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There's nothing that says Christmas party, like Christmas tree cookies. And these aren't just any Christmas tree cookies. Rachael Ray Every Day Executive Food Editor Nina Elder says these delicious shortbread cookies will bring out the holiday spirit in everybody. Nina told Tonia's Kitchen the cookies also combine candy, which should satisfy anyone's sweet tooth, and the festive shape should warm everyone's heart!
1 batch Vanilla Thumbprint Cookie dough
4 tbsp. green colored sugar Instant Icing
M&M’s Minis, dragées and yellow gum drops
Vanilla Thumbprint Cookie Dough
2-2 ⁄ 3 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
2 sticks (8 oz.) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
In a medium bowl, whisk the flour and salt. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium-high, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Add the flour mixture; beat on low speed until just blended. Shape into a disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate until firm, about 11 /2 hours. 2. Position the racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven; preheat to 350°. Roll 2 tsp. of dough into a 1-inch ball. Repeat with the remaining dough, dividing the balls between two parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart. Using your thumb, make an indentation in the center of each dough ball.
Icing
In a bowl, microwave your favorite store bought frosting on high until melted, 10 to 15 seconds. Using a spoon, drizzle on cookies (like the sugar and gingerbread cutouts pictured here), or grab a pastry brush and use the melted frosting as a glaze.
1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350°. Halve the cookie dough and press each half into two parchment-lined 9-inch round pans. 2. Using the tines of a fork, gently crimp the edges of the dough. Sprinkle 2 tbsp. green colored sugar over the dough in each pan. Bake until golden around the edges and just cooked in the middle, about 25 minutes. While the cookies are still warm, cut each into 8 wedges directly in the pan. Place pans on a rack; let cool completely. 3. Fill a resealable plastic bag with vanilla Instant Icing, snip off a small piece from the corner of the bag and form garlands over the trees. Decorate, using M&M’s minis and dragées for ornaments and yellow gum drops for stars.
