This simple but delicious Christmas cookie recipe was created by Jessica Goodenough and her little boy Max, four, with a little help from their Christmas Elf of course.

With only six ingredients, these Christmas cookies are the perfect easy recipe for kids.

Christmas Elf cookies – by Jessica and Max Goodenough

Makes about 25 Christmas cookies

Preparation time - 20 minutes

Cooking time - 10 minutes for each batch

Total time - 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients:

230g soft unsalted butter or stork

350g light brown soft sugar

500g plain flour

2 eggs

1/2tsp baking powder

Red & Green chocolate beans or Smarties

Instructions:

1 - Pre heat the oven to 190°C 375°F and weigh out the ingredients.

2 - Cream together the butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.

3 - Crack the eggs into a separate bowl and stir before adding gradually to the sugar and butter. Beat the mixture until well combined.

4 - Add the baking powder, then gradually add the flour, mixing well after each addition.

5 - Take a tablespoon of the mixture and roll between your hands into a ball. Place onto a tray lined with grease proof paper and press down to flatten the top slightly.

6 - Gently press a few of the chocolate beans or smarties on to the top of the ball of cookie dough. Repeat steps 5 & 6 until the tray is full. Remember to leave plenty of space between each cookie, they will expand when they go in the oven!

7 - Bake the cookies in the oven for 8 - 9 minutes until they just start to turn golden brown.

8 - Remove the cookies from the oven. They will appear soft in the middle, don't worry as they will firm up as they cool. Leave the cookies on the tray for 2 - 3 minutes before carefully transferring to a wire rack to continue cooling.

9 - Reuse the tray and baking paper and repeat steps 5 - 9 until you have used all your cookie dough.