Christmas Butter Cookie Cutouts

  • Prep 1 hr 30 min
  • Total 3 hr 30 min
  • Servings 32

Ingredients

Cookies

  • 3/4 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon peel
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 1/2 cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Royal Icing

  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 5 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 4 to 5 tablespoons water

Decorations

  • Betty Crocker™ colored sugars
  • Betty Crocker™ candy sprinkles

Steps

  • 1
    In large bowl, beat butter and granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. On low speed, beat in egg, lemon peel and 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt until well blended.
  • 2
    Divide dough into 4 parts; flatten each part into 1/2-inch-thick round. Wrap each in waxed paper or plastic wrap; refrigerate 30 minutes.
  • 3
    Heat oven to 350°F. Remove 1 round of dough at a time from refrigerator. Between sheets of floured waxed paper or plastic wrap, roll dough until 1/4 to 3/8 inch thick. Cut with 3-inch cookie cutters in various shapes. On ungreased cookie sheets, place cutouts 1 inch apart.
  • 4
    Bake 10 to 12 minutes or just until edges are golden. Cool on cookie sheets about 1 minute before removing to cooling rack. To make cookies for hanging, using a toothpick or end of plastic straw, carefully poke a hole in the top of each cookie while cookies are still hot. Cool 10 to 15 minutes before frosting.
  • 5
    In medium bowl, stir together powdered sugar and meringue powder. Stir in 5 teaspoons lemon juice and enough of the 4 to 5 tablespoons water to make a thin icing. Transfer 1/2 cup of the icing into small bowl; set aside. Using a flexible pastry brush, paint cookies to the edges with icing. Place on cooling rack to dry completely, about 30 minutes.
  • 6
    Beat reserved icing with electric mixer on high speed 5 to 7 minutes or until peaks form. Place in small resealable food-storage plastic bag; cut a very small hole in the bottom of the bag with the plain white icing. Squeeze icing onto glazed cookies. Before icing dries, sprinkle with decorations, and tap off excess. Dry thoroughly on cooling rack. Thread cookies with narrow ribbon for hanging.

  • These cookies store well. Once frostings are set (including the decorations), place into a firm tin or plastic container and freeze. They can be kept up to 2 months.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Cookie (With Icing Only)
Calories
150
Calories from Fat
40
Total Fat
4 1/2g
7%
Saturated Fat
3g
14%
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
20mg
6%
Sodium
100mg
4%
Potassium
15mg
0%
Total Carbohydrate
25g
8%
Dietary Fiber
0g
0%
Sugars
16g
Protein
2g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
2%
2%
Vitamin C
0%
0%
Calcium
0%
0%
Iron
2%
2%
Exchanges:
1/2 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 1 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
1 1/2
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
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