Traditional German Christmas cookies

Christmas is approaching super fast, hence my family and I have been doing what we do every year around this time: bake Christmas cookies. When I first moved to Britain I was shocked to find out that they did not seem to know what proper Christmas cookies were (apart from Gingerbread men). In Germany people bake a variety of different sorts of cookies and biscuits around Christmas time. I believe my nan makes up to 30 different ones every year and they're all delicious. Anyways, I thought I would introduce one of the easiest and cutest recipes to you which always takes me back to my childhood.

What you need
For the cookies (makes about 60):

• 500g flour
• 250g butter
• 150g icing sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 small packs of vanilla sugar
• a pinch of salt
• rolling pin
• cookie cutters

For the icing

• 350g icing sugar
• 4-5 tbsp of lemon juice
• tons of sprinkles
• food colouring

First you need to combine all the dry ingredients for the cookies and mix them really well. Then mix the (softened) butter together with the eggs and slowly add this to the dry ingredients. Its best to use a spatula to combine everything to begin with and then make it into a dough ball using your hands. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and place it into the fridge for 2 hours. 

After the 2 hours take the dough out of the fridge and roll it out to a thickness of about 0.5cm. At this point you should preheat your oven to 175°. Use your cookie cutters (if possible christmasy ones) to form your cookies and place them on a baking tray lined with non stick baking paper. Place in the oven for about 12 minutes or until golden brown.

These are a selection of the best decorated ones ;)

Now comes the fun part. Wait till your cookies are completely cooled down and mix your icing (you can add food colouring if you want). Spread it onto your cookies and go crazy on the decorations. The more sprinkles the better. And voila - you have made a delicious batch of Christmas cookies! I hope you try out this recipe, if you do make sure to send me a picture on twitter. Have fun!

Social media links:

bloglovin

Twitter

Facebook
Instagram 

Tumblr

Pinterest

We Heart It

My beach day essentials!

Who doesn't enjoy a day at the beach? There are certain things that you shouldn't forget when planning your fun day out! Don't worry, you don't necessarily need a beach to have fun - go to the nearest lake/swimming hall, it's just as good as the beach.
I hope you enjoy this post, make sure to leave me your beach day essentials in the comments!
















 

 Sunscreen
This is a must on the beach to protect your skin from harmful UV rays! It WONT stop you from getting a tan but will lower the risk of skin cancer. Don't forget to reapply every few hours aswell. I especially love the spray on sunscreens as they are supereasy and quick to apply and absorb really fast. You will find lots of them in your local drugstore or online (here).

Hat
A cute hat doesn't only protect your face from the sun, it also tames your hair - which as you might know is almost impossible on the beach. Oh also it makes you look super tumblr and stylish ;) I'm in love with this one from asos.



Deodorant
An essential for (hopefully) every single person out there. Be thoughtful of the people around you and use it - they'll be thankful believe me.

Bikini
This one might be obvious as well, but never forget to pack your bikini. Believe me I've been there and it wasn't fun. At all. Also pack two, so you can change into a dry one in case it gets a bit chilly. I found this super cute one at Victoria's Secret.

Summer jams + a speaker
What is a day on the beach without music that makes you want to dance and jump around? Create an amazing summer playlist on e.g. spotify, bring your phone on the beach and blast that music! For larger groups I'd definitely recommend bringing a speaker, turn it into a beach dance partay! Some of my favourite summer songs are 'The Big Bang' by Rock Mafia ft. Miley Cyrus, 'Great Summer' by Vance Joy and Footloose by Kenny Loggins.



Sunglasses
If you ask my friends, they will tell you about my unhealthy obsession with sunglasses. Sadly due to financial reasons I cannot buy every pair I fall in love with, although I certainly would... Anyways they're totally an essential for the beach and make you look 10x cooler than you already do. Quay sunglasses are goals, I will link one of my faves here.



A good book/magazine
If you're going with friends this might not be necessary, but if you go to the beach to have a bit of time out and relax, I definitely recommend taking a good book or magazine with you. I'm really enjoying Sarah J. Maas' books at the moment, let me know some book recommendations in the comments!

Water and snacks
Water! Water! Water! Do not forget this one, hydration is super important especially when it is as hot as it usually is when you go to the beach.. Put some ice cubes in it to keep it cooler for longer. Also bring some snacks such as apples, frozen grapes or protein bars to reenergise throughout the day.

Please follow me here:

bloglovin

Twitter

Facebook

Tumblr

Pinterest

We Heart It

Travel diary: BALI

A while ago I went on holiday to Bali for three weeks. I don't know why, but I just never came around to sharing the photographs I took of this stunning country.
Going to Bali is something special, not just because of the 15 hours flight duration. Bali is an island of Indonesia and is a popular travel destination for people either looking to go surfing or (as we did) explore the temples and unique landscape. I fell in love with its beautiful rice fields, rain forests and colourful cities. The only downside were the incense sticks that were literally everywhere and made me feel slightly sick.
Other than that, I would definitely say Bali is a one-in-a-lifetime experience that you shouldn't miss out on! Are you prepared to be bombarded by pictures?

The view from the first travel lodge - we had outside showers and toilets so you literally showered underneath the sky!

They hand-stitched the patterns and images and even made the fabric! It was an eye opening experience.

This was one of the times where I just enjoyed being right there at exactly that moment!

This was the monkey park, there were wild monkeys everywhere. Some tourist got out their water bottle and was immediately jumped on by a monkey trying to steal it!

Temple grotto - even the statues had to wear skirts to cover their legs ;)

Rice fields were everywhere and they were just so fascinating to look at!

