The Holiday Season

We are dreaming of a sensational holiday...


Little Lemon Bites

Christmas Stocking Cookies

Christmas and cookies are synonymous. Create truly memorable Christmas stocking cookies for gift-giving or decoration.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened at room temperature
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder

You will also need:
Royal Icing
Food coloring
Red sanding sugar
Confectioners sugar
Gold tread or ribbon

Directions:

1. In a medium-size bowl, sift together flour and baking powder; set aside.
2. In mixing bowl cream butter, vanilla and lemon juice. Gradually beat in sugar and eggs until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low and gradually beat in flour mixture.
3. Gather dough into a ball, flatten to a 5-inch round, and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate dough at least 50 minutes or overnight.
4. When dough has chilled, lightly grease 2 baking sheets.
5. Preheat oven to 325º F (160º C).
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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).
10. Bake cookies 10-12 minutes or until just golden at edges.
11. Cool cookies 5 minutes on baking sheets and remove to wire racks to cool completely.

To Decorate Cookies:
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 or tread to hang cookies like ornaments from tree.
To store, arrange cookies in a single layer in airtight container.


TIPS:
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. This cookie recipe is great for eating or decoration and for keeping and giving.
If cookies are to be displayed only and not eaten, they can be baked and decorated up to one month ahead.
If cookies are going to be displayed and eaten, prepare and store up to a week ahead, displaying only a few hours before eating.

Beverages

RomWell Holiday Season

Make your celebrations, simple, delicious and memorable...

Did You Know?

To create a chocolate coating of manageable consistency for candies and other treats, add 1 full tablespoon of grease (shortening, peanut or vegetable oil) to 6 - 8 ounces of solid chocolate and melt them together. Do not use butter because it contains water.

If you are out of baking chocolate substitute 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa and 1/4 cup shortening for 4 ounces of chocolate.

The second enemy of chocolate is too high heat. It's very easy to scorch! No matter what method you choose to melt chocolate, do not take shortcuts, use patience.


More Chocolate Tips...