Christines Lemon Wreath Cookies Food

LEMON WREATH COOKIES

Steps:

• Combine flour, dry pudding mix and salt. Beat butter and granulated sugar in large bowl with mixer until light and fluffy. Gradually add flour mixture, mixing well after each addition.
• Refrigerate 30 min.
• Heat oven to 325°F. Place dough on lightly floured surface; roll out to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into 26 rounds using 3-inch cookie cutter, then cut out center of each round with 1-inch round cutter, re-rolling scraps as necessary.
• Place cutouts, 1/2 inch apart, on parchment-covered baking sheets.
• Bake 13 to 16 min. or until edges of cookies are lightly browned. Cool 3 min. Remove cookies to wire racks; cool completely.
• Add milk to drink mix in medium bowl; stir until mix is dissolved. Add corn syrup and powdered sugar; beat with mixer until blended. Spread onto cookies; sprinkle with colored sugar. Let stand 15 min. or until frosting is firm.

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.

CALLAHAN CHRISTMAS WREATHS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a large bowl, cream butter, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, orange zest and extract. Gradually beat in flour. Divide dough in half; tint one portion green with food coloring., For each wreath, shape two 6-inch ropes using 2 teaspoons plain dough for one and 2 teaspoons green dough for the other. Place the two ropes side by side; press together lightly, then twist several times. Shape into a circle, pinching ends to seal. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough., Cut candied cherries into small pieces and place on wreaths to decorate as desired, pressing lightly to adhere. Bake cookies 6-8 minutes or until set and bottoms are light brown., Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. Store in an airtight container.