Christmas cookies make for amazing edible Christmas tree decorations that are sure to get you in a Christmassy mood.
 
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
A pinch of salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground)
8 tablespoon butter
½ cup dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
¼ cup honey
 
For the Icing
2 cups confectioner’s sugar
2 tablespoon meringue powder
 
Beat together the confectioner’s sugar and the meringue powder with three tablespoons of water until thick enough to cover the decorations.
 
How To
Combine and sift the dry ingredients except the sugar in a large bowl and keep aside.
 
Beat the eggs along with the honey and keep aside.
 
Preheat the oven to 180 degree Celsius and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Keep aside.
 
Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the beaten eggs and combine well. Add the dry ingredients gradually and mix well to form a soft dough. Dust your work surface with flour. Roll out the dough to one inch thickness. Cut out the decorations of your choice using the appropriate cookie cutters. Repeat this process till all the dough is used up.
 
Take a small piping nozzle and use the pointy head to cut out a hole just below the top of each decoration and place on the cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes until the decorations are browned and firm to touch. Transfer to a wire rack and allow the decorations to cool.
 
Trim the decorations with the icing by using a teaspoon (the tip for dipping, the back for smoothing). When the icing is set, thread a ribbon through the holes and hang the decorations on your tree.
 
Notes: I did not make the holes for hanging the decorations on the tree as I was gifting them to a dear friend….
 
Source: Nigella Christmas Cook book