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TREE
COOKIES
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| The
holiday season is the perfect time to indulge in scrumptious cookies, delicious
candies, and indeed anything sweet and sugary. On
our pages you will find cookie recipes for eating and decoration, for keeping
and giving which is perfect for every cook. Nothing smells better than
fresh baked cookies during the holiday season. Using this classic cookie
dough and different cookie cutters, you can create delightful holiday ornaments
that are simple even for kids to make. |
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| Ingredients:
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
Gold dragees
Gold ribbon |
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Preparation Method:
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 tree 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. |
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To Decorate Cookies:
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To decorate cookies as pictured
use a pastry brush and paint the front of cookies with a thick coat of
green Royal Icing (avoid pierced holes).
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While green icing is still wet,
dip the small artist's brush in green food coloring and paint curved stripes
of dark green on top of icing to create the effect of branches.
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Place gold dragees on points
of trees, and set aside to dry.
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Attach gold ribbons to hang
cookies like ornaments from tree.
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To store, arrange cookies in
a single layer in airtight container.
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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.
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ROYAL
ICING
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Ingredients:
1/2 lb (225 g) icing sugar
1 egg white
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
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Put the sugar and cream of tartar
into a basin and add egg white.
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Stir with a wooden spoon to
make creamy consistency.
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Add lemon juice and stir well.
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Stir well but avoid beating
which causes air bubbles.
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If colored icing is required,
add food coloring.
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Save some icing before coloring
(for white decorating).
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If icing has to heavy
consistency add 1-2 Tbsp. hot water and stir well.
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If cookies are to be eaten,
do not use egg white; use 3 Tbsp. almost boiling water instead.
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To avoid egg whites you can
use meringue powder and follow package directions for Royal Icing.
NOTE: Meringue powder
and gold dragees are available from baking distributors. |
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| Browse
Recipes: |
| Cakes,
Tortes, Tarts & More... |
| The
Great Cookie Treasure |
| Breads,
Muffins, Biscuits... |
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| More
Cookies & Related |
| Pies
& Pastry |
| Baking
Powder Breads |
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| Great
Cookbooks: |
Southern
Living
Christmas
Cookbook
A perfect Christmas gift or guide
for your entertainment. Pretty enough to put out on the coffee table and
packed with scrumptious recipes, decorating tips, and entertaining know-how,
its innovative holiday fare includes breakfast anytime, Christmas munchies,
and add-a-dish recipes for surprise guests. |
Pretty
Party Cakes: Sweet and Stylish Cakes and Cookies for All Occasions
Want lovely cake or cookie? This
great book will give you selection of stylish cakes and cookies for all
occasions. |
A
Rich, Deliciously Satisfying Collection of
Breakfast
Recipes
A treasure of mouth watering breakfast
recipes to prepare and enjoy for many years to come. Included are: egg
dishes, red-eye, sausage gravy & light buttermilk biscuits, hot ceral,
fried green tomatoes, flavored drinks, quick breads & muffins, yeast
breads & pastry, homemade jellies, jams, marmalades, preserves and
conserves. Learn how to design a Breakfast Gift Baskets and fill it with
homemade items such as gourmet coffee mixes, and flavored syrup plus much
more. Also learn how to bake fruit breads and muffins in a jar that will
last twelve months in the freezer." |
Cooking
Light 2006 Annual Recipes (Hardcover)
Seasoned and novice cooks alike
love this all-around resource for everything cooking-related: tips, techniques,
planning, preparation, presentationits all here, and in the lighter versions
we all crave. |
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