TEMPLE!!!!!!

Even more rice fields - they built these plateaus so they could plant the rice on the mountain.

We found these two next to the rice plateaus. How cute are they??

I climbed all the way to the waterfall. Standing almost underneath it was an incredible experience!

One of Bali's biggest temples. We weren't allowed to enter it because only certain (holy) people had permission to.

I'll leave you with this breathtaking view I had when we visited the Gili islands next to Bali. Imagine sitting there with a cocktail in your hand and people you love by your side.

Love you lots!
Leave a comment telling me your favourite travel destination.

Stay connected

Bloglovin 

Twitter 

Facebook

Polyvore

Tumblr

The Christmas Tag

 Time to get real. Thanks to the lovely Kerry for tagging me!

1. What is your favourite Christmas movie?
 It's Elf :) Just joking I've actually never seen that film before oops. Anyway my favourite Christmas movie is The Polar Express. It's just the cutest movie ever and it brings back so many good memories from when I was little.

2. Do you open your presents on Christmas eve or Christmas morning?
Surprisingly even though I live in the UK I open my presents on Christmas Eve. I was born in Germany and have many relatives there so we traditionally celebrate it on the 24th, as this is the official Christmas day there.

3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?
I honesty can't think of a particular one. I thought it was really special way back when me and my sister (SPOILER) still believed in Santa Claus but every Christmas is just so amazing. Spending time with all your family and making them happy is just the best thing ever.

4. Favourite festive food?
Well we usually have fish and baguette as Christmas dinner but my favourite food is all the Christmas cookies. My Grandma makes hundreds every year and they are just sooo good. I recently tried making some cookies myself which made me feel very festive!

5. Favourite Christmas gift?
Oh I really don't know. I'm so thankful for all the gifts I get but I especially love the ones where the person it's from has put it some thought and love (so probably everything). I do remember getting my cats as a Christmas gift tho and I still love them endlessly!

6. Favourite Christmas scent?
The Christmas tree and that of someone cooking/baking. I mean I love that scent all year round because I love food but at Christmas time it's just that tiny bit more amazing.

7. Do you have any Christmas eve traditions?
As I said before we actually give present then and we also have a lovely dinner. Afterwards my whole family sits together and sings some songs (cringe I know) and just enjoys the evening.

8. What tops your tree?
A really cute silver star that we've had for ages! I think its several generations old.

9. As a kid, what was one crazy gift you asked for but never received?
 I'm pretty sure I asked for a dolphin. I had a few years where I was absolutely obsessed with dolphins (bit of a weird obsession for a kid if you ask me) so instead of a real one I just got several toy ones. It's not as if I still have them somewhere... ;)

10. What's the best part of Christmas for you?
Time to say the cliche: Spending time with my family. It's true though, It is the only time in the year where I see them all at once and actually have time to talk to them. I also adore seeing the people I love receiving gifts that make them happy (hopefully the ones I got them).

I hope you enjoyed this post, I tag everyone reading this! 
Have the most amazing Christmas ever!!!!!

Bloglovin
Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest
Polyvore

Christmas cookies

German 'Spitzbuben'

A tradition in my family is to start baking Christmas cookies as soon as December starts. It's one of my favourite things to do as it puts me in the Christmas spirit and I spend some fun time with my family who I normally don't see that much due to work and other stuff.
We have some recipes that have been in our family for several generations and this is one of them. It is a traditional German recipe of Christmas cookies that are called 'Spitzbuben'. Sounds slightly weird but I can't tell you how amazing they are. Sooooo delicious! Anyway, lets get started (Warning: Lot's of pictures are going to follow!)

You'll need:

• 200g butter
• 125g icing sugar
• 1 egg white
• a pinch of salt
• 10g vanilla sugar
• 350g plain flour
• Black currant jam (if possible without fruit pieces in it)

Mix the butter,icing sugar and egg white together. Then add the salt and Vanilla sugar.

 

Now add the flour and use your hands to make it into a smooth dough. Form a ball out of it and put it in the fridge for 30 minutes.

My sister and I got a bit carried away while forming the ball ;)

After 30 minutes take the dough ball out of the fridge and put it on a clean surface that you cover with a bit of flour to prevent the dough from sticking to it. At this point you preheat the oven to 200 °.

Now roll out the dough to a thickness of about 2mm (mine was a bit thicker it really doesn't matter that much).

Now you need cookie cutters of the same form in two different sizes, one has to be about 1/4 the size of the other. I used hearts, stars and weird circles. For one cookie you need to cut out two of the bigger sized forms and then cut out the middle of one of them with the smaller one.

I'm sorry for the bad explanation but this picture should make it clearer. Make sure you have one complete cookie half for each one with a cut out middle.

Put baking paper onto a baking tray and place your cookies on it. Put it in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until they are golden brown.

These aren't quite ready yet.

Then take them out and put them somewhere to cool down before you add your jam. I accidentally bought jam with bits in it which made the next part a lot harder so make sure you buy jam of a jelly like consistency. It doesn't even matter what fruit jam it is but I like it with black currant.

This is the colour they should be when you take them out.

Now spread the jam on one of the hole free cookies. Make sure you use a generous amount so you can taste it in the end. Then place the matching cookie with a hole on top of it. (This is the worst description ever but basically just stick the two cookie parts together)

Don't they look so yummy?

Finally you can sprinkle a bit of icing sugar on top to make them look all fancy.
I hope you enjoyed this post, I am really sorry I am so bad at describing the different steps but the only guideline I had was a really old recipe in German.
If you decide to recreate it send me pictures on twitter:
 https://twitter.com/fashionblogbell
Love you lots!