Quaint British Cinnamon and Spice Christmas Cookies Recipe that Will Scent Your Home Like a Christmas Market!
Hi! If you’ve been following me for long you’ll already know this, but for those who are new, welcome to Far From The Farm. I’m Mona, the Brit behind the recipes, learning life and food in the States while sharing our debt-free journey and what’s on the menu in our home today!
Since moving to the States from the UK, there are so many things I truly love about living here. My sweet husband, family and our friends who feel like family. The huge cosy American holiday atmosphere that feels a little like stepping straight into a Hallmark Christmas movie!
But there are things I miss too. And the holidays are when the tug on my heart is the strongest.
The lights here are beautiful, the fun is infectious, the markets in places like Leavenworth or Poulsbo are charming in their own right.
Yet sometimes it can feel a little, well, ‘themed,’ rather than something that grew out of centuries of shared culture. Not in a bad way, just different. A different flavour of Christmas. And deep down I still long for some of the things that make a British and European Christmas feel like home.
I miss the tins of Quality Street and Roses on the coffee table that your Mum hides in the ‘Christmas Cupboard’ and it’s truly exciting when they finally come out!
I miss Christingle services at church. I miss proper moist fruitcake that has been fed brandy for weeks. I miss mince pies and the scent of spiced biscuits in every bakery. Those classic Christmas flavours from my half German and half British childhood.
Cinnamon. Nutmeg. Ginger. A touch of allspice. All those warm spices that drift through the air when you walk through a Christmas market. That is what Christmas smells like to me.
And one of my favourite traditions of all is making homemade edible Christmas ornaments. Little spiced cookies that fill the whole home with fragrance, look beautiful on the tree, and bring everyone together in a simple and cosy way.
If you have never made them before you are in for such a treat. These scent the house better than any expensive candle could. They are so cheap to make and one batch will decorate a whole tree!
That makes them especially perfect for us as a military family on baby step 2 of our debt free journey because a beautiful Christmas does not need to cost the world.
And just a reminder that if you’re struggling and you need help with managing your budget or starting your own debt free journey then here’s some FREE resources below you may find helpful!
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They are also technically edible, although the version I am sharing today is the heavily spiced ornament version that serves the purpose of looking festive whilst also scenting the room.
If you want to make them just to eat, reduce the spices to about half and you will get a lovely mild cookie. For ornaments though, the full spice mix is what makes your home smell incredible.
A few practical notes before we dive in. This dough is firm. Very firm. Use a stand mixer with a dough hook or the process will be a battle.
Chill the dough for at least four hours but preferably overnight. That helps the shapes hold beautifully and not puff too much in the oven.
And do not worry about perfect decorating skills.
The charm of these ornaments is that everyone gets to join in and make them in their own style. Add edible glitter, simple hard icing, little sprinkles. Make it fun!
My husband and I make these every year, even back when we were long distance. We put on a Christmas film, make a little gluhwein, and just enjoy making something together.
This year we bought dinosaur cookie cutters because we have a huge Jurassic Park fan in the family and we decided that was our theme. Not super traditional but full of joy which is exactly what I love about this tradition!
We also made some more traditional round cookie ornaments and a Christmas tree topper ornament that you can see here (before we iced them):
See – you can make any design you can imagine! Kids and adults alike will love displaying their scented creations throughout the festive season!
And yes you absolutely can switch up the spice blend. Use any combination of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, or even a tiny pinch of black pepper for some punch. Just keep the total amount around the four teaspoon mark for the most fragrant results without making them inedible.
As always, these photos are from my real kitchen here in our sweet military base home. No staged lighting or spotless marble counters. Just real life and real food made in a small space. Proof that you can feed your family well without needing a dream kitchen or fancy tools!
So gather a few simple ingredients, put on your comfiest socks, turn on a Christmas film, and make a big batch of these cosy British style spiced ornaments with us. They’ll bring a little bit of European Christmas magic right into your living room!
Equipment
- Stand mixer with mixing bowl and dough hook
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Silicone spatula for scraping the bowl
- Large cookie sheets
- Parchment paper roll
- Cooling racks
- Cookie cutters of your choice
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Ingredients
Makes around 60 small to medium cookies
For the ornaments:
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/2 cup softened butter
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 2 cups all purpose flour
For the hard glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp milk (or water)
- few drops of gel food coloring if desired
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1. Add everything to the mixer
Add all ingredients to the bowl of your stand mixer.
Step 2. Mix for five minutes
Start on the lowest speed and gradually increase. Mix for a total of five minutes until the dough comes together fully.
Step 3. Shape and wrap
Form the dough into a disc and wrap tightly in plastic wrap.
Step 4. Chill the dough
Refrigerate for at least four hours but ideally overnight for the best shape and texture.
Step 5. Roll out your chilled dough
Lightly flour your work surface and roll the dough to about one quarter inch thickness.
Step 6. Cut out shapes
Flour your cookie cutters and cut as many shapes as you like.
Step 7. Make the ornament holes
Use a chopstick or the small end of a piping nozzle to make clean holes.
If using novelty shapes like dinosaurs you might want to add two, three or more holes so they hang at the right angles when they’re on your Christmas tree!
Step 8. Transfer to baking sheets
Place each cookie on parchment lined baking sheets.
Step 9. Bake
Bake in a 350 degree oven for 16 to 20 minutes (our medium sized dinosaur cookies took 16 minutes here). Bake a small test batch first to find your perfect bake time.
Step 10. Cool gently
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for five minutes before moving them to a cooling rack.
Step 11. Cool fully before decorating
Let them cool completely. Decorate with your favourite hard icing recipe like THIS ONE when fully cooled.
Then when the icing is hardened and fully dried, thread the holes with whatever ribbon or fishing wire you have and hang them on the tree!
Notes
- Use dark brown sugar for a deeper colour and more caramel scent.
- Change the spices to suit your preferences. Keep total spice to around four teaspoons for the strongest scent.
- Chill the dough overnight for the best shapes.
- Use parchment paper for every batch to prevent burning on the bottoms.
Troubleshooting
Cookies cracking when moved
They need to cool longer on the baking sheet before transferring.
Shapes spreading in the oven
The dough was not chilled long enough. Chill overnight next time.
Dough too crumbly in the mixer
Mix for one more minute or add one extra teaspoon of honey.
Ornament holes closing during baking
Make the holes slightly larger before baking.
Ornament holes closing during icing
Don’t worry just take a chopstick or icing nozzle etc and poke the hole all the way through again gently!
Storage
- Store baked ornaments in an airtight container for two to three weeks.
- Store chilled dough in the fridge up to three days.
- Freeze baked ornaments for up to two months.
Serving Ideas
- Hang on a Christmas tree
- Use as edible gift tags
- Add to holiday cookie boxes
- Decorate a garland that scents your home beautifully!
- Use as stocking stuffer treats
Why You Will Love This Recipe?!
- Makes a huge batch for pennies
- Smells like a European Christmas market
- Perfect family tradition to start
- Cheap, simple ingredients
- Charming homemade decorations
- Great for gifting
- Very freezer friendly
FAQ
Are these cookies edible?
Yes but this version is heavily spiced for fragrance. Reduce spices by half for eating.
Do I need to chill the dough?
Yes. Chilling keeps the shapes crisp.
Can I use cookie cutters of any size?
Yes but adjust bake time for larger cookies.
Do these last on the tree?
Yes for several weeks if stored away from warm lights or moisture. We keep them up from around Thanksgiving until New Year’s!
Make This Recipe With Me!
Sometimes it’s just easier to watch a video than read a recipe card isn’t it?! So here’s a quick tutorial on how to make this simple and delicious recipe at home and on a budget – thank you for joining me in the kitchen today!
How to Make British-style Edible Spiced Christmas Ornaments for a Christmas Tree!
November 26, 2025Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Add all ingredients to the bowl of your stand mixer.
- Start on the lowest speed and gradually increase. Mix for a total of five minutes until the dough comes together fully.
- Form the dough into a disc and wrap tightly in plastic wrap.
- Refrigerate for at least four hours but ideally overnight for the best shape and texture.
- Lightly flour your work surface and roll the dough to about one quarter inch thickness.
- Flour your cookie cutters and cut as many shapes as you like.
- Use a chopstick or the small end of a piping nozzle to make clean holes. If using novelty shapes like dinosaurs you might want to add two, three or more holes so they hang at the right angles when they're on your Christmas tree!
- Place each cookie on parchment lined baking sheets.
- Bake in a 350 degree oven for 16 to 20 minutes (our medium sized dinosaur cookies took 16 minutes here). Bake a small test batch first to find your perfect bake time!
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for five minutes before moving them to a cooling rack.
- Let them cool completely. Decorate with your favourite hard icing when fully cooled – I've included a simple glaze recipe here.Then when the icing is hardened and fully dried, thread the holes with whatever ribbon or fishing wire you have and hang them on the tree!
Video
Notes
- Use dark brown sugar for a deeper colour and more caramel scent.
- Change the spices to suit your preferences. Keep total spice to around four teaspoons for the strongest scent.
- Chill the dough overnight for the best shapes.
- Use parchment paper for every batch to prevent burning on the bottoms.
Storage
- Store baked ornaments in an airtight container for two to three weeks.
- Store chilled dough in the fridge up to three days.
Related Recipes:
Check out my Easy Hard Icing for Cookies Recipe HERE!Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
The Takeaway
These British style spiced Christmas ornaments are a simple and magical way to bring the scent and warmth of a European Christmas into your home.
They are inexpensive, charming, perfect for families, and make the whole house smell festive and cosy!
What To Try Next?!
Share and Rate This Recipe!
If you enjoy making these ornaments with your family, tap the stars on the recipe card and share it with someone who misses European Christmas flavours too.
Last update on 2026-02-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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