Lemon Shortbread Trees Recipe

Lemon Shortbread Trees Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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Here’s a fun holiday recipe children can help with. And no cookie cutters are needed! I just shape the dough into a triangular log, refrigerate it and cut it into tree-shaped slices to bake and decorate. Broken pretzel sticks form the tree trunks.

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Lemon Shortbread Trees Recipe

Prep: 45 min. Bake: 10 min./batch + standing

Yield: 44 Servings

45 10 55

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 tablespoons grated lemon peel
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 cups all-purpose flour
22 pretzel sticks
ROYAL ICING:
2-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
10 teaspoons water
4 teaspoons meringue powder
Red and green paste food coloring
Assorted sprinkles

Directions

In a large bowl, cream the butter, confectioners' sugar and cornstarch until light and fluffy. Beat in lemon peel and juice. Gradually add flour and mix well.
Divide dough into two portions; shape each into two 6-in. logs. Flatten top and push in sides at an angle to form a 2-in. x 2-in. x 1-1/2-in.-triangle. Wrap in plastic wrap. Chill for 4 hours or until firm.
Unwrap and cut into 1/4-in. slices. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Break pretzel sticks in half; press into short side of each cookie for tree trunk. Bake at 350° 10-12 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks to cool.
In a large bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, water and meringue powder; beat on low speed just until combined. Beat on high for 4-5 minutes or until stiff peaks form. Remove 1 cup and tint red. Tint remaining icing green. (Keep unused icing covered at all times with a damp cloth.)
Frost and decorate cookies as desired. Let dry at room temperature for several hours or until firm. Store in an airtight container. Yield: 3-1/2 dozen.

Editor's Note: Meringue powder is available from Wilton Industries. Call 800-794-5866 or visit wilton.com.

Nutritional Facts 1 cookie equals 97 calories, 4 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 11 mg cholesterol, 37 mg sodium, 14 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 1 g protein.

Originally published as Lemon Shortbread Trees in Country Woman Christmas Annual 2012, p64