CHRISTMAS CUPCAKE TREE RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Spray large cookie sheet with cooking spray. Unroll dough on work surface. Press into 12x9-inch rectangle. If using crescent roll dough, firmly press perforations to seal. With pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut into 8 rows by 4 rows to make 32 squares.
• Cut Parmesan in 3 equally-sized pieces. Reserve 1 piece for grating. Cut remaining 2 pieces in 16 cubes each. Top each piece of crescent dough with 1 of the cubes of cheese, then roll dough into small ball around cheese; place seam side down on cookie sheet.
• Place 10 balls in a single layer, clustered and touching together to form a round disk shape. Continue with a formation of 8 balls, then 6 balls, then 4 balls, 3 balls and finally a single ball. There will be a total of 6 disks (including the single ball), which will form the layers of the tree after baking.
• Bake 14 to 17 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on cookie sheet 2 minutes. Meanwhile, finely grate remaining piece of cheese.
• Use large, flat spatula to transfer largest disk to serving platter or cake plate. Brush with pesto, and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of the remaining Parmesan cheese, then top with next largest disk. Brush with pesto and sprinkle with 1 more tablespoon Parmesan cheese. Continue with remaining disks, ending with single ball. Brush any remaining pesto over tree. Sprinkle remaining Parmesan over tree. Serve with additional pesto, if desired.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, break up cookie dough. Stir or knead in 1/4 cup all-purpose flour until well blended. (DO NOT EAT RAW COOKIE DOUGH AFTER COMBINING WITH FLOUR.) Divide dough in half; wrap each half in plastic wrap. Place in freezer 10 minutes.
• Shape half of dough into 1-inch balls. With fingers, roll each ball into 10-inch rope, about 1/4 inch wide. Break off small piece from each rope for tree trunk. Carefully place ropes on ungreased cookie sheet.
• With each rope, starting at top, twist rope back and forth into tree shape, gradually making larger at bottom (rows of dough should touch). If rope breaks, press dough together. Place small piece at bottom of each tree for trunk. Repeat with remaining half of dough.
• Decorate trees with candies to look like ornaments or lights. Place candy at top of each tree for star; sprinkle with sugar. Bake 9 to 13 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks.