Black-Eyed Susan Cookies

Name: Black-Eyed Susan Cookies
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 21 cookies.
Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened; 1-1/4 cups sugar; 2 large eggs; 1 teaspoon orange extract; 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; GLAZE:; 2 cups confectioners' sugar; 1/4 cup milk; 1/2 teaspoon orange extract; 2 to 3 drops yellow food coloring, optional; Additional confectioners' sugar; Black gumdrops

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 25 min. + chilling Bake: 10 min./batch + cooling YIELD: 21 cookies.

Black-eyed Susans attract butterflies when planted in masses, and you'll draw a crowd when you make these "conversation" cookies. They may be a little more time-consuming than some cookies, but their sunny faces and gumdrop centers are worth it the extra time. —Grace Pack, Beaver, West Virginia

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1-1/4 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon orange extract
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
GLAZE:
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon orange extract
2 to 3 drops yellow food coloring, optional
Additional confectioners' sugar
Black gumdrops

Directions

1. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and extract. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Divide dough in half so that one portion is slightly larger than the other; shape each into a disk. Wrap in plastic; refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until easy to handle.
2. On a lightly floured surface, roll larger portion of dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 3-in. round or scalloped cookie cutter to make flower bottoms. Place 1 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough using a floured 2-3/4-in. flower or scalloped cookie cutter to make an equal number of flower tops.
3. Bake larger cookies at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown; bake smaller cookies for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.
4. In a small bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, milk, extract and, if desired, food coloring; mix until smooth. Immediately spread over cooled cookies. Stir additional confectioners' sugar into remaining glaze to thicken; spread a small amount on bottom of smaller cookies; place over larger cookies. Top with gumdrops.

Nutrition Facts

1 decorated cookie: 247 calories, 9g fat (6g saturated fat), 43mg cholesterol, 147mg sodium, 39g carbohydrate (27g sugars, 0 fiber), 2g protein.