CHRISTMAS RUSSIAN PIPING TIPS RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Line sheet pan or cookie sheet with sides with cooking parchment paper.
• In medium bowl, stir together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, orange peel, allspice and cinnamon. With pastry blender or fork, cut cold butter into dry ingredients until butter is size of small peas. Stir in raisins.
• In small bowl, beat egg and cream until well blended. Stir into flour mixture until mixture begins to come together. On clean surface, knead dough a few times until smooth. With hands, pat dough until about 1-inch thick. Use 3-inch round cutter to cut out scones; place in sheet pan. If desired, brush egg wash over tops of scones.
• Bake about 20 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Cool.
• To make icing, stir together powdered sugar, vanilla and milk until smooth. Icing will be thick. Spoon a cross of icing onto each scone. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. In a large bowl, cream butter, 1-1/4 cups confectioners' sugar and salt until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg and extracts. Gradually beat flour into creamed mixture., Using a cookie press fitted with a disk of your choice, press dough 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake until set, 6-8 minutes (do not brown). Remove to wire racks to cool completely., If desired, dip in melted chocolate and let stand until set or, in a small bowl, mix remaining 1 cup confectioners' sugar and enough water to reach desired consistency. Dip cookies in glaze; decorate as desired. Let stand until set.