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. —Phyllis Schmalz, Kansas City, Kansas
Lemon Shortbread Trees
Wilton-Meringue Powder
Lemon Shortbread Trees
Prep Time
45 min
Cook Time
10 min
Yield
3-1/2 dozen
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons grated lemon zest
- 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 zest 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 2x2x1-1/2-in.-triangle. Wrap and chill until firm, for 4 hours.
- 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.
Nutrition Facts
1 cookie: 97 calories, 4g fat (3g saturated fat), 11mg cholesterol, 37mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
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