Snowflake and Icicle Cookies
Taste of Home's Holiday & Celebrations Cookbook
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Our Test Kitchen home economists bring some of winter's wonder indoors with shaped butter cookies that get their sparkle from edible glitter. These cookie ornaments are great favors for your trim-a-tree party guests.
SERVINGS: 20
CATEGORY: Dessert
METHOD: Baked
TIME: Prep: 20 min. + chilling Bake: 10 min.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- GLAZE:
- 1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 to 3 tablespoons water
- White edible glitter or coarse sugar
- Ribbon
Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg and extracts until light and fluffy. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Divide dough in half. Place one portion in a bowl; shape the other portion into a 5-in. log. Cover both and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until easy to handle.
For snowflakes: Divide dough from bowl in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion to 1/8-in. thickness. (Refrigerate other portion until ready to use.) Cut nine medium snowflakes and six large snowflakes with cookie cutters. Carefully place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Using small decorating cutters, cut out desired shapes to create designs in snowflakes. Use a toothpick to help remove the cutouts. Cut six small snowflakes and place 1 in. apart on another baking sheet. With a plastic straw, poke a hole in the top of each cookie. Bake medium and large snowflakes at 375° for 6-1/2 to 7 minutes and small snowflakes for 6 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.
For icicles: Cut log into 1/4-in. slices; roll each into a 9-in. rope, tapering from the center to each end. Fold each rope in half; twist pinching the ends to a point. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately poke a hole in the top of each icicle with a plastic straw. Remove to wire racks to cool.
For glaze, combine the sugar, corn syrup and vanilla in a bowl. Gradually add enough water to make a this glaze. Brush over icicles and snowflakes; sprinkle with glitter or sugar. Let stand for at least 5 minutes or until set. Thread ribbon through the hole in the icicles and small snowflakes and through a cutout in the medium and large snowflakes. Yield: about 20 icicles and 21 snowflakes.