Holiday Cookie Tree Recipes

CHRISTMAS TREE COOKIE STACK

Steps:

• Combine sugar and butter in a large bowl. Cream using an electric mixer until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla extract. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. Stir into the butter mixture and mix to combine. Shape dough into a ball, cover, and refrigerate at least 1 hour to overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
• Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick. Cut out different-sized stars with cookie cutters; the height of the Christmas tree will depend on the number of cookies you stack, but you need at least 7 or 8 stars. Place cookies 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cookies are lightly browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer cookies carefully onto wire racks and cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Combine confectioners' sugar, meringue powder, and water in a bowl and beat at low speed using an electric blender until peaks form, 7 to 10 minutes. Pour icing into a piping bag with a star-shaped tip.
• Place the largest star onto a plate and pipe a little bit of royal icing into the middle. Add the second-largest star on top, turning the star slightly so the points are offset from the previous star cookie. Repeat adding smaller-sized star cookies and attaching them with royal icing. Decorate the cookie Christmas tree with royal icing, silver balls, and other holiday decor. Roll out yellow fondant and cut out a small star to place on top of the cookie tree and secure with royal icing. Decorate remaining cookies to your liking.
• Dust the finished tree with confectioners' sugar.

CHRISTMAS TREE COOKIE STACKS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Make drop cookie dough as directed on pouch. Shape 3 (1/4-cup) balls (2 inches in diameter) from dough. Shape 3 more balls using 3 level tablespoons dough (1 7/8 inches in diameter) for each ball. Place all 6 balls on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are light brown. Cool 3 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack.
• Meanwhile, shape 3 balls using 2 tablespoons dough (1 3/4 inches in diameter) for each ball. Shape 3 balls using rounded tablespoon dough (1 1/2 inches in diameter) for each ball. Place all 6 balls on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until edges are light brown. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack.
• Continue with remaining dough to make 3 balls of each of the following diameters: 1 1/4 inches, 1 inch, 3/4 inch and 1/2 inch. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until edges are light brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool all cookies completely, about 30 minutes.
• Each tree will be a stack of 8 different size cookies. To assemble 3 trees, stack cookies on serving platter, starting with largest size cookie on bottom, and stacking each smaller size cookie on top, spreading frosting between each layer before stacking. Heat remaining frosting in microwavable bowl uncovered on High 10 to 15 seconds or until frosting can be stirred smooth. Drizzle over trees, and garnish with sprinkles. Sprinkle powdered sugar on platter to look like snow.

ITALIAN HOLIDAY COOKIES

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine sugar, lemon zest, vanilla and salt. Add eggs and 2 cups flour; mix well. Turn onto a floured surface and knead in remaining flour (dough will be soft). With a floured knife or scissors, cut into 20 pieces. With hands, roll each piece into pencil shapes. Cut "pencils" into 1/2-in. pieces. In an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 350°. Fry pieces, a few at a time, for 2 minutes per side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Place in a large bowl. Heat honey to boiling; pour over cookies and mix well. With a slotted spoon, spoon onto a serving platter and slowly mound into a tree shape if desired. Decorate with candy sprinkles. Cool completely.