Finger Paint Holiday Wreath Cookies Recipes

FINGER-PAINT HOLIDAY WREATH COOKIES

Steps:

• In medium bowl, beat shortening, butter and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Beat in egg and vanilla until smooth. Beat in flour and baking soda, scraping bowl occasionally, until well blended.
• Shape dough into a roll, 5 inches long and 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate about 1 hour 30 minutes or until very firm.
• Heat oven to 375°F. Cut dough into 1/4-inch slices. On ungreased cookie sheet, place slices 2 inches apart. With 1-inch round cookie cutter or cleaned plastic bottle cap, cut out centers of cookies. Cut each cutout center part cookie in half. Place 2 halves at bottom of each wreath to shape bow.
• Bake 6 to 11 minutes or until edges just begin to brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Reserve 1/2 cup of the frosting in small microwavable bowl. Spread remaining frosting on cookies. Spoon 1/4 cup of reserved frosting into another small microwavable bowl. Microwave each bowl of frosting uncovered on High about 5 seconds or until warm; stir until pourable. Stir green food color into frosting in one bowl; stir red food color into frosting in other bowl.
• Create a wreath pattern on frosted cookies by dipping one fingertip into warm green frosting and lightly pressing onto wreath part of cookies, repeating to resemble wreath. Create a bow by dipping another fingertip into warm red frosting and lightly coating bow part of cookies. Rewarm frosting if it gets too stiff. Press 3 to 9 cinnamon candies onto wreath to look like berries.

MEYER-LEMON SHORTBREAD WREATH COOKIES

Steps:

• Cookies: Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter with zest on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in confectioners' sugar until pale and fluffy, about 1 minute more. Reduce speed to low. Beat in lemon juice and salt, then flour, until combined. Divide dough in half, transfer each to plastic wrap, pat into disks, wrap, and refrigerate until firm, at least 4 hours and up to 3 days (or freeze up to 1 month; thaw in refrigerator before using).
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Working with one disk at a time, roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to a scant 1/4 inch thick. Stamp out rounds with a 3-inch cutter, preferably fluted. Transfer to prepared sheets, 1 inch apart. Use a 1- to 1 1/4-inch plain round cutter to stamp out centers of 3-inch rounds. Gather scraps; roll out again, stamping out more wreaths. Repeat with remaining disk. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Bake, rotating sheets and rack positions halfway through, until set and pale golden on bottoms, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool on sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week before decorating.
• Glaze and Decorations: Brush herbs with egg white; sprinkle with granulated sugar. Transfer to wire rack; let stand until stiff and dry, at least 1 hour or, loosely covered, up to 1 day. In a small bowl, whisk together confectioners' sugar and lemon juice until smooth. One at a time, dip cookie tops in glaze; lift and tilt slightly for a few seconds, allowing excess to drip back into bowl. Transfer to wire rack; decorate with sugared herbs and candies. Let stand until set, about 2 hours. Store in an airtight container at room temperature, between sheets of parchment, up to 2 days.

NO-BAKE CHRISTMAS WREATH TREATS

Steps:

• Place marshmallows and butter in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave, uncovered, on high until butter is melted and marshmallows are puffed, about 45 seconds. Tint with green food coloring. Stir in cornflakes. , On a waxed paper-lined baking sheet, divide mixture into 8 portions. With buttered hands, working quickly, shape each portion into a 3-in. wreath. Decorate immediately with M&M's, pressing to adhere. Let stand until set.