STOCKING COOKIES

1/2 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 egg yolk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. lemon juice
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt

You will also need:
Royal Icing
Food coloring
Red sanding sugar
Confectioners sugar

• Stir together flour, salt and baking powder.
• In medium-size bowl cream butter and vanilla.
• Gradually beat in sugar and eggs until light and fluffy.
• Reduce speed to low and gradually beat in flour mixture.
• Gather dough into a ball, flatten to a 5-inch round, and wrap in plastic.
• Refrigerate dough at least 50 minutes or overnight.
• When dough has chilled, lightly grease 2 baking sheets.
• Preheat oven to 325 F (160 C).
• Cut dough round in half.
• Cut 2 pieces of waxed paper the same size as baking sheets.
• Lightly flour waxed paper and place one sheet on table or counter, floured side up.
• Place one half of dough in center and top with other waxed paper, floured side down.
• Roll out dough between paper to 1/8-inch thickness and remove top piece of sheet from dough.
• Using 5-inch stocking shape cookie cutter, cut out as many cookies as possible, leaving 1/2 inch between each shape, and remove all trimmings.
• Invert waxed paper with cookies onto greased baking sheet and peel off waxed paper.
• Repeat with remaining half of cookie dough to fill second baking sheet.
• Press all trimmings together and reroll between floured waxed paper.
• If making cookies to use as hanging ornaments, use a  toothpick to pierce a small hole (about 1/2-inch from top center of each cookie).
• Bake cookies 10-12 minutes or until just golden at edges.
• Cool cookies 5 minutes on baking sheets and remove to wire racks to cool completely.

• To decorate cookies as pictured use a pastry brush and paint the bottom two-thirds of the front of each cookie front of with a thick coat of red icing (avoid pierced holes). 
• Sprinkle red sanding sugar over iced part of cookies and set aside to dry. 
• When dry, sift confectioners' sugar on top third of cookies to create the effect of white trim on stockings.
• Attach gold ribbons to hang cookies like ornaments from tree.
• To store, arrange cookies in a single layer in airtight container.

TIP: If you like you can use white icing instead of confectioners' sugar in decorating on top third of cookies to create the effect of white trim on stockings.

Using this classic cookie dough and different cookie cutters, you can create delightful holiday ornaments that are simple even for kids to make.

• Put the sugar and cream of tartar into a basin and add egg white.
• Stir with a wooden spoon to make creamy consistency.
• Add lemon juice and stir well. 
• Stir well but avoid beating which causes air bubbles.
• If colored icing is required, add food coloring. 
• Save some icing before coloring (for white decorating).
•  If icing has to heavy consistency add 1-2 Tbsp. hot water and stir well.
• If cookies are to be eaten, do not use egg white; use 3 Tbsp. almost boiling water instead.
• To avoid egg whites you can use meringue powder and follow package directions for Royal Icing.