ORNAMENTAL COOKIES RECIPES

Steps:

• In a bowl, cream the butter, shortening and sugar. Beat in the honey, egg and vanilla. Gradually add the flour and salt., Turn the dough onto a floured surface and roll to an 1/8-in. thickness. Cut into shapes using cookie cutters dipped in flour. Transfer cutouts to ungreased baking sheets., Using a straw, make a hole in the top of each cookie. Remove the center circle of dough. Bake the cookies at 350° for 6 minutes until the edges are lightly browned. Remove the cookies to wire racks to cool., For frosting, combine the confectioners' sugar, water, corn syrup and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Tint the frosting with liquid or paste food coloring in desired colors., Place each color of frosting in a pastry or plastic bag. Cut a small hole in the tip of each bag. Spread and pipe frosting onto cookies as desired., If desired, create stitch marks on a stocking or veins on holly leaves by dipping a toothpick in food coloring and painting on the lines., For hanging loops, cut forty 8-in. strips of 1/8-in.-wide ribbon. Thread a ribbon strip through the hole in each cookie and tie the ends into a bow.

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda; beat into creamed mixture. Divide dough in half; add desired food coloring to one portion (or different colors to each portion). Shape into two 9x4-in. rectangles 1 in. thick; freeze until firm, about 30 minutes., Using a sharp knife, cut rectangles crosswise into 1/8-in. slices. Create two new rectangles by stacking alternate-colored slices side by side, brushing water between slices so they adhere. Trim off any uneven dough. Roll portions between two pieces of waxed paper to 1/2-in. thickness; freeze until firm, about 15 minutes., Preheat oven to 350°. With a sharp knife, cut rectangles diagonally into 1/2-in. slices. To form chevron pattern, turn every other slice upside down, brushing water between slices so they adhere. Roll between sheets of waxed paper to 1/4-in. thickness., Cut with desired cookie cutters. Place cookies 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake until set, 10-12 minutes. Cool 1-2 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.