Embellished Wreath Cookies Recipes

EMBELLISHED WREATH COOKIES

Steps:

• Sugar Cookies: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter, sugar, and vanilla on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, orange zest, and brandy until well combined. Add dry ingredients and mix on low speed until just combined. On a lightly floured surface, shape dough into a disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate until firm, at least 45 minutes and up to overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to a scant 1/4 inch thick. Cut out shapes using a 3 1/2-inch fluted round. Use a 1-inch round cutter to cut out centers of cookies. Reroll scraps once (you should have about 16 cookies). Transfer both wreaths and cookie centers to prepared sheets, spaced about 1 inch apart. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour. Bake until set and golden around edges, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheets to wire racks and let cool completely.
• Glaze: Whisk together confectioners' sugar, egg white, and 1 teaspoon lemon juice until smooth. If necessary, add remaining 1 teaspoon lemon juice to reach desired consistency. Glaze should be opaque but not too thick as to run down the edges of the cookie once dipped. If not using immediately, glaze can be stored at room temperature, with plastic wrap pressed directly on surface, up to 2 days, or in refrigerator up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature before using.
• Working with one cookie at a time, dip cookie top-side down in glaze to coat surface, allowing excess glaze to drip back into bowl. If glaze runs down sides of cookie and is too transparent, add more confectioners' sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. If glaze is too thick, add water, 1 teaspoon at a time. Transfer glazed cookies to a wire rack or baking sheet. Working quickly before glaze sets, decorate cookies with toppings, if desired. Let stand at room temperature until completely dry, at least 2 hours. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature overnight.

STAINED GLASS WREATH COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 sheet pans with silicone baking pads.
• Slice dough log at 1/4-inch intervals and place onto prepared baking sheets spaced 1 inch apart.
• Press a 1-inch round cutter into the center of each cookie round. Remove the small circle of dough and replace it with a round hard candy.
• Bake in the oven 8 to 10 minutes.
• Remove from oven. While still warm, make a hole at the top of each cookie with a large straw. Place baking sheet on the cooling rack and cool completely.
• When the cookies have completely cooled, use the decorative icing and evenly space 6 icing dots around the edges of each cookie. Lightly push the silver dragees into the icing dots. Allow icing to harden.
• Place the 8-inch piece of ribbon through the hole at the top and tie the ends together.
• Repeat with remaining cookies.
• You can eat your cookies or hang them as ornaments on a Christmas tree or in a window.

WREATH COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Cream butter, sugar and salt until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Beat in melted chocolate. Gradually beat in flour., On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 3-in. scalloped round cookie cutter. Cut out the centers using a floured 1-in. scalloped round cutter. Place wreath portions 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets., Bake until golden brown, 10-12 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks; cool completely., Place coconut in a resealable plastic bag; add food coloring and 2 teaspoons water. Seal bag and toss until coconut is tinted., Mix confectioners' sugar and remaining water. Spread over cookies. Sprinkle with coconut. Decorate with Red Hots.

CHRISTMAS CORNFLAKE WREATH COOKIES

Steps:

• Microwave marshmallows and butter on High for 2 minutes. Stir, then microwave on High for 2 minutes more. Stir. (This can be done in a double boiler if one doesn't have a microwave.)
• Add and mix quickly the coloring, extracts, then cornflakes. Drop by spoonfuls in clumps on greased wax paper and decorate with 3 red hots each.
• Once cool, transfer to lightly greased serving/storage tray with lightly greased fingers.

WREATH COOKIES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg yolks one at a time. gradually mix in the flour. Cover dough and chill until firm, about 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Roll dough into balls a little smaller than walnuts. Dip the balls in egg white, then roll them in the chopped walnuts. Place cookies 1 inch apart onto the prepared cookie sheets. Press thumb into middle of each ball to create a divot.
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are golden. Remove from oven and repress divots, fill the divots with 1/2 teaspoon of raspberry jam. Remove cookies to cool on wire racks.