Basic holiday butter cookies-pt 2

Kim clegg   avta21a
           Variations continued...
 
      1.  CUT-OUTS:  On floured surface, roll chilled dough to 1/4" thick.
  flour cookies cutters and cut.  Lift with metal spatula onto prepared
  sheets. Decorate before or after baking. For a vibrant food paint, mix 1
  egg yolks with 1 tsp. water. Divide egg mix into 4-6 small bowls or a
  muffin pan. Use only a small amount of food color in each. Paste coloring
  will result in more intense colors than liquid food coloring. Use food
  paint brushes or cotton swabs to paint cookies. Colors intensify during
  baking. Or decorate after baking by piping frosting onto cooled cookies.
  The number of cookies will vary depending on size and shape of cutters.
  Egg-based paints should be used ONLY before baking.
  
      2.  SPRITZ:  If desired, beat or fold in food color into dough. Fill
  cookie press, gun or pastry bag.  Use die or tip as desired. Follow
  manufacturer's directions.  Makes about 35 using 1 dough disk.
  
      3.  chocolate CARAMEL MARBLES:  Melt and cool 4 oz of chocolate. Knead
  chocolate into 1 dough disk, just enough to achieve marbled look. Cut 6
  caramels into quarters. Form a 3/4" ball of chocolate marble dough around
  each caramel quarter. Place on baking sheet. Chill 20 min. Bake 15 min.
  Makes 24.
  
     4. macaroon WREATHS:  Tint 1 disk of dough and 2 cup of coconut with
  green food coloring.  Mix dough with 1 cup of green coconut. Roll into 24
  tubes about 5" long.  Join ends to form a wreath. Brush with egg white.
  Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup coconut. Dab a tiny amount of egg white on
  wreath and place 5 red cinnamon candies on each wreath. Bake 15 min till
  slightly golden. Makes 24.
 
